hardstyle

Developed in the Netherlands around 1999–2002 out of hard trance and gabber, defined by a distorted, pitched-down "reverse bass" kick at roughly 150 BPM with euphoric melodic breaks. Q-dance events (Defqon.1, Qlimax) and artists like Headhunterz, Showtek, Brennan Heart and Wildstylez built it into a global scene.