Trance is generally known for its happy, carefree, uplifting vibes, but what if it didn't have any of those things and actively did the opposite?
Share your darker trance tracks here!
Ace da Brain - Depths of Doom [2005]
A surprisingly dark production from an otherwise uplifting producer. Depths of Doom is an apt title; if hell had a nightclub, this track would play there for sure.
Adam Sheridan - Lektrik (Inside-out mix) [2003]
Essentially a distorted, dark, tech-trance rework of Transa - Supernova. This production put Adam Sheridan on the map, and the Inside-out mix was especially supported by Tiesto and Ferry.
Cass & Slide - Opera (C&S Phantom Mix) [2000]
Dark, melancholic progressive trance from the golden era of progressive. Thank you @Uplifted
Epsilon 9 - Lifeformation (The Infernal Machine remix) [2002]
One of the best tracks featured in James Holden's Balance 005. The tribal beats and dark ambiance are very James Holden-esque.
Indecent Noise - Cerberus [2014]
A lot of modern 2010s tech-trance tried to sound dark and acid-like, but very few tracks genuinely felt dark. Cerberus is the only one that made me think "damn, this is dark as hell."
Joint Operations Centre - Pathological Effect [2017]
Like if you were exploring a spooky dungeon from a Nintendo 64 video game. Thank you @Uplifted
Joop - The Future [2007]
One of the best-known trance tracks with a darker style, as it was the Trance Energy 2007 anthem. The Future is menacing square-synth tech-trance, a style developed in the second half of the 2000s.
Keane - This is the Last Time (Martin Roth Vocal Mix) [~2005]
Martin Roth's style around this time was in general fairly dark, but his remix of Keane's This is the Last Time is the most noteworthy. He takes a sad song about being unable to accept what is available because there could be something else better for you, and distorts it to create a dark, twisted production full of special effects.
Marc La Cruz - Darkness [2001]
Hard trance with the classic early-2000s style perfect for raving. Thank you @IZE
Marcel Woods - Time's Running Out (Original) [2003]
Bangin' tech-trance that would fit in Sensation Black
Marcel Woods vs. Jesselyn - Fauna [2005]
The perfect combination between Marcel Woods' tech-trance style and Jesselyn's dark synths and storming basslines.
Mark Norman - Phantom Manor [2004]
A creepy tech-trancer apt for Halloween. It's also pretty unique; no one ever replicated this dark aesthetic, not even Mark Norman themselves.
Mauro Picotto - Pulsar (Picotto Verdi Mix) [2002]
Mauro Picotto's rework of his classic hit Pulsar in the style of his tech-trance production Verdi. The intro and breakdown are euphoric much like the original Pulsar, but everything else is hard-hitting, darker trance perfect for Sensation Black.
Narthex - Bully (Parc remix) [2006]
Wouldn't have imagined that Airbase made a dark, psytrance-like track! @Uplifted
Oliver Prime - Radiance [2004]
The track which kicked off Oliver Prime's music career. Without Radiance there is no Netherworld (Oliver Prime remix), and in fact this track is the foundation of pretty much all of Oliver Prime's productions - including his Netherworld remix.
Push - Strange World [2000]
If you're on this forum you've probably heard of Strange World, but in case you haven't: enjoy! Strange World is a bit of an oddity among darker tracks, as it is also highly uplifting. The beautifully-executed uplifting riff with a general dark vibe is probably one of the reasons this is among the top trance tracks of all time.
Schwarzende - Abuse (Schwarzende mix) [2001]
Hidden hard trance gem. Crazy to think these guys used to make Eurodance. Thanks @IZE
Subtara - Terminal Destruction [2012]
While everyone else at JOOF was doing progressive psytrance, Subtara released a dark, progressive trancer with somewhat of a retro style. This would have been at home in JOOF's 2010 essential mix.
The Green Martian - Industry [2000]
Trancefix's favorite, and one of Airwave's darkest productions. The synth in this evokes danger and doom.
Ummet Ozcan - Timewave Zero [2009]
Square-synth tech-trance. This style was pretty good for large trance festivals, but Ummet Ozcan really cranked up the "darkness" knob for Timewave Zero.
Vatos Locos Bros - Vatos Locos [2002]
If USA Latino gangs heard hard trance, this would be their anthem. Thank you @IZE
V.I.P. 3000 - The Combat [2000]
"Kinda reminds me of what revolutionary industrious men with lazer cutters and hydraulic hammers would look like in year 2100" @IZE
Reminds me a bit of RBA - No Alternative.
Will Atkinson - Harvester [2014]
Will Atkinson had a small phase where he went from super pumping uplifting trance to purely tech-trance, and in this in-between he made a few dark tracks. Harvester is probably one of the darkest tracks he released in his career.
