Robert Gajdos is a Slovakian artist known for his involvement with dISHARMONY and his solo work under the Oxyd moniker. For several years now, Robert has also been crafting music as Headdreamer. His sound blends IDM and atmospheric, Cinematic-Electronic music, exploring themes of emotional depth and introspection. His latest opus, “Echoes,” continues this exploration and is the fifth studio album released on Aliens Production. I had the opportunity to ask Robert a few questions. (Courtesy by Inferno Sound Diaries)

Q: In addition to Headdreamer, you are also involved with dISHARMONY and have previously released work as Oxyd. Can you tell us more about these projects and how they relate to Headdreamer? Should we consider HEADDREAMER as your main project?

Robert: Headdreamer is a project where I express my personal feelings, moods, and experiences as I navigate through life. It’s separate from my other projects and isn’t necessarily my main focus -it’s more about self-expression. dISHARMONY, on the other hand, is a collaboration between myself and Ryby from Aliens Production, where we each bring our own influences, creating something distinct from Headdreamer. Oxyd was the project that initially pushed me to explore different sounds beyond what I was doing with dISHARMONY. Ultimately, all these projects are about capturing specific emotions at a given moment.

Q: What sets Headdreamer apart from your other projects? What makes it particularly special for you, and what inspires the music you create for it?

Robert: Headdreamer is closely tied to my spiritual journey and personal growth. It’s a walk between light and darkness, between the polarities of life -angels and demons. I’ve come to understand that everything originates from a single source, and it’s from there that I draw the ideas, emotions, and messages for my music. The project reflects the inner search for peace and balance, a theme that resonates deeply with me.

Q: Your music with Headdreamer is distinctive, characterized by a blend of intelligent electro sounds, intricate arrangements, and a pronounced space-like atmosphere. Can you tell us a bit more about the sound-DNA of Headdreamer?

Robert: I always strive to capture that initial spark, that idea, as soon as it comes to me. I believe this musical inspiration flows through me from entities beyond earth. The sense of space and melancholy in my music is intentional, meant to evoke a state that transcends earthly time and allows listeners to look within their souls, seeking healing.

Q: Let’s talk about your latest full-length album, “Echoes.” What is the concept behind this album, and how did the creation process unfold?

Robert: Ryby from Aliens Production, who is also my best friend, encouraged me to create this album. He wanted my songs to be available on a physical CD and suggested I compose additional tracks to fit the concept. I’m very grateful to him for this opportunity, as it allowed my music to reach more people. I composed a few songs, Ryby handled the cover graphics, and the album was ready. It was another great collaboration.

Q: Can you reveal more about the different stages of composing and producing “Echoes”? How critical are you of your own work, and are there specific albums or artists you consider as benchmarks for production quality?

Robert: As I mentioned, I create based on my mood and emotions, always aiming to capture the moment. I believe every artist is in a continuous process of self-improvement and expression. That’s why I don’t place anyone above others -each artist is doing the best they can at any given moment. As for criticism, I leave it to others to evaluate my work. I trust that those who resonate with it will find it helpful on their journey.

Q: What does the future hold for Headdreamer? Are there any major dreams or projects you are looking forward to working on?

Robert: I don’t have specific plans or dreams when it comes to music production. That’s why every project feels like a new adventure -music without borders or limits. It’s my personal universe where I express myself and create. Whatever comes, comes. I believe everything happens in its own time. Thank you for the interview, and I wish everyone strength, health, and success.

Inferno Sound Diaries

I have been working for over 30 years with Side-line as the main reviewer. My taste is eclectic, uncoventional and I prefer to look for the pearls, even if the bands are completely unknown, thus staying loyal to the Side-Line philosophy of nurturing new talents.

www.side-line.com

The Slovakian music project Headdreamer is driven by Robert Gajdos (still involved with Disharmony and previously with Oxyd). “Echoes” moves on in the vein of the previous full length “From The Inside”. This is high-tech IDM with a layer of astral sounds on top. The atmosphere has something Cinematic where the slow rhythms make it all extra accessible and a bit sensual. This album contains several exceptional songs and is highly recommended but also a very representative work for Aliens Production. (Rate:8½).

Listen to “Meeting With Myself”:

About Headdreamer

Robert Gajdos is a Slovakian artist also known for his involvement with dISHARMONY, a collaboration with Ryby from Aliens Production, and his earlier solo work under the Oxyd moniker. Headdreamer blends IDM and atmospheric, Cinematic-Electronic music, exploring themes of emotional depth and introspection.

“Echoes” is Headdreamer’s fifth studio album, released on Aliens Production and following the earlier full length “From The Inside”.

Inferno Sound Diaries

I have been working for over 30 years with Side-line as the main reviewer. My taste is eclectic, uncoventional and I prefer to look for the pearls, even if the bands are completely unknown, thus staying loyal to the Side-Line philosophy of nurturing new talents.

www.side-line.com

Polish artist Tomasz Lukowicz remains highly prolific. He has released several releases as Fractal in recent years and is now back in action with this new 10-song album. The sound and influences once again take us back to old-school EBM with intelligent sound treatments and an exceptional sound canvas. Deep bass lines, subtle arrangements and a dark atmosphere are supported by slow, danceable rhythms. The ghostly voice does the rest. “Overload” will appeal to fans of Vomito Negro, Mortal Constraint and FLA. (Rate:8)

Listen to “I Cant Deny”:

About Fractal

Fractal is the dark electronic project of Polish-born musician Tomasz Lukowicz, who has been based in Chester, England, since 2004 and releases his work primarily through the Slovak label Aliens Production.

In mid-2021 Fractal debuted with the Aliens Production released albums “Human Error” and “A Unique Hybrid”, followed later that year by the ambient- and IDM-driven album “Equilibrium”, released on 1 October 2021.

Fractal’s collaboration with Aliens Production intensified in the following years. The 2021 album “Access Denied” collected earlier material originally written and recorded in 2015, and appeared as another digital release on the label. On 21 March 2022, Fractal issued the long-form album “Hologram”, a 14-track CD and digital release that further developed the project’s hybrid of industrial, IDM and electro, again with artwork by Ryby and mastering by Anatoly “TOKEE” Grinberg.

In 2023 Lukowicz released the albums “Last Day On Earth” and “Solar System” followed by the CD “Antidote”, released on 9 June 2023 as a limited digipack edition of 100 copies. Later that year the four-track “Network” EP arrived as a digital release.

On 18 April 2024 Fractal released “Overload”, a digital and CD album which continued the project’s move toward denser, beat-focused material while retaining the minimal production approach heard on earlier records. The album was mastered by Anatoly “TOKEE” Grinberg and packaged as a limited 4-page digipack CD with design by Ryby.

Inferno Sound Diaries

I have been working for over 30 years with Side-line as the main reviewer. My taste is eclectic, uncoventional and I prefer to look for the pearls, even if the bands are completely unknown, thus staying loyal to the Side-Line philosophy of nurturing new talents.

www.side-line.com

Genre/Influences: Cinematic, Minimal-Electro, Industrial, IDM.

Format: Digital, CD.

Background/Info: Peter Rybar aka ‘Ryby’ strikes back with the second full length album of his Triode side-project. We know this Slovakian artist for his involvement with Disharmony and of course as label owner.

Content: NullVector” became more diversified than its predecessor “Karma” (2022). The compositions are still inspired and driven by Cinematic/Ambient music but “NullVector” is also exploring a more intelligent side of Electronic music. Another familiar element are the passages with Gregorian chants. Notice by the way that Headdreamer, Stone Wired and Oxyd (another project Ryby has been involved with) have been contributing to one song each.

+ + + : I liked the debut-album but “NullVector” is even more convincing. I enjoy the album’s diversity made of sound intelligence featuring subtle sound treatments and delicate arrangements. The opening cut “Silver Line” is a great exposure but I also have to mention “Dementia” for its Gregorian chants and “Shadows” for its delicate composition. The work tracklist evolves towards a darker and menacing final part which is a great apotheosis.

– – – : I regret there aren’t more songs featured on this album.

Conclusion: “NullVector” is an excellent successor to the debut album of Triode; intelligent Electro-Cinematic music with a darker touch on top.

Best songs: “Silver Line”, “Shadows”, “Dementia”.

Rate: 8.

Artist: www.facebook.com/triodeatmos

Label: www.label.aliens.sk / www.facebook.com/pages/Aliens-production-label/200028820052578

About Triode

Triode is the solo project of Slovakian artist Peter Rybar, also known as “Ryby”, who is additionally involved with Disharmony and runs the label Aliens Production. Triode released the EP “Atrium” in 2021, followed by the debut album “Karma” in February 2023. “NullVector” is Triode’s second full-length album, released via Aliens Production in June 2024, and was followed by the albums “Innocence” in November 2024 and “Demolition” in May 2025.

Inferno Sound Diaries

I have been working for over 30 years with Side-line as the main reviewer. My taste is eclectic, uncoventional and I prefer to look for the pearls, even if the bands are completely unknown, thus staying loyal to the Side-Line philosophy of nurturing new talents.

www.side-line.com

Genre/Influences: EBM, Cinematic.

Format: Digital.

Background/Info: Tomasz Lukowicz has released an impressive number of productions under the Fractal moniker in a very short lapse of time; This EP featuring four songs was released by the very last days of 2023. And comes after the “Antidote“-album.

Content: The EP takes off with the title song which is a new, well-crafted and sophisticated piece of EBM featuring ghosty-like vocals. All other cuts are more into a rhythmic Cinematic approach reinforced by the instrumental format.

+ + + : “Network” is a great title song which stands for intelligent EBM; icy sound treatments and a spooky atmosphere empowered by the vocals. I can’t say the 3 songs left are B-side cuts but clearly revealing another side of the artist. These tracks remain well-crafted while the rhythmic make it more accessible. “Drill” is an interesting cut to explore.

– – – : Despite of the great title song the other cuts left aren’t exactly the kind of stuff connected with an EP format.

Conclusion: Cool EBM and modern Cinematic music.

Best songs: “Network”, “Drill”.

Rate: 7.

Artist: www.facebook.com/tomasz.lukowicz.1

Label: www.label.aliens.sk / www.facebook.com/pages/Aliens-production-label/200028820052578

About Fractal

Fractal is the electronic project of Polish-born musician Tomasz Lukowicz, based in Chester, England. The sound draws on Front Line Assembly, Haujobb, Forma Tadre and Noise Unit-style EBM and industrial. Lukowicz released the albums “Last Day On Earth” and “Solar System” in 2023, followed by the limited CD “Antidote” in June 2023 on the Slovak label Aliens Production. The four-track “Network” EP arrived later that year, and “Overload” followed in April 2024.

Inferno Sound Diaries

I have been working for over 30 years with Side-line as the main reviewer. My taste is eclectic, uncoventional and I prefer to look for the pearls, even if the bands are completely unknown, thus staying loyal to the Side-Line philosophy of nurturing new talents.

www.side-line.com

Genre/Influences: IDM, Dark-Electro, Cinematic, EBM.

Format: Digital, CD.

Background/Info: Slovakian duo dISHARMONY is now active for more than twenty years. Driven by Aliens Production label owner Peter ‘Ryby’ and Robert Gajdos (Headdreamer) they both also got involved with Oxyd. This must be their fourteenth full length album (including remix albums) which has been preceded by the promising EP’s “Mindhunter” (2022) and “Abyss” (2023).

Content: The album sounds like a  continuation of the “Resonance”-album released in 2021. And it even moves a step further mixing different influences together. There’s the unavoidable IDM basis of the project supported with intelligent and minimal EBM influences which might remind you of Frontline Assembly but also an Electro-Industrial style which vaguely evokes Mortal Constraint and an explicit Cinematic touch. The vocals create a ghost-like effect which is fitting with some anxious passages running through the album.

+ + + : This is for sure one of the most eclectic albums of the band although it remains carried by the refined IDM touch. dISHARMONY is fully representative for the high qualitative level of the label and has accomplished a new tour de force. They feel comfortable dealing with all different influences which have been mixed together in a strong sonic mould. The title song sounds as the best exposure of this evolution in sound; minimal, intelligent and somewhere in between IDM and EBM. Other great exponents are “Blood For Glory” and “Empty Room With Demons” wherein the anguishing, dark, atmospheric side hangs over the work. Last but not least I also want to say a word about the outstanding ‘cyber’ artwork of the front cover but especially the booklet.

– – – : A  few cuts -like “The Path Of Miracles – Headdreamer Edit” are maybe too much into Cinematic exploration and less ‘classical’ dISHARMONY-minded.

Conclusion: dISHARMONY remains the ultimate showcase for the sonic intelligence of Aliens Production; again a meticulous and precious work.

Best songs: “Pendulum”, “Empty Room With Demons”, “Blood For Glory”, “Broken Paths Of Souls – HD Theme Triode Edit”, “Mindhunter – Reverse”, “Indifference”.

Rate: 8½.

Artist: www.facebook.com/dISHARMONY.Offical

Label: www.label.aliens.sk / www.facebook.com/pages/Aliens-production-label/200028820052578

About dISHARMONY

dISHARMONY is a Slovakian duo active for more than twenty years, driven by Aliens Production label owner Peter “Ryby” and Robert Gajdos of Headdreamer, both also involved with Oxyd. “Pendulum” is the project’s fourteenth full length counting remix albums, preceded by the “Mindhunter” (2022) and “Abyss” (2023) EPs and the 2021 album “Resonance”. Side-Line spoke with Robert Gajdos about Headdreamer in the ‘Music Without Borders Or Limits’ Click Interview.

Inferno Sound Diaries

I have been working for over 30 years with Side-line as the main reviewer. My taste is eclectic, uncoventional and I prefer to look for the pearls, even if the bands are completely unknown, thus staying loyal to the Side-Line philosophy of nurturing new talents.

www.side-line.com

Genre/Influences: Electro, Cinematic, IDM.

Format: Digital.

Background/Info: “Two Poles” is a kind of split-EP although bringing the Hungarian Emanation project in the spotlight. This duo driven by Peter Voros (Polar Star) and Balazs Vinnui Varga (Nadragea) has been featured by two songs plus two remixes by End-Tek which is a side-project of Hungarian musician George Turoczy (Human Vault). The last song is by End-Tek.

Content: I think there’s no other description than Electro-Cinematic music to explain the sonic approach of Emanation. Both remixes are held in the Cinematic format although accentuated by rhythm. End-Tek achieved a similar Cinematic cut.

+ + + : This is not exactly the most accessible work although interesting for its atypical Cinematic style; it feels like infused by IDM. I personally prefer both remixes by End-Tek and especially “Dark Sun”  which has something visionary.

– – – : This work is interesting and easy to listen to if you’re familiar with the Aliens Production roster although it’s not exactly a production I’ll keep in mind. I’m missing a touch of magic.

Conclusion: I expected a bit more from Emanation while it would have been cool to get more End-Tek songs.

Best songs: “Dark Sun – Line Of Initiation – Remix by End-Tek”.

Rate: 6.

Artist: www.mortum.net / www.facebook.com/mortum.exabyss

Label: www.label.aliens.sk / www.facebook.com/pages/Aliens-production-label/200028820052578

About Emanation / End-Tek

Emanation is a Hungarian duo formed by Peter Voros, also known for Polar Star, and Balazs Vinnui Varga, also known for Nadragea. End-Tek is a side project of Hungarian musician George Turoczy, otherwise known for Human Vault. Both acts release through Czech label Aliens Production.

“Two Poles” pairs two Emanation songs with two End-Tek remixes plus one further End-Tek track, presenting the two projects’ Electro-Cinematic and IDM-infused sound side by side.

Inferno Sound Diaries

I have been working for over 30 years with Side-line as the main reviewer. My taste is eclectic, uncoventional and I prefer to look for the pearls, even if the bands are completely unknown, thus staying loyal to the Side-Line philosophy of nurturing new talents.

www.side-line.com

Genre/Influences: EBM.

Format: Digital, CD.

Background/Info: CSIBD is an American solo-project driven by Andrey Lozhkin. After a previously released album CSIBD joined hands together with Czech label Aliens Production to first release the EP “Infected” followed by the new album “Liberated By Insignificance” dealing with dystopian topics.

Content: The work sounds definitely old-school EBM and is characterized by sophisticated writing. The debut part sounds even a bit complex and chaotic while quite progressively we’re discovering more accessible cuts accentuated by solid bass lines and strings.

+ + + : I like the cyber-horror artwork of the album which is fitting with the content. The sound might be old-school but the way it has been achieved comes from a talented musician. I don’t want to compare CSIBD to FLA and related formations but I think it might appeal to the fans of these bands. I personally prefer the second half of the work which remains elaborated, and molded, but still more accessible. “Precautions” sounds like a terrific exposure but I also have to mention “Monday Blues”, “Corporate Justice” and “Infected”.

– – – : I can’t say the debut tracks are hesitant but they’re maybe a bit too complex.

Conclusion: CSIBD is an interesting project for lovers of intelligent EBM.

Best songs: “Precautions”, “Monday Blues”, “Corporate Justice”, “Infected”, “Lost Generation” .

Rate: 8.

Artist: www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063508629670

Label: www.label.aliens.sk / www.facebook.com/pages/Aliens-production-label/200028820052578

About CSIBD

CSIBD is an American solo project run by Andrey Lozhkin, working in old-school EBM. Following a previously self-released album, CSIBD signed to Czech label Aliens Production, which issued the EP “Infected” ahead of the full-length “Liberated By Insignificance”, an album built around dystopian themes.

Inferno Sound Diaries

I have been working for over 30 years with Side-line as the main reviewer. My taste is eclectic, uncoventional and I prefer to look for the pearls, even if the bands are completely unknown, thus staying loyal to the Side-Line philosophy of nurturing new talents.

www.side-line.com

Referring to the events that unfolded globally, 2023 has again been a bloody, terrible year. Music continues to be a true therapy for soothing pain and suffering, though it seems to have a diminishing impact on the ongoing horror. Therefore, I’m once again wrapping up the year with a personal selection of my very own ‘best of’ albums.

Throughout the year, over 700 productions were selected, and 450 reviews were conducted. Some productions were declined because the style of music didn’t fit, others weren’t reviewed for not being ‘good enough’, while a final portion of reviews will be postponed to early 2024. I am immensely grateful to all the labels, bands, and promoters for considering my work, and I look forward to collaborating again in 2024.

I extend my deepest gratitude and thanks to Rich Bova (NEIKKA RPM), who has been reading, correcting, and improving the reviews for many years. Without Rich, these reviews would not exist. I also want to thank Bernard Van Isacker, chief editor of Side-Line Music Magazine, for our ongoing, successful collaboration. Last but not least, I thank my lovely wife, Katja, for giving me the time and freedom to pursue my passion.

