You want hard, hmm try acid lord hes still in the realm of techno, but he is so powerful and minimalist: its scary. Nostrum was always uber hardcore -> same with a choice bunch of raver fx. Come to think of it, most of my faves are somewhat harder. Cosmic gate had some hardtrance, as did Mr (DJ) Scot Project...

But I have to say I'm very similar to ya abt, once when i was entering the whole electronic scene, the greatest of the familiar trancers led the way, but yea im getting a little tired of the softer sound, and looking for crazier stuff (look up mp3.com/tommiehansen, hes sinister just like acid lord). I find myself dippin into D&B, hard house, industrial tech, and everything in between and around..

And yea as you once pointed out, Picotto knows wassup<-