Is Techno Becoming Faster? The BPM War Explained
- Filip
- Mar 22
- 4 min read
Techno has always been an obsession with movement—sonic and physical. From the dark basements of Berlin to illegal raves in the outskirts of London, the genre has thrived on tension, buildup, and release. But lately, it seems like techno has one setting: faster.
Long gone are the days when a steady 130 BPM would keep the crowd in a hypnotic trance. Now, DJs are pushing past 150 BPM, dancefloors have turned into high-speed endurance tests, and the lines between techno, hard trance, gabber, and industrial sounds are blurring into one relentless pulse.
So, what’s happening? Is this just another phase in techno’s never-ending evolution, or are we witnessing a BPM arms race that could change the genre forever?
Techno’s Speed Evolution: From 130 BPM to Pure Chaos
If you rewind back to the ‘90s and early 2000s, techno wasn’t exactly slow, but it wasn’t the breakneck ride it is today. Detroit pioneers like Jeff Mills, Robert Hood, and Derrick May championed minimal, hypnotic grooves that rarely went past 130 BPM. Even Berghain-era techno, which defined the early 2010s, thrived around 128-135 BPM, built for long, deep, and immersive sets.
Then, something shifted.
By the late 2010s, DJs started pushing the tempo. Hard techno, once a niche underground sound, started bleeding into the mainstream. Artists like SPFDJ, I Hate Models, Cassie Raptor, and VTSS emerged, pushing BPMs beyond 145. Suddenly, 150 BPM became the new normal, with some DJs going even harder.
Today, dancefloors are wilder, ravers are moving faster, and sets feel more like an adrenaline rush than a deep hypnotic journey.
Why is Techno Speeding Up? The Cultural Shift
Every movement in music is a reflection of the times we live in, and techno is no different. The rising BPMs aren’t random—they’re the result of cultural, technological, and generational shifts.
1. The Post-Pandemic Rave Frenzy
When clubs reopened after lockdowns, people weren’t looking for slow-burners—they wanted high-intensity, full-throttle energy. DJs responded by playing harder and faster, feeding off the collective urgency of the dancefloor.
2. Social Media and Instant Gratification
With TikTok and Instagram Reels dominating how people consume music, attention spans have shrunk. If a track doesn’t hit instantly, it’s skipped. Faster BPMs create instant energy, making them more likely to grab listeners in the first few seconds.
3. The Hardcore Revival
Genres like gabber, hard trance, and schranz—once dismissed as too extreme—are making a comeback. Ravers are craving intensity, and faster BPMs naturally align with this harder, more aggressive sound.
4. The New Generation of Ravers
Younger crowds aren’t nostalgic for the slow and steady builds of early techno. They grew up on chaotic energy, high-speed drops, and instant gratification. To them, anything below 140 BPM feels… sluggish.
5. Escaping Reality at High Speeds
Let’s be real—the world is burning. Political chaos, climate anxiety, economic uncertainty. When reality feels like an impending apocalypse, fast techno provides pure escapism. The speed isn’t just about dancing—it’s about losing control for a moment, surrendering to the chaos of the beat.
The BPM War: A Blessing or a Curse?
Not everyone is on board with the high-speed techno takeover. Some argue that faster isn’t always better—that when every track is pushing 150+ BPM, the genre loses its depth, its soul.
1. The Loss of Groove and Storytelling
The beauty of techno has always been in the tension and release, the way a DJ slowly builds a set and manipulates the crowd’s energy. At 155 BPM, there’s little room for subtlety—just pure intensity from start to finish.
2. The Physical Toll on Ravers and DJs
There’s a reason why marathon DJs like Ben Klock and DVS1 built their sets at lower BPMs—because it’s sustainable. High-speed raving is physically exhausting, and not everyone wants to sprint through a 6-hour set.
3. The Risk of Monotony
When every DJ is playing at max intensity, sets start to blend together. There’s no contrast, no breathing room. The power of techno comes from variation, not just relentless speed.
Where is Techno Headed? The Future of BPM
So, will techno keep getting faster until we’re all just raving at 200 BPM? Or will we see a counter-movement—a return to slower, deeper sounds?
1. The Harder, Faster Future
Some predict that hard techno will completely take over, absorbing elements of gabber, hardcore, and trance. We might see even higher BPMs, with DJs pushing 170+ BPM as a new normal.
2. A Backlash: The Return to Slow-Burn Techno
Others believe that slower, groove-heavy techno will make a comeback, as a rebellion against the speed race. DJs like Ben UFO, DJ Nobu, and Jane Fitz are already championing slower, more hypnotic sets.
3. A Hybrid Scene: Speed Meets Depth
The most likely future? A mix of both. Some DJs will keep pushing BPMs to the extreme, while others will bring back deep, trance-inducing grooves—creating a balance between intensity and storytelling.
Is Fast Techno Here to Stay?
Techno has always evolved, reflecting the cultural moment it exists in. Right now, we’re in the era of high-speed, high-intensity raving—a direct response to the chaos of modern life.
Will it last forever? Probably not. But for now, buckle up, because the BPM war is far from over.