However…

Looking ahead to 2024, I’ve been scaling back my activities for a few years and plan to reduce them further. Having started with my first reviews and interviews back in 1991, I feel the end drawing near. My aim is to reach 2025, but nothing is certain. I’ve grown a bit tired and disillusioned with how things are evolving.

That’s why I want to express a big ‘F*** you’ to so-called ‘artists’ and label owners who fail to realize or appreciate the work I do in creating reviews and preparing interviews to spotlight them. Guys, I do this for free and in my free time! The attitude and lack of respect shown by some – fortunately a very few – is very, very sad. But, I’m afraid it reflects the world we live in. Behind a genius artist doesn’t always stand a great person. It’s odd realizing that the ‘biggest’ and long-established artists in this scene are often the most accessible.

Writing reviews remains highly subjective and a source of discussion. Remember, it’s always the reviewer’s perception. I assure you, I always strive to substantiate my reviews as best as possible. A review is subjective but must be honest!

Like every year, I’ve selected the best albums of the year 2023. This ‘TOP 25’ encompasses various styles like EBM, Dark-Electro, IDM, Synth-Pop, Ethereal, Dark-Ambient, Industrial, Ritual, Cinematic, Gothic, Post-Punk, Cold/Dark-Wave, Dark-Techno, and a few related genres. It’s always an exciting yet challenging task.

This ‘TOP 25’ is based on the promotional material I received, excluding compilations, ‘best of’ productions, EPs, and singles. So, here’s my ‘TOP 25’ from 2023, and don’t forget to share it with your friends…

Stéphane Froidcoeur (for Inferno Sound Diaries/Side-Line Reviews)

Top 25 albums of the year 2023

1. CERULEAN VEINS “Black” Cold Transmission Music
2. LIEBKNECHT “Fabrikat” Ant-Zen
3. FRONTIER GUARDS “Colony” Aliens Production
4. SOPOR AETERNUS & THE ENSEMBLE OF SHADOWS “Alone At Sam’s – An Evening With…” Apocalyptic Vision / Trisol
5. WAVESHARD “Waveshard” Corvus Records
6. THE EMPATH “Black Hole” Audiophob
7. VNV NATION “Electric Sun” Metropolis Records
8. EFF DST “Incarnate” Ant-Zen
9. ENZO KREFT “XL” Enzo Kreft
10. DELEYAMAN “The Sudbury Inn” TTO Records
11. GIRLS UNDER GLASS “Backdraft” Dependent Records
12. ALIEN VAMPIRES “Return Me To Hell” Alfa Matrix
13. SUN’S SPECTRUM “The Silence After The Fall” Cold Transmission Music
14. DANIEL MYER “Hingab” Sonic Groove
15. SHROUDS “Shrouds” Hands
16. DIARY OF DREAMS “Melancholin” Accession Records
17. MONO INC “Ravenblack” NoCut / SPV
18. ROME “Gates Of Europe” Trisol
19. OHNE NOMEN “The S-Witch” Cold Transmission Music
20. THE SEVEN WHORES OF THE APOCALYPSE “All Through The Waste” Scanner / Dark Dimensions
21. SPANKTHENUN “The Bunker Tapes Vol.3” SpankTheNun
22. BLACKCARBURNING “Watching Sleepers” COP International
23. GOD BODY DISCONNECT “The Weight Of Regression” Cryo Chamber
24. MILDREDA “Blue-Devilled” Dependent Records
25. PASCAL SAVY “Simulacra” Cyclic Law

Inferno Sound Diaries

I have been working for over 30 years with Side-line as the main reviewer. My taste is eclectic, uncoventional and I prefer to look for the pearls, even if the bands are completely unknown, thus staying loyal to the Side-Line philosophy of nurturing new talents.

www.side-line.com

Genre/Influences: IDM, Electro.

Format: Digital.

Background/Info: “Abyss” is meant as an appetizer to the new Disharmony-album “Pendulum Swing”. ‘Ryby’ brings us three new songs from  his next full length.

Content: “Pendulum” is somewhat different from the stuff we’re used to hearing from this Slovakian IDM-master. The track reveals EBM elements but especially the dark, haunting, atmosphere recovering the track is somewhat different while ghost-like vocals reinforce this feeling. Both other cuts are remixes from songs that will be featured as original edits on the next album. You’ll (re)discover the more familiar IDM -and instrumental, approach of Disharmony.

+ + + : This EP sounds like a great appetizer to the new full length. “Pendulum” isn’t totally innovating although revealing a less familiar side of Ryby. It’s still refined but also driven by bombastic percussions. Both cuts left bring us back to the sound intelligence of Disharmony; evasive, dark, a bit space-like and achieved with this unique subtle touch.

– – – : This work is just a teaser to the album so only for the die-hard fans.

Conclusion: Electronic music from a higher level!

Best songs: “Pendulum”, “Blood For Glory – Abyss Monolite Rmx”, “Empty Room With Demons – Abyss Atmo Rmx”.

Rate: 7½.

Artist: www.facebook.com/dISHARMONY.Offical

Label: www.label.aliens.sk / www.facebook.com/pages/Aliens-production-label/200028820052578

About Disharmony

Disharmony, also styled dISHARMONY, is the Slovak duo of Robert Gajdos, known as Lord Sauron, and Peter Rybar, known as Ryby, formed in the early 2000s. Rybar runs the pair’s own label, Aliens Production. Their releases include the “Memorized Skin” EP in 2016 and, later that year, “Fragments Of Time”, followed by “Resonance” in 2021, “Cloned III” in 2022, and the “Mindhunter” EP in 2023. “Abyss” served as a teaser to the following album, “Pendulum”, released in January 2024.

Inferno Sound Diaries

I have been working for over 30 years with Side-line as the main reviewer. My taste is eclectic, uncoventional and I prefer to look for the pearls, even if the bands are completely unknown, thus staying loyal to the Side-Line philosophy of nurturing new talents.

www.side-line.com

Genre/Influences: IDM, EBM, Experimental, Ambient.

Format: Digital, CD.  

Background/Info: This compilation is an opportunity to discover the music universe of Aliens Production; a label run by Slovakian Peter Rybar (Disharmony) and active since the late 90s. This compilation features 16 artists -while you get 2 more at the digital edit.

Artists: Triode, AKMD, Calm-T feat. Mortum, Holon, Jash Teua, Niadragea, Morbid Fance, Disharmony, Mortal Constraint, Human Vault, Tokke, Kryotronic, Bieker, Synta[XE[rror, KIFOTH, Drifting In Silence.

Content: You’ll discover a fine selection of ‘old’ label servants next to ‘younger’ projects while there’s also a noticeable feature by legendary Mortal Constraint and Morbid Fancy. This album covers different styles from IDM to sophisticated EBM and from Electro-Experimental to Cinematic music.

+ + + : The compilation reveals a fine selection of great artists which all have composed an exclusive track for this compilation. That makes the compilation really interesting and even essential. Mortal Constraint delivered an intelligent piece of music and remains a project I’m missing in this scene. Morbid Fancy is another project that was active during the 90s. I’m not sure they made a come-back for this sampler but probably deliver a previously unreleased song from the past which sounds as intelligent EBM. Disharmony stands for pure IDM appealing to fans of Clock DVA. I also have to mention a great and atmospheric cut by AKMD, the haunting EBM from KIFOTH and the IDM-driven songs from Synta[XE]rror and Kryotronic.

– – – : I’m still perplex why this label never got more recognition.

Conclusion: The perfect work to get contaminated by the unique sound universe of Alien Productions.

Best bands: Morbid Fancy, Disharmony, Mortal Constraint, KIFOTH, Kryotronic, Synta[XE]rror, Tokee, AKMD.

Rate: 8.

Label: www.label.aliens.sk / www.facebook.com/pages/Aliens-production-label/200028820052578

About Aliens Production

Aliens Production is a Slovakian record label run by Peter Rybar, also known for his own project Disharmony, active since the late 1990s. The label has released material from acts including Disharmony, Fractal, Human Vault, KIFOTH and Morbid Fancy. This compilation gathers sixteen Aliens Production artists on one release, each contributing an exclusive track.

Inferno Sound Diaries

I have been working for over 30 years with Side-line as the main reviewer. My taste is eclectic, uncoventional and I prefer to look for the pearls, even if the bands are completely unknown, thus staying loyal to the Side-Line philosophy of nurturing new talents.

www.side-line.com

Genre/Influences: EBM.

Format: Digital, CD.

Background/Info: Polish Tomasz Lukowicz has been very prolific in a rather short lapse of time. “Antidote” is already a new work featuring ten songs. 

Content: Fractal stands for EBM but not only that genre. “Antidote” however has been deeply infused by EBM elements but still being driven by sophisticated sound treatments and minimal passages. The work features unpolished parts next to harder cuts. You’ll also discover a few instrumental cuts.

+ + + : Fractal is using EBM as a basis to construct a very own style recovered with great sonic, dark, atmospheres. I like the refined, and sophisticated side of the work which is resulting in cool sound treatments. “Paralyzed”, “Erased Memories” and “Awakening” are songs exposing this great approach. There’s an interesting twist running throughout this work between delicate parts and a kind of unpolished production. The ghost-like vocals are perfectly fitting to the work.

– – – : “Antidote” is not exactly the kind of music for dancefloors which is fine to me but a every few dancefloors tracks would be a bonus.

Conclusion: Fractal is a project I especially recommend to EBM lovers who’re still open to discovering bands ‘out of the box’.

