Belgian Techno

Belgian techno is the hard, fast techno produced in Belgium — above all on Ghent's #R&S Records# — between 1989 and the mid-1990s, the European rave era's most aggressive sound. Developing out of Belgian new beat's slowed-down electronic body music, it raised tempos, hardened the kick drum and built tracks from metallic synth riffs, orchestral stabs and the 'hoover' sound — a sweeping, vacuum-like synth sweep — popularised by *Second Phase*'s "Mentasm". Producers such as *CJ Bolland*, *Frank De Wulf* and *Outlander*, joined by R&S's American signing *Joey Beltram*, defined a style that fed directly into hardcore and gabber.