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The Evolution of Renegade Hardware
Early Years (1996-2000):
Renegade Hardware was a pioneering force in the world of drum and bass music, significantly shaping the genre’s sound, culture, and overall progression throughout its history. Founded in 1996 by Clayton Hines & Mark Hill, as part of the TOV (Trouble On Vinyl) Music Group, the label became synonymous with the darker, harder, edges of Drum & Bass, with influences from techno, industrial, and ambient sounds, earning a reputation for pushing boundaries both musically and artistically.
The label’s early years were marked by the release of some of the most influential tracks in the genre’s history, releasing singles that quickly gained support in the rave and club scenes. During this period, artists like Future Forces Inc (Which included Maldini, a future member of groundbreaking act Bad Company), Genotype, Paradox, Subphonics, Dylan, Dom & Roland, Usual Suspects, Absolute Zero (aka DJ Fresh, also from Bad Company), Konflict, Loxy, Ink and John B. These releases set the tone for the turn of the century boom in Techstep.
The Golden Era (2000-2005):
As drum and bass evolved in the early 2000s, Renegade Hardware expanded its influence, attracting a wide range of talent. The label played a crucial role in popularizing Techstep, which merged dark atmospherics with heavily syncopated beats and minimalistic, industrial sound design.
During this period, artists like Future Cut, Cause 4 Concern, Keaton and Total Science landed on Hardware. The label began releasing compilations, including the landmark "The Harder They Come" series. As we hit 2003 the label put out release from Raiden, Universal Project, Hive, Concorn Dawn, Dilinja, Resonant Evil and D-Kay & Epsilon, these releases solidified the label’s standing as a powerhouse in the Drum & Bass community. Into 2004 and we get the Skool Of Hard Knocks, a monumental compilation that brought the likes of Pendulum, Bad Company, Ill Skillz and Digital to the label. A year later we get Konflict - Messiah, one of the most groundbreaking tracks in the scene, that blew dancefloors everywhere away.
In this era we got music from Noisia, Chase & Status, Prolix, PSIdream, Quadrant, Teebee, Evol Intent and Spor.
Shift in Sound (2005-2010):
By the mid-2000s, Drum & Bass had started to fragment into a multitude of subgenres. Renegade Hardware, ever the trailblazer, responded to this shift by continuing to evolve its sound, incorporating elements of neurofunk, tech-funk, and even elements of dubstep. While maintaining a dark, heavy sound, the label’s releases grew increasingly sophisticated in terms of sound design and structural complexity.
This period also saw the emergence of Renegade Hardware’s legacy artists, such as Noisia, who would go on to become some of the most influential producers in electronic music. With tracks like "The Tide" and "Stigma," Noisia’s involvement with the label helped shape the direction of Drum & Bass production, favoring crisp, razor-sharp basslines, futuristic soundscapes, and complex rhythms.