Best songs: “Paralyzed”, “Erased Memories”,  “Awakening”, “Drowning Promises”, “Unbending Time”.

Rate: 8.

Artist: www.facebook.com/tomasz.lukowicz.1

Label: www.label.aliens.sk / www.facebook.com/pages/Aliens-production-label/200028820052578 Read the news on ‘Antidote’.

About Fractal

Fractal is the one-man EBM project of Polish musician Tomasz Lukowicz, released through the Slovakian label Aliens Production. “Antidote”, the ten-track album reviewed here, was mastered by Anatoly “TOKEE” Grinberg and draws on influences including Front Line Assembly, Haujobb, Forma Tadre and Noise Unit, combining synthetic, pulsating electronics with melancholic instrumental passages.

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I have been working for over 30 years with Side-line as the main reviewer. My taste is eclectic, uncoventional and I prefer to look for the pearls, even if the bands are completely unknown, thus staying loyal to the Side-Line philosophy of nurturing new talents.

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Out via the Slovakian label Aliens Production is the all new album by the one-man project Fractal. The new album called “Antidote” is out on CD and available also in digital formats.

Behind Fractal we find the Polish EBM musician Tomasz Lukowicz. Tomasz: “The brand new album is a work whose production took place in the previous months, so this is a new direction and view of my musical world. Musically, the project is on a synthetic wave full of pulsating electronics and melodic structures. Of course, the melancholic instrumentals are also included in the new concept, where they are a strong part of the album.”

The 10-track album, mastered by Anatoly TOKEE Grinberg, is heavily influenced by bands such as Front Line Assembly, Haujobb, Forma Tadre, Noise Unit and related acts.

Here’s the video for “Leaving a dead planet” (Predator mix). Read the review of ‘Antidote’.

Bernard - Side-Line Staff

Chief editor of Side-Line – which basically means I spend my days wading through a relentless flood of press releases from labels, artists, DJs, and zealous correspondents. My job? Strip out the promo nonsense, verify what’s actually real, and decide which stories make the cut and which get tossed into the digital void. Outside the news filter bubble, I’m all in for quality sushi and helping raise funds for Ukraine’s ongoing fight against the modern-day axis of evil. Besides music I’m also an SEO and AI content flow specialist and have an interest in everything finance from stocks to crypto. There is music in everything!

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Genre/Influences: IDM, Electro-Ambient, Experimental.

Format: Digital.

Background/Info: “Substitution” is a split album between Dmitriy Nikolaenko (RecFrag) and Anatoly Grinberg (Tokee). The connection between this Belarusian and Russian artists is friendship which for this work resulted in three songs created by each artist.

Content: Both artists are also connected by their passion and devotion for electronic music. They both are mixing and switching from IDM to Ambient to pure Experimental music. Subtle and dreamy passages are carried by rhythms which can become bombastic.

+ + + : Both artists deliver great passages but I’ve been more impressed by the sound intelligence of Tokee. Both debut cuts of this artist are mixing great ambient atmospheres together with rhythmic. It’s a subtle sound collage. RecFrag remains an interesting project which caught my attention by menacing bass lines and his mix of reverie and rhythm.

– – – : I’ve never been an addict of split releases and even if this work sounds pretty cool I would have preferred to hear a full length album from each project instead of this split release.

Conclusion: Friendship as basis for a creative process resulting in IDM.

Best songs: RecFrag: “Big Fish” + Tokee: “Detective Snow”, “Modularity”.

Rate: 7.

Artists: www.solanic.org/artists/recfrag / www.facebook.com/iamtokee

Label: www.label.aliens.sk / www.facebook.com/pages/Aliens-production-label/200028820052578

About RecFrag and Tokee

RecFrag is the IDM/electro-ambient project of Belarusian producer Dmitriy Nikolaenko. His earlier CD album “Recovered Fragments” was released via Aliens Production in 2017.

Tokee is the project of Russian producer Anatoly Grinberg. Under the name Tokee & Tapage he released the album “The Collider Circle” via Hymen Records in 2021.

“Substitution”, reviewed here, is the pair’s first joint release, issued via Aliens Production in 2023.

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I have been working for over 30 years with Side-line as the main reviewer. My taste is eclectic, uncoventional and I prefer to look for the pearls, even if the bands are completely unknown, thus staying loyal to the Side-Line philosophy of nurturing new talents.

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Genre/Influences: Ambient-Electro, IDM.

Format: Digital, CD.

Background/Info: Czech artist Martin Pavlik strikes back with the seventh full length album of his sonic brainchild Frontier Guards. He got help from Patrick Lev (Cydonia 2056) while a female singer ‘Mia Bohemia’ sings on one track.

Content: “Colony” has been announced as a ‘new sound and concept’ and that’s true. You immediately notice a very explicit space-like sound atmosphere which is reminding me of Ambient pioneers but Frontier Guards also holds on its very own sound identity. So in the end you get a fascinating mix between Tangerine Dream and Clock DVA. Evasive passages have been driven by slow, sophisticated, rhythms while other passages are more into bombast and Industrial sound treatments featuring icy, menacing, elements. Both last tracks are remixes featuring one by Pyrroline.

+ + + : Seven is the final state of accomplishment in alchemy… and this is exactly how I would define the seventh album by Frontier Guards. I’ve always supported this project from the very first work and each new album revealed new discoveries. But I now get the feeling the project’s Pandora’s box has been really opened, creating new sonic paths while holding on to the intelligent Electronics from the past. A deeply, astral, sonic travel created by outstanding sound treatments and arrangements mixing bombast and refinement. The way the composition has been accomplished makes me think of an imaginary sonic surgery; meticulous and precise.

– – – : Both remixes are great but just a level below the original tracks; no reason to complaining!

Conclusion: Frontier Guards has already accomplished great works but “Colony” might be considered as one of the absolute references. It’s just a pity this project never got more recognition!

Best songs: “Moon Landing”, “Phobos”, “Space Race”, “Cydonia 2056”, “Artefact”.

Rate: 9.

Artist: www.frontierguards.eu / www.facebook.com/frontierguardscz

Label: www.label.aliens.sk / www.facebook.com/pages/Aliens-production-label/200028820052578

About Frontier Guards

Frontier Guards is the electronic project of Czech musician Martin Pavlik, known for a sound blending ambient-electro, IDM and industrial elements. Pavlik has released albums via Aliens Production, UTSC and Advoxya Records, returning to Aliens Production for his fifth album “#You#” in 2019 and continuing the partnership since. “Colony” is his seventh full-length under the Frontier Guards name, again released via Aliens Production, and features a collaboration with Patrick Lev on the track “Cydonia 2056” and a guest vocal from Mia Bohemia.

Inferno Sound Diaries

I have been working for over 30 years with Side-line as the main reviewer. My taste is eclectic, uncoventional and I prefer to look for the pearls, even if the bands are completely unknown, thus staying loyal to the Side-Line philosophy of nurturing new talents.

www.side-line.com

Genre/Influences: Experimental, IDM, EBM.

Format: Digital.

Background/Info: Slovakian duo Peter Rybar (Oxyd, Triode and label owner) – Robert Gajdos (Headdreamer) released this new EP by the end of 2022.

Content: Those who’re familiar with the sophisticated sound of Disharmony will rapidly recognize the band’s sound trademark. The EP features 2 main tracks mixing elements of IDM together with EBM. It sometimes reminds me of a sonic hybrid between Clock DVA (for the sound intelligence) and Yelworc (for the dark spheres). There are also 2 other tracks which are more a kind of experimental interlude.

+ + + : Both main songs but especially the title track is a great piece of music. Intelligent, dark, underground Electronics with an unpolished production but maximum sound efficiency featuring haunting vocals on top.

– – – : Both tracks left don’t bring any bonus and rather sound as demos.

Conclusion: Disharmony in a way stands for the sound of Aliens Production; intelligent and sophisticated music for Electronic gourmets.

Best songs: “Mindhunter”, “Dune”.

Date: 8.

Artist: www.facebook.com/dISHARMONY.Offical

Label: www.label.aliens.sk / www.facebook.com/pages/Aliens-production-label/200028820052578

About Disharmony

Disharmony was set up in the early 2000s by Slovakian musicians Robert Gajdos, also known as Lord Sauron, and Peter Rybar, also known as Ryby. The duo released three albums on Tympanik Audio before that label closed, followed by “Fragments Of Time” in late 2016 on Aliens Production, the label Rybar runs himself. Gajdos also records as Headdreamer, while Rybar is behind the projects Oxyd and Triode. The “Mindhunter” EP followed by the end of 2022.

Inferno Sound Diaries

I have been working for over 30 years with Side-line as the main reviewer. My taste is eclectic, uncoventional and I prefer to look for the pearls, even if the bands are completely unknown, thus staying loyal to the Side-Line philosophy of nurturing new talents.

www.side-line.com

Genre/Influences: Experimental, Cinematic, Ambient-Electro.

Format: Digital.

Background/Info: Next to the “Last Day On earth”-album we last year also got another ‘old’ work released by Polish Fractal. “Solar System” was originally written in 2009.

Content: Tomasz Łukowicz reveals a totally different sound approach and influences than at “Last Day On Earth”. There’s no single EBM trace here but a deep, space-like Electro sound experiment. The work has been accomplished with the ‘usual’ knowledge revealing elaborated sound sculptures.

