Hardbass or hard bass is a subgenre of electronic music which originated from Russia during the late 1990s, drawing inspiration from UK hard house, bouncy techno and hardstyle. Hardbass is characterized by its fast tempo, donks, distinctive basslines, distorted sounds, heavy kicks and occasional rapping. Hardbass has become a central stereotype of the gopnik subculture. In several European countries, so-called "hardbass scenes" have sprung up, which are events related to the genre that involve multiple people dancing in public while masked, sometimes with moshing involved. From 2015 onward, hardbass has also appeared as an Internet meme, depicting Slavic and Russian subcultures with the premiere of the video "Cheeki Breeki Hardbass Anthem", based on the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. series of games from GSC Game World.
Notable artists
Collective labels
Hard Bass Crew – This label was created in march 2011 by Dr Poky to connect his hardbass friends from all over Europe. In few months Hard Bass Crew was represented in many countries by localdance team, DJ's & hardbass producers from each country, but all over the world.
Jutonish – This label was formed in 2002 by Juran & Harley. The style of the releases are pumping house, hardbass, hard house and speed garage.
FTH8TER5 Records – A Polish label, founded by Clubbasse to release the music by Members of Pumpingland.
Progressive Фактор – Probably the most successful pumping house/hardbass label, created by XS Project in St. Petersburg.
Corecube Records – A scouse house/bouncy hard house/hardbass label, founded by Denis Evchenko in 2009 in Gatchina, Russia.
O-Mode Records – A bumping/hardbass/poky label, based in Bilbao, Spain and owned by Gari Seleckt.
Bumping For Life Records – A Spanish bumping/hardbass/poky label.
Dark'Hade Records – A hardbass and metal shade label, founded by Silicium Criminy in France.
UNDERTUNE Records – A Russian label, founded in 2017 in St. Petersburg by Stomp Foot. The main focus of the music label is of different underground styles of electronic music relevant to a particular period of time.
