Schranz is a European (especially German) variant of hard style techno music. It is typically played at around 150–170[citation needed] beats per minute (BPM) but can also be slower. Schranz is based on massive kick drums, driving percussion, and distorted, looping synthesizer noises. The term emerged in 1994 when Frankfurt-based DJ Chris Liebing described a certain type of techno while searching for records at the now closed "Boy Records" store.