+ + + : This work has less in common with the EBM & IDM driven productions. This work rather sounds as an experiment or call it an ‘etude’ for a further Soundtrack. The work remains instrumental which leaves us the opportunity to listen more carefully to the writing of this work. The very last cut “Jupiter” is my favorite for the deeper bass line and subtle bleeps.

– – – : Sometimes a bit too Experimental to my taste.

Conclusion: Fractal isn’t not exactly the most accessible project in its genre and especially this more Experimental work but it remains precision work.

Best songs: “Jupiter”, “Miranda”.

Rate: 7.

Artist: www.facebook.com/tomasz.lukowicz.1

Label: www.label.aliens.sk / www.facebook.com/pages/Aliens-production-label/200028820052578

About Fractal

Fractal is the solo project of Polish musician Tomasz Łukowicz, released through the Slovakian label Aliens Production. “Solar System” was originally written in 2009 and issued digitally alongside the “Last Day On Earth” album. The project later returned with the “Antidote” album in 2023 and “Hide in the light” in January 2026.

Inferno Sound Diaries

I have been working for over 30 years with Side-line as the main reviewer. My taste is eclectic, uncoventional and I prefer to look for the pearls, even if the bands are completely unknown, thus staying loyal to the Side-Line philosophy of nurturing new talents.

www.side-line.com

Genre/Influences: EBM, Minimal-Electro.

Format: Digital.

Background/Info: Polish Tomasz Łukowicz active as Fractal has released an impressive number of productions during the past few years. “Last Day On Earth'” brings us back to the early days of his Fractal sonic project. Seven songs originally written in 2007 but released in 2022.

Content: You clearly recognize the minimal- but sophisticated sound approach this artist would later on develop. It clearly appeals for lovers of Clock DVA and related bands. It’s a dark approach of Minimal-Electro mixing sung- and instrumental songs.

+ + + : I salute the maturity of these tracks which were originally written in the early days of Fractal. I like this sound intelligence, the artist having a nose for small, sonic, details.

– – – : It’s not the best Fractal work but I think those who know the later work will be ravished to hear how it all started.

Conclusion: This is not the most accessible or successful side of Electronic music but it’s one for fine tasters.

Best songs: “New Hope”, “Contact”.

Rate: 7½.

Artist: www.facebook.com/tomasz.lukowicz.1

Label: www.label.aliens.sk / www.facebook.com/pages/Aliens-production-label/200028820052578

About Fractal

Fractal is the dark electronic project of Polish-born musician Tomasz Lukowicz, based in Chester, England, since 2004, releasing primarily through the Slovak label Aliens Production. Fractal debuted in mid-2021 with the albums “Human Error” and “A Unique Hybrid”, followed later that year by “Equilibrium”, released 1 October 2021, and “Access Denied”, which collected material originally written and recorded in 2015. On 21 March 2022 Fractal issued the 14-track album “Hologram”, with artwork by Ryby and mastering by Anatoly “TOKEE” Grinberg.

“Last Day On Earth”, the subject of this review, gathers seven tracks Lukowicz originally wrote in 2007. Fractal went on to release “Solar System” and the digipack CD “Antidote” later in 2023, followed by the four-track “Network” EP, and issued “Overload” as a digital and CD album on 18 April 2024.

Inferno Sound Diaries

I have been working for over 30 years with Side-line as the main reviewer. My taste is eclectic, uncoventional and I prefer to look for the pearls, even if the bands are completely unknown, thus staying loyal to the Side-Line philosophy of nurturing new talents.

www.side-line.com

Genre/Influences: Cinematic, Minimal-Electro, Electro-Ambient.

Format: Digital.

Background/Info: Slovakian Robert Gajdos released most of his works on Aliens Production. This self-released EP features three new songs which like the title indicates are dealing with dreams.

Content: This is a new exploration of Cinematic ambiances composed with electronics. The Cinematic style has been carried by slow rhythms while accentuated by deep, vibrating, bass lines and refined bleeps.

+ + + : Especially the opening track features a new genius, composition by Headdreamer. The way the song has been built up and accentuated by the Cinematic tune and low, bass line is absolutely magnificent. The songs are perfectly matching the concept of the work.

– – – : The last cut sounds a bit less inspired and appears to be a B-side cut.

Conclusion: Dreams are clearly inspiring to Headdreamer so I can only wish him to go on dreaming…

Best songs: “On The High Sea”, “Lost In The Fog”.

Rate: 7½.

Artist: www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100002327217146

About Headdreamer

Headdreamer is a solo project of Slovakian musician Robert Gajdos, who also records as Oxyd and is one half of dISHARMONY alongside Ryby of Aliens Production. Headdreamer’s music blends IDM with atmospheric, cinematic electronics, built around themes of introspection and emotional depth, and is released primarily through Aliens Production.

“Dreamer”, the self-released EP reviewed here, gathers three tracks built around the theme of dreams. Gajdos continued the project with further Aliens Production releases, including the fifth Headdreamer studio album, “Echoes”.

Inferno Sound Diaries

I have been working for over 30 years with Side-line as the main reviewer. My taste is eclectic, uncoventional and I prefer to look for the pearls, even if the bands are completely unknown, thus staying loyal to the Side-Line philosophy of nurturing new talents.

www.side-line.com

Genre/Influences: EBM, Dark-Electro.

Format: Digital, CD.

Background/Info: This is the eighth full length album by Hungarian born -but based in New-York (USA) Gyorgy Turoczy aka ‘Mortum’, better known for his project Human Vault. The album follows the March 2022 remix set “Carnal Motives”, released as a pause before this new full-length.

Content: The dark atmospheres supporting the production are clearly more important than pure EBM power. And yet this work can be described as EBM but the kind of music reminding me of projects like Yelworc and early Skinny Puppy. The rhythmic remains slow to accentuate the impact of the dark atmospheric side which is totally fitting with the spooky production of the vocals. The last songs are remixes by Zeven Odd Gods, D-Mon and Epilepsy Morbid Rotten. Notice the last remix is only featured on the CD format.

+ + + : The dark and obscure atmosphere is prominent. The record reflects minimalism although a very sophisticated writing. The last part featuring remixes sounds more danceable like having been made for dancefloors.  All these remixes are exceptional pieces but I especially recommend the harder work by Zeven Odd Gods.

– – – : I always feel sorry for an artist when I prefer remixes by other artists instead of the original edits. But it doesn’t take away that Human Vault once again confirms great writing skills dealing with a moodier side of EBM.

Conclusion: EBM where the power lays in the poignant atmospheres.

Best songs: “My Belief Is Static – Zeven Odd Gods Remix”, “What Dissolves The One”, “What Dissolves The One (Stone Cut) Remix D-Mon”, “Carnal Motives”. 

Rate: 8.

Artist: www.facebook.com/mortum.exabyss

Label: www.label.aliens.sk / www.facebook.com/pages/Aliens-production-label/200028820052578

About Human Vault

Human Vault is the dark electro and EBM project of Hungarian-born, New York-based musician Gyorgy Turoczy, active under the alias Mortum since 1997. Turoczy has released most of his work through his own label, Exabyss Records, founded in 2005. In a February 2022 Click Interview with Side-Line, he named Human Vault, the Hungarian project Nadragea, and his project Stone Wired as the three he considers most important among his many outlets.

Human Vault joined the Slovak label Aliens Production for the 2011–2021 retrospective “God Under Construction” and the “Self Rust” album, followed by the “Carnal Motives” remix set in March 2022. “Fragment Existence” is Turoczy’s eighth full-length album under the Human Vault name.

Inferno Sound Diaries

I have been working for over 30 years with Side-line as the main reviewer. My taste is eclectic, uncoventional and I prefer to look for the pearls, even if the bands are completely unknown, thus staying loyal to the Side-Line philosophy of nurturing new talents.

www.side-line.com

Genre/Influences: Minimal-Electro, EBM.

Format: Digital.

Background/Info: Nadragea is a Hungarian project driven by ‘Mortum Exabyss’ aka Human Vault and assisted by Miklos Takacs. They already released a few works together and unleashed “Formakba Tomoritett Trendek” as their newest collaboration.

Content: The album features 9 songs plus 4 remixes. The sound is mainly characterized by minimal sound treatments and slow rhythms. You’ll notice EBM elements on top but the production is definitely more Experimental. The vocals have been produced in a ghost-like way. Remixes have been delivered by Hungarian projects Cyberbob, Calm T, Gary and Planet Damage. 

+ + + : I like the work for its minimalism; putting the power in the atmospheres instead of BPM’s and fast, repetitive, sequences. The work sounds as a challenge but revealing noticeable pieces like “Flesh Algorithm (Hus Algoritmusa)” and “Ruins On Purpose (Celszeru Romok)”. The remixes by Calm T and Planet Damage bring more club-orientated edits.

– – – : This album sounds like a challenge which I’m afraid will only catch the attention of a very restricted number of Electro heads.

Conclusion: Total minimalism with attitude!

Best songs: “Flesh Algorithm (Hus Algoritmusa)”,  “Ruins On Purpose (Celszeru Romok)”, “Empty Room (Ures Szoba) –  Inverted Soul by Calm T, “Empty Room (Ures Szoba) – PlanetDamage Edit”.

Rate: 7.

Label: www.label.aliens.sk / www.facebook.com/pages/Aliens-production-label/200028820052578

About Nadragea

Nadragea is a Hungarian dark electro project driven by Gyorgy Turoczy, the Hungarian-born, New York-based musician known under the alias Mortum for his main project Human Vault, working together with Miklos Takacs. Turoczy has released music since 1997, largely through his own label Exabyss Records, founded in 2005. In a February 2022 Click Interview with Side-Line, Turoczy named Human Vault, Nadragea, and his project Stone Wired as the three he considers most important among his many outlets.