Share your darker trance tracks here!
Ace da Brain - Depths of Doom [2005]
A surprisingly dark production from an otherwise uplifting producer. Depths of Doom is an apt title; if hell had a nightclub, this track would play there for sure.
Adam Sheridan - Lektrik (Inside-out mix) [2003]
Essentially a distorted, dark, tech-trance rework of Transa - Supernova. This production put Adam Sheridan on the map, and the Inside-out mix was especially supported by Tiesto and Ferry.
Cass & Slide - Opera (C&S Phantom Mix) [2000]
Dark, melancholic progressive trance from the golden era of progressive. Thank you @Uplifted
Epsilon 9 - Lifeformation (The Infernal Machine remix) [2002]
One of the best tracks featured in James Holden's Balance 005. The tribal beats and dark ambiance are very James Holden-esque.
Indecent Noise - Cerberus [2014]
A lot of modern 2010s tech-trance tried to sound dark and acid-like, but very few tracks genuinely felt dark. Cerberus is the only one that made me think "damn, this is dark as hell."
Joint Operations Centre - Pathological Effect [2017]
Like if you were exploring a spooky dungeon from a Nintendo 64 video game. Thank you @Uplifted
Joop - The Future [2007]
One of the best-known trance tracks with a darker style, as it was the Trance Energy 2007 anthem. The Future is menacing square-synth tech-trance, a style developed in the second half of the 2000s.
Keane - This is the Last Time (Martin Roth Vocal Mix) [~2005]
Martin Roth's style around this time was in general fairly dark, but his remix of Keane's This is the Last Time is the most noteworthy. He takes a sad song about being unable to accept what is available because there could be something else better for you, and distorts it to create a dark, twisted production full of special effects.
Marc La Cruz - Darkness [2001]
Hard trance with the classic early-2000s style perfect for raving. Thank you @IZE
Marcel Woods - Time's Running Out (Original) [2003]
Bangin' tech-trance that would fit in Sensation Black
Marcel Woods vs. Jesselyn - Fauna [2005]
The perfect combination between Marcel Woods' tech-trance style and Jesselyn's dark synths and storming basslines.
Mark Norman - Phantom Manor [2004]
A creepy tech-trancer apt for Halloween. It's also pretty unique; no one ever replicated this dark aesthetic, not even Mark Norman themselves.
Mauro Picotto - Pulsar (Picotto Verdi Mix) [2002]
Mauro Picotto's rework of his classic hit Pulsar in the style of his tech-trance production Verdi. The intro and breakdown are euphoric much like the original Pulsar, but everything else is hard-hitting, darker trance perfect for Sensation Black.
Narthex - Bully (Parc remix) [2006]
Wouldn't have imagined that Airbase made a dark, psytrance-like track! @Uplifted
Oliver Prime - Radiance [2004]
The track which kicked off Oliver Prime's music career. Without Radiance there is no Netherworld (Oliver Prime remix), and in fact this track is the foundation of pretty much all of Oliver Prime's productions - including his Netherworld remix.
Push - Strange World [2000]
If you're on this forum you've probably heard of Strange World, but in case you haven't: enjoy! Strange World is a bit of an oddity among darker tracks, as it is also highly uplifting. The beautifully-executed uplifting riff with a general dark vibe is probably one of the reasons this is among the top trance tracks of all time.
Schwarzende - Abuse (Schwarzende mix) [2001]
Hidden hard trance gem. Crazy to think these guys used to make Eurodance. Thanks @IZE
Subtara - Terminal Destruction [2012]
While everyone else at JOOF was doing progressive psytrance, Subtara released a dark, progressive trancer with somewhat of a retro style. This would have been at home in JOOF's 2010 essential mix.
The Green Martian - Industry [2000]
Trancefix's favorite, and one of Airwave's darkest productions. The synth in this evokes danger and doom.
Ummet Ozcan - Timewave Zero [2009]
Square-synth tech-trance. This style was pretty good for large trance festivals, but Ummet Ozcan really cranked up the "darkness" knob for Timewave Zero.
Vatos Locos Bros - Vatos Locos [2002]
If USA Latino gangs heard hard trance, this would be their anthem. Thank you @IZE
V.I.P. 3000 - The Combat [2000]
"Kinda reminds me of what revolutionary industrious men with lazer cutters and hydraulic hammers would look like in year 2100" @IZE
Reminds me a bit of RBA - No Alternative.
Will Atkinson - Harvester [2014]
Will Atkinson had a small phase where he went from super pumping uplifting trance to purely tech-trance, and in this in-between he made a few dark tracks. Harvester is probably one of the darkest tracks he released in his career.
Last edited: