In 1995, tech-step further fused techno and jungle. The "step" was darker and more aggressive, with sinister bass growls over a 4/4 techno-influenced pattern. The drums and oppressive atmospheres introduced a more menacing minimalism to drum 'n' bass, without forsaking jump-up's body-moving imperative. DJ Trace (DISC4) along with Ed Rush & Optical (Virus Recordings) created the subgenre and sucked out nearly all of jungle's life-affirming funk juices, leaving a gaunt, bloodshot zombie encased in rumbling metal. With coconspirators Nico Sykes (No U-Turn) and DJ Trace playing a huge role on the impact of tech-step in the mid-'90s, the dark, techno-influenced style, with beats as fast at 180bpm, was the new sound and style of post-industrial dystopia.

Notable Artists: DJ Trace, Ed Rush & Optical, Nico Sykes