“Formakba Tomoritett Trendek” is a Nadragea release on Aliens Production, the Slovak label that also issued Human Vault’s 2011–2021 retrospective “God Under Construction”. The album brings 9 songs plus 4 remixes from fellow Hungarian producers Cyberbob, Calm T, Gary, and Planet Damage.

Inferno Sound Diaries

I have been working for over 30 years with Side-line as the main reviewer. My taste is eclectic, uncoventional and I prefer to look for the pearls, even if the bands are completely unknown, thus staying loyal to the Side-Line philosophy of nurturing new talents.

www.side-line.com

Genre/Influences: Dark-Ambient, Cinematic.

Format: Digital, CD.

Background/Info: “Karma” is the debut album by Aliens Production owner Peter ‘Ryby’ Rybar -who’s also involved with Disharmony.

Content: “Karma” is an album which brings good-old Dark-Ambient influences together with pure cinematic music. It’s a dark sonic walk mixed with Gregorian chants; these passages create an obscure, sacred, dimension. Low sound resolutions accentuate the tormenting effect of the production.

+ + + : Triode is a new and interesting project for enlarging the sonic horizon of Aliens Production but also for its high, qualitative, level. It’s a perfect osmosis between earlier Dark-Ambient productions and obscure Cinematic music. It’s an overwhelming production where the global atmosphere is holding you in its grip while the mystical chants are adding a sacred and in a way also ritual touch.

– – – : I regret there are only 8 tracks featured while the tracks remain pretty short as well.

Conclusion: Triode will come and tickle your darkest thoughts to bring you into a dark world of fantasy and horror.

Best songs: “Nightmare”, “Karma”, “Human Detox”, “Dream”.

Rate: 7½.

Artist: www.facebook.com/triodeatmos

Label: www.label.aliens.sk / www.facebook.com/pages/Aliens-production-label/200028820052578

About Triode

Triode is the solo dark-ambient project of Peter Rybar, also known for his work in Disharmony and as the owner of the Slovak label Aliens Production. Triode debuted with the EPs “Into The Deep” and “Atrium” in 2021, followed by the debut album “Karma” in 2023.

“Karma,” reviewed here, brings Dark-Ambient influences together with cinematic music and Gregorian chants across eight tracks. Triode continued with the albums “NullVector” (2024) and “Demolition” (2025), both also released via Aliens Production.

Inferno Sound Diaries

I have been working for over 30 years with Side-line as the main reviewer. My taste is eclectic, uncoventional and I prefer to look for the pearls, even if the bands are completely unknown, thus staying loyal to the Side-Line philosophy of nurturing new talents.

www.side-line.com

Genre/Influences: Electro-Pop, EBM, Cinematic, Tribal.

Format: Digital, CD.

Background/Info: Denis Tverdokhleb this released the third full length album of his Stairway Maze sonic brainchild. After two albums released by Aliens Production, the new opus has been released in his homeland, Russia, by ScentAir Records.

Content: After the great “Kelevra”-album Stairway Maze released a surprising work on which he collaborated with multiple guest artists. The main evolution is the addition of vocals, although some songs are still instrumental edits. It creates a diversified work which moves from Dark-Electro-Pop to EBM but also from Industrial/Tribal to the familiar Cinematic style. Human Vault, Martin Rudefelt (Cryo), Ryby (Disharmony), Bettina Bormann (Oberer Totpunkt), Peter Vercauteren (Pro Patria), Michael Roeder (A Spell Inside) and Emma Barson (Promenade Cinéma) contributed by vocals to this work. 

+ + + : This new opus stands for a major evolution in this project’s history. I regretted there were no vocals featured on the previous album and “DecisionFatigue” brings a nice -and sometimes surprising selection of vocalists. It creates a varied work mixing different styles together. I’m totally convinced by the Dark-Pop approach on “The Final stand” featuring Martin Rudefelt which sounds a bit like Skinny Puppy going Electro-Pop like. I also recommend “Invisible Threat” featuring Peter V. and “Flames” featuring Ryby, both cuts sounding as harsh EBM. There also is “Conspiracy” featuring Michael Roeder which is a refined Electro-Pop song. But the absolute masterpiece is “Gaia’s Mantra” featuring Bettina Bormann on a Tribal-Industrial song with a true uplifting effect.

– – – : I can’t say there are songs to throw away but the final track “Neon Eyes” featuring Emma Barson sounds totally different from the rest and is a a bit like an antithesis to the rest of the work.

Conclusion: Stairway Maze remains a great and intelligent Electro format. It’s also surprising to see this kind of artist being released on ScentAir Records which definitely enlarges the sonic horizon of the label.

Best songs: “Gaia’s Mantra”, “The Final Stand”, “Flames”, “Invisible Threat”, “Conspiracy”.

Rate: 8½.

Artist: www.facebook.com/iamstairwaymaze

Label: www.scent-air.com / www.facebook.com/ScentairRecords

About Stairway Maze

Stairway Maze is the solo project of Denis Tverdokhleb, a musician from Petrozavodsk in the Russian region of Karelia. He mixes IDM, ambient, EBM and cinematic music.

Aliens Production released the first two Stairway Maze albums, among them “Kelevra” in 2019. Tverdokhleb discussed that record with Side-Line in “‘Click Interview’ with Stairway Maze: ‘What Is A Tower Block If Not A Stairway Maze?’”.

“Decision Fatigue”, the third album and the record reviewed here, was released on 18 February 2022 on the Russian label ScentAir Records and holds ten tracks. The Bandcamp track titles credit Bettina Bormann of Oberer Totpunkt on “Gaia’s Mantra” and Martin Rudefelt of Cryo on “The Final Stand”.

Inferno Sound Diaries

I have been working for over 30 years with Side-line as the main reviewer. My taste is eclectic, uncoventional and I prefer to look for the pearls, even if the bands are completely unknown, thus staying loyal to the Side-Line philosophy of nurturing new talents.

www.side-line.com

Genre/Influences: Dark-Electro, EBM, IDM.

Format: Digital, CD.

Background/Info: After having released three albums on Aliens Production, the Slovakian Samhain project strikes back with their new opus which is the first one released on Electrofrequent. The Samhain members are still involved with the pure EBM project Last Influence Of Brain.

Content: This work is a true sonic symbiosis between EBM (mainly reminding me of Frontline Assembly), Dark-Electro and IDM. The composition features vintage sound treatments and is mainly driven by a slow cadence. There’s a mix of instrumental- and sung tracks.

+ + + : Just imagine a sonic offspring between Frontline Assembly, Front 242, Yelworc and Lassigue Benthaus and you might have an idea about Samhain’s new opus. The dark atmospheres are immensely powerful. The sound treatments are unpolished, raw, and yet subtle. This is a new masterpiece by this Slovakian combo but I especially recommend listening to “The Hole – Stanford Experiment”, “Project 4.1”, “Black Sun 731 – Unit 731” and “Monstrum”. I also have to say a word about the industrial-like and metallic front cover.

– – – : Those guys have accomplished a new masterpiece so no minus points to mention.

Conclusion: Samhain stands for intelligent Electronics with a vintage flavor and yet that visionary.

Best songs: “The Hole – Stanford Experiment”, “Project 4.1”, “Black Sun 731 – Unit 731”, “Monstrum”, “Guatemala Experiment”, “Project MK Ultra”.

Rate: 8½.

Artist: www.facebook.com/Samhain-music-1072520006194485

Label: www.electrofrequent.com / www.facebook.com/Electrofrequent-102179464888936

About Samhain

Samhain is a Slovak electronic project. Discogs lists Blazena, Bob and Solo as its members and records Last Influence Of Brain as an alias of the same line-up.

The project debuted with “Violent Identity” on Aliens Production in 2006. The same label issued “One Minute To Twelve” in 2017, “Blind Devotion” in 2018 and the remix set “One Minute To Intoxicate” in 2020. Electrofrequent then released the 25-track retrospective “25 Years” in 2021 and the single “The Carol Of The Bells” in 2025.

Side-Line lists the 2022 album as “Xperiment”, while Discogs files the same Electrofrequent release under the title “Experiment”. It is the project’s first full length for the label.

Inferno Sound Diaries

I have been working for over 30 years with Side-line as the main reviewer. My taste is eclectic, uncoventional and I prefer to look for the pearls, even if the bands are completely unknown, thus staying loyal to the Side-Line philosophy of nurturing new talents.

www.side-line.com

Genre/Influences: IDM, Minimal-Electro, Experimental, Cinematic.

Format: Digital, CD.

Background/Info: Polish solo-project Fractal is driven by Tomasz Łukowicz. Last year he released four (!) full length albums by Aliens Production. “Hologram” is the first physical release by this artist featuring fourteen songs. We get a mix of new- and previously released material.

Content: The sound universe of this composer is clearly based upon complex, but minimal Electronics. The songs are carried by deep, resonating, bass lines and mixed with crystalline bleeps and space atmospheres. Most of the tracks are driven by slow rhythms and broken beats. It remains an instrumental composition.

+ + + : Fractal already took me by surprise last year releasing some exciting productions. We now get some of the best cuts from previous albums mixed with new tracks. It’s an intelligent composition which is  diversified. Now driven by down tempo cadence and next by dynamic, broken beats. It also is a subtle composition characterized by crystalline bleeps and space atmospheres. Some cuts remind me a bit of the modern approach of Lassigue Bendthaus.

