EURO Trance

Euro-Trance is a retrospective term first used in the UK, during the spring of 2002, by UK's MTV Dance. It was used to describe all the "trance"-like European imports for the UK market, especially those recorded in Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium. The term was never accepted by the rest of Europe, with the exception of Poland and parts of Italy

Music styles considered "Euro-Trance"

Dream House

Dream house was a short-lived 90s European music style (Robert Miles, BBE, Nylon Moon, Zhi-Vago, Chicane). It is not the best music for physical dancing, rather it was more of a "dance with your mind" music style. It also had a speed up sub-genre, dream trance.

Progressive Trance

Progressive trance (130 bpm+) & Euro progressive house (129 bpm or less). It's almost the same music style since about 2000, that's why many Europeans simply call it "Progressive". Well known artists are: ATB, Blank & Jones, Alice DeeJay, Sash!, Tiësto, Armin Van Buuren, Veracocha, Push, Paul Van Dyk, EX-PLOSION, Markus Schulz, Cressida, Deepsky, Manny Ward, and Lost Tribe. Progressive trance also combines many other mid late 90s music styles, with more notable Epic Trance and Aquasonic Trance.

Vocal Trance

Vocal trance: From 1997-2003, this music style was simply progressive trance with vocals. It dominated by German-based productions, spread all over Europe because of Viva, Onyx and MTV2 Pop satellite music channels. TMF Belgium/Holland (and JIM Belgium during the 00s) followed the "hype", by promoting their own vocal trance productions, that became more commercial successful on UK and Spain. UK also has a share on the vocal trance scene, but in a more underground level. Vocal Trance artists include: Cascada, ATB, Ian Van Dahl, Lasgo, Sylver, Milk Inc, Dj Sammy, Santamaria, Do, Dee Dee, Astroline, Kate Ryan, Kelly Llorenna, Flip & Fill, and Jessy De Smet.

Uplifting House or Uplifting Trance

Uplifting house / uplifting trance is a style very close to European progressive house/trance music style. It is less focused on melody and more focused on attitude. Vocals are usually present. It has influences from happy hardcore, breakbeat even techno. It was (and still is) very popular in German speaking countries and has a cult status among UK dance fans. Typical examples of this music style are: Brooklyn Bounce and Darude.

Heroic

Heroic is a style of Euro-Trance originating in the western part of the USA, that derives elements from Euro-Trance, Hardstyle, Psytrance, Opera, Hard Trance, and Classical music. A new subgenre of Trance, it is characterized by heavy kickdrums and deep basslines from the German Euro-Trance sound, driving arpeggiations from Psytrance, breakdowns utilizing classical music instrumentation and opera singing and wide, hard trance leads normally used in Epic Trance and German Euro-Trance productions. Melodies generally use chords typical of Middle Eastern styles of music, and minor keys, to create a darker, more dramatic feel. Dubbed "the dark side of Epic Trance," Heroic avoids the typical major chord progressions and happy vocals in favour of a more mystic and operatic approach. The only label that currently releases Heroic music is Ocean Drive Records, in Florida.