– – – : This work is not the most accessible Electro format and is probably suited for a very restricted and fine tasted number of music lovers.

Conclusion: Fractal is a great new ambassador of Aliens Production; pure Electro-intelligence!

Best songs: “A.I.”, “Sinchronized Clics”, “Gravity Is The Problem”, “Existence”, “Neuron”, “Nest”.

Rate: 8½.

Artist: www.facebook.com/tomasz.lukowicz.1

Label: www.label.aliens.sk / www.facebook.com/pages/Aliens-production-label/200028820052578

“Hologram” was issued on 21 March 2022 as a fourteen-track CD and digital album, with artwork by Ryby and mastering by Anatoly “TOKEE” Grinberg.

Listen to “Hologram”:

About Fractal

Fractal is the dark electronic project of Polish-born musician Tomasz Lukowicz, who has been based in Chester, England, since 2004 and releases his work primarily through the Slovak label Aliens Production.

In mid-2021 Fractal debuted with the Aliens Production released albums “Human Error” and “A Unique Hybrid”, followed later that year by the ambient- and IDM-driven album “Equilibrium”, released on 1 October 2021. The 2021 album “Access Denied” collected earlier material originally written and recorded in 2015 and appeared as another digital release on the label.

“Hologram” followed on 21 March 2022 and is the first Fractal title pressed to CD. The fourteen-track set carries artwork by Ryby and mastering by Anatoly “TOKEE” Grinberg, both of whom stayed with the project on later records including the 2023 CD “Antidote” and the 2026 album “Hide in the light”.

Inferno Sound Diaries

I have been working for over 30 years with Side-line as the main reviewer. My taste is eclectic, uncoventional and I prefer to look for the pearls, even if the bands are completely unknown, thus staying loyal to the Side-Line philosophy of nurturing new talents.

www.side-line.com

Genre/Influences: Minimal-Electro, IDM, Experimental.

Format: Digital, Cassette.

Background/Info: Slovakian project Disharmony strikes back with the third volume of the “Cloned”-series. Next to the impressive discography “Cloned” reveals a mix of previously unreleased material and remixes Peter Rybar (Aliens Production label owner) and Robert Gajdos made for other artists. The cassette format ( available as a limited double cassette release) features extra tracks which you’ll not find in the digital version.

Content: Disharmony remains driven by meticulous and sometimes complex writing. It’s a fusion between different influences resulting in a Minimal-Electro composition and IDM passages. Some tracks are more into an Experimental vein. The rhythms are now slow and then broken. Disharmony composes music to simply listen to but also music you can dance on. Next to the previously unreleased songs you’ll also discover remixes they made for Blood In My Veins, Egoist, Spherical Disrupted, Full Contact 69 and Human Vault.

+ + + : Disharmony remains driven by an unique minimal approach revealing intelligent sound treatments. The writing is complex although accessible and even features more ‘danceable’ cuts. “Decontamination” is a great track for dancefloors. Among the other songs I enjoyed the remix for Her Blood In My Veins which is a cool IDM song. The remix of “Your Hollow Eyes” originally written by Human Vault is another great piece of music. The song is progressively evolving, mixing the EBM touch of Human Vault with the minimalism of Disharmony with spooky vocals on top.

– – – : Disharmony remains an interesting but somewhat difficult experience for inexperienced people.

Conclusion: This series remains interesting for its global sound intelligence but especially the way Disharmony sounds like appropriating other artist’s music.

Best songs: “Your Hollow Eyes”, “Decontamination”, “Option Ecliptic”, “Operation Final Entity”.

Rate: 8.

“Cloned III” was released on 9 February 2022, eight months after the “Resonance” album.

Listen to “Cloned III”:

Artist: www.disharmony.aliens.sk / www.facebook.com/dISHARMONY.Offical

Label: www.label.aliens.sk / www.facebook.com/pages/Aliens-production-label/200028820052578

About Disharmony

Disharmony, also written as dISHARMONY, is a Slovak electronic duo formed in the early 2000s by Robert Gajdos, who works as Lord Sauron, and Peter Rybar, who works as Ryby. Rybar runs Aliens Production, the label that has carried most of the duo’s catalogue.

The discography opens with “Moonflower” in 2002, followed by “Zoomer” in 2004, “Collapse” in 2005, “X Frames” in 2006 and “Malignant Shields” in 2007. “Cloned :: Other Side Of Evolution” in 2008 started the series continued by “Cloned II” in 2014 and by this album. “Evolution” appeared in 2009 and “Room 78” in 2013.

“Fragments Of Time” and “Memorized Skin” both arrived in 2016, the “Subdivided” EP in 2019, “Reborn” in 2020 and “Resonance” in 2021. Side-Line published a ‘Click Interview’ with Disharmony in February 2017. After “Cloned III” the duo issued the “Mindhunter” and “Abyss” EPs and the “Pendulum” album.

Inferno Sound Diaries

I have been working for over 30 years with Side-line as the main reviewer. My taste is eclectic, uncoventional and I prefer to look for the pearls, even if the bands are completely unknown, thus staying loyal to the Side-Line philosophy of nurturing new talents.

www.side-line.com

Out now via the Slovakian Aliens Production labels the new Human Vault remix-album “Carnal Motives”. The release comes after the “God Under Construction” and the “Self Rust” album.

The album acts as a pause before the band releases its brand new album “Fragment Existence”. The 15-track remix-album holds reworks by bands such as First Aid 4 Souls, E.N.D. and Aras Focum, dISHARMONY, Novakill and Terminal State next to many other tracks.

You can download the remix-album right below.

Bernard - Side-Line Staff

Chief editor of Side-Line – which basically means I spend my days wading through a relentless flood of press releases from labels, artists, DJs, and zealous correspondents. My job? Strip out the promo nonsense, verify what’s actually real, and decide which stories make the cut and which get tossed into the digital void. Outside the news filter bubble, I’m all in for quality sushi and helping raise funds for Ukraine’s ongoing fight against the modern-day axis of evil. Besides music I’m also an SEO and AI content flow specialist and have an interest in everything finance from stocks to crypto. There is music in everything!

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Hungarian born Gyorgy Turoczy aka ‘Mortum’ has been releasing music as Human Vault since 1997. Operating from (USA) he released an impressive discography. While nearly all of his work has been (self)released on Exabyss Records he joined hands together with Aliens Production unleashing a kind of retrospective work featuring songs composed between 2011 and 2021. “God Under Construction 2011 – 2021” is an album appealing for lovers of intelligent and sophisticated Electronic music reminding artists like Skinny Puppy, Frontline Assembly, Mortal Constraint ao.

(Courtesy by Inferno Sound Diaries)

Q: You’re already  involved with music for quite a long time, but can you tell us how you got in touch with Electronic music and how Human Vault saw the daylight?

Mortum: Well, in 1987 my sister bought a cassette album of Pet Shop Boys, the title was “Actually” and I did love it a lot. However, the old accountant guy next door had quite a big vinyl record collection, and he showed me 2 albums, both from the legendary project, Tangerine Dream. “Phaedra” and “Rubycon”, they were my first real encounters with Electronic music. No whining, crying and high pitched ‘male’ vocals that you can hear on almost every synth pop new wave album. No dancefloor oriented rhythms and easy listening melodies. Tangerine Dream opened a door to an entirely new realm of soundcrafting and sound miracles. It was just a matter of time for me to start seeking for deeper and more daring sounds.

A few years later, when I got myself into occult literature, I found a label with amazing music. That label was Cold Meat Industry from Sweden. I became obsessed with its releases [not the dungeon synth Mortiis] and super soon I found myself collecting European Industrial music as well.

Over the years I gradually emerged myself into creating sounds, field recordings, super cheap synths and noise boxes, tape modulations and found objects with contact mics. Human Vault as a music project slowly became part of my life. No exact date when the name was first used as the official project name, but the first cassette release of mine was named as Human Vault in 1997.

Q: You’re involved with an impressive number of projects, which makes me say music clearly is a true passion. What does music mean to you and what makes the differences between all of your projects/bands? Is there any project more important than another?

Mortum: Music means everything to me! I listen to music for hours and hours a day. I also can do both of my favorite activities together at the same time, reading and listening to music, which is great and a serious time saving, too. I know I am involved in a good number of projects and it can be many times very exhausting.

Lately I have put an end to many of my projects so that I will be able to focus on the few remaining ones in the future. Hence the answer to your question, yes I consider Human Vault, the Hungarian Nadragea and my super deep and personal project, Stone Wired the most important ones. All the rest are fun and cool, and I love them, and I am serious about them, but if they are over I will not shed tears for them.

Q: Human Vault is clearly driven by good-old EBM standards, mixing power with dark atmospheres. What are your main sources of inspiration and what’s your global approach in composing the songs for Human Vault?

Mortum: When I write a song for Human Vault, I focus on rhythms. Otherwise I would end up writing another Stone Wired Death-Industrial-track. My inspiration comes from different sources. I Love Death-Industrial, Dark-Ambient music more than EBM. I also prefer old-school Dark-Electro music and here I am not talking about this Aggrotech, Trancy, Cyber Glitch, ‘cheesy’ Electro. All these influences will eventually get in the flow of composing a new song. A good track is about the author who writes it and not about the audience. I want to express something, tell something in a way I wanna tell, and I really do not give a damn if you as audience understand it or not. The problem here is that people think they are so important that music should be about them, about their feelings, their life…. that music is made for them, to entertain them, to satisfy them. At the beginning of time music was created in order to tell you a story, a story that has nothing to do with you and your feelings. A story that gives you meaning and not the other way, you give meaning to the story. Human Vault is being written with no restrictions and limitations. Human Vault does not care about anyone!

Q: You last year released the album “God Under Construction 2011 – 2021”, which is a kind of retrospective, right? How do you perceive this ‘retrospective’ and how did you see Human Vault evolving?  

Mortum:  “God Under Construction” is the actual essence of Human Vault. If one does not want to spend hours and hours listening in order to get familiar with the project, then this compilation is the right and perfect way to go. Although this release does not show the entire evolution of the music due to the fact that I had to omit tracks recorded in the very first period. Anything before 2011 is considered as a constantly fluctuating Experimental era where Dark-Electro and Death-Industrial could walk hand in hand together. Another reason why I really could not add tracks from that ear to this compilation is that I unfortunately lost all the archive files of the songs and all I have left is DAT / regular tape recordings. After 2011, Human Vault has been focusing on authentic Dark-Electro sounds putting experimental recordings aside so that I focused on this era only when I selected the tracks for the compilation. 

Q: Most of your work has been released on Exabyss Records, which is your own label and a platform for most of your projects. What have been your experiences so far and especially considering aspects like: distribution, promotion, physical formats vs. streaming platforms? And what might you expect from another label like Aliens Production?

Mortum: When I started distributing my recordings in 1997, I went through clubs, music related communities, from person to person interactions. I grabbed my cassettes and spread them amongst people, real people, not virtual existences. It took an enormous amount of time and effort, it drained my energy down to the core but it worked. People started asking me where to buy my releases. I had no platform for selling so I let it sink into oblivion. What a mistake I made. If I had grabbed that opportunity I could have built a good foundation of a fan base, but I missed that chance.

So in 2005, I officially launched my own label, Exabyss Records, and I faced the reality of a very indifferent market, a society that has been overrun and overwhelmed with abundant music. Just in the EBM genre now, at least 10 hours of new music can be reached via The Web with no effort daily. While in the 90’s, in my small town in Hungary, the EBM club community counted around 100-150 people and only 2 persons who wrote music, now in the same town the EBM fun club counts only 50 people at the most and 20 of them who write music. Put this standard pattern up in a big city scale like New York City where I live now. Only big names, such as Front 242 recently did, can draw in people in number over 300 for a live gig, which is far less than acceptable and way less than enough to pay the bills and create profit. There is no EBM club in NYC any more, and I am not making this up, that is the reality presently. All the darkwave and goth clubs can generate 80 to 150 people per club night, which is outrageous and sad. What about the musicians? Oh my gosh, NYC has got at least half a thousand musicians in the industrial genre and its sub-genres that regularly release music via the internet. You just can not keep up with this! Quantity over quality! You are tired already of digging through hundreds of hundred hours of new music just to find the real and good ones. In brief, as Exabyss Records, I realized that operating a record label is just adding to the global problem. I truly believe that stopping all distribution of music would give people time and space to breathe and relax as well as time to start appreciating music again. Therefore, as Human Vault, I create music for myself only. Aliens Production is willing to release my recordings and I am more than happy with that since I know there is a close circle of fans there that my sound can reach through the label, and that is enough for me.

Q: You’re Hungarian born, but living in the US. What are the main resemblances and differences when it comes to music and music culture?

Mortum: I honestly and truly have to admit that there is no difference between the music and its surrounding culture in the US and in Europe. Dead music market, ignorant audience, too many musicians and even more music, no appreciation on all levels, fashion freaks who dont give a damn about the music or its culture. There is no culture any longer! Only music! An overwhelming amount of music that no one listens to!
What we all have got, though!? An unoperational and deeply damaged society. A collective mind cracked open! People who scroll down the timeline of their social network and click on the like button without even reading the post or clicking on the link just to give at least a second listen to the song posted. People who gather virtual friends while not giving a damn about any of them! People who have no time to do something real in real life instead of spending hours and hours on social media networks where they also have no time to read or react to the posts. People, who are shallow and hollow in their heart! People like me, who are just meaningless and useless parts of the big machine… and we all know it but we just don’t care about it anymore!

Inferno Sound Diaries

I have been working for over 30 years with Side-line as the main reviewer. My taste is eclectic, uncoventional and I prefer to look for the pearls, even if the bands are completely unknown, thus staying loyal to the Side-Line philosophy of nurturing new talents.

www.side-line.com

Genre/Influences: Cinematographic, Electro-Ambient, IDM. 

Format: Digital, CD. 

Background/Info: “From The Inside” is the first new album in seven years for Headdreamer. The Slovakian project driven by Robert Gajdos (also involved with Disharmony and in a previous life with Oxyd) released a few EP’s in between 2014 and “From The Inside”. 

Content: Headdreamer stands for the intelligent Electronic approach of Aliens Production. It’s a pure Electronic album covering Ambient atmospheres and other cinematographic passages while the good-old IDM influence is constantly present. The tracks are instrumental edits –with the exception of the last song, driven by slow, broken rhythms. One of the most noticeable cuts is the adaptation of Disharmony’s “Lifelines” –originally released on the album “Room 78” (2013). 

+ + + : This is the kind of work reflecting a true intelligence in sound creation. The different influences have been meticulously brought together, creating a homogenous result. I like the delicate sound arrangements and the explicit dreamy synth atmospheres this work has been made of. The work has a relaxing effect. I have a preference for the last part of the album revealing several attention grabbers like “Snowflakes”, “Trinity” and “Trip Top Your Heart” featuring some vocal lines.Another song I highly recommend is the opening cut “Floating Higher”, which sounds like the perfect offspring between IDM and Ambient. 

– – – : The album is maybe missing a true climax, but I don’t see any reason to complain. 

Conclusion: “From The Inside” is a personal work standing for the eclectic and intelligent Electronic sound of Aliens Production. 

Best songs: “Snowflakes”, “Floating Higher”, “Trinity”, “Trip Top Your Heart”, “Lifelines”. 

Rate: 8.

Artist: www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100002327217146 

Label: www.label.aliens.sk / www.facebook.com/pages/Aliens-production-label/200028820052578 

About Headdreamer

Headdreamer is the solo project of Slovak musician Robert Gajdos, who also works in dISHARMONY with Ryby of Aliens Production and previously recorded as Oxyd. Gajdos has described Headdreamer as the outlet for his personal moods and experiences, separate from his other projects. His music mixes IDM with atmospheric, cinematic electronics.

“From The Inside” was released on 12 December 2021 by Aliens Production and holds ten tracks: “Floating Higher”, “From The Inside”, “I Saw Something Meets Triode”, “In The Underground”, “Life Is Loading Meets Tokee”, “Lifelines (original by dISHARMONY)”, “Sigil Of Eye”, “Snowflakes”, “Trinity” and “Trip To Your Heart”. The label described the album as building on concepts recorded on earlier EPs and compilations, extended with new material and collaborations.

Gajdos later released “Echoes”, his fifth studio album on Aliens Production, and discussed his projects in Click Interview with Headdreamer: ‘Music Without Borders Or Limits’.

Inferno Sound Diaries

I have been working for over 30 years with Side-line as the main reviewer. My taste is eclectic, uncoventional and I prefer to look for the pearls, even if the bands are completely unknown, thus staying loyal to the Side-Line philosophy of nurturing new talents.

www.side-line.com

Genre/Influences: IDM, Minimal-Electro.

Format: IDM. 

Background/Info: The Polish Fractal project this year signed to Aliens Production and already released three albums: “A Unique Hybrid”, “Human Error” and “Equilibrium”. Tomasz Łukowicz is already back on track releasing another album, which was originally written and recorded in 2015. 

Content: “Access Denied” clearly has similarities in the sounds and influences with previous productions, but this work sounds a bit more into IDM. There still is this Ambient/Cinematographic approach, but it all sounds like Fractal was more into minimalism a way back. Raw sound treatments, dark atmospheres and broken rhythms are the main ingredients this work has been made of. Industrial sound treatments can be heard as well. 

+ + + : “Access Denied” stands for pure, good-old IDM. The work is into reverie, but still a danceable side because of its slow cadence. I like the global production and its bleeping sequences and other refined arrangements, but I also enjoyed the ‘harder’ elements like Industrial noises empowered by heavy blasts. “Abacus” and “Don’t Turn The Key” both are pure sonic jewels standing for sophisticated Electronic music. 

– – – : The work would maybe be a bit more accessible by the addition of some vocal lines, but in this case it would maybe lose its IDM effect. 

Conclusion: This work brings us back to the ‘origins’ of Fractal and I’ve to admit it clearly already sounded as promising and cool IDM. 

Best songs: “Abacus”, “Don’t Turn The Key”, “Impact”, “Pxy 887”. 

Rate: 8.

Artist: www.facebook.com/tomasz.lukowicz.1 

Label: www.label.aliens.sk / www.facebook.com/pages/Aliens-production-label/200028820052578 

About Fractal

Fractal is the dark electronic project of Polish-born musician Tomasz Lukowicz, who has been based in Chester, England, since 2004 and releases his work primarily through the Slovak label Aliens Production.

In mid-2021 Fractal debuted with the Aliens Production released albums “Human Error” and “A Unique Hybrid”, followed later that year by the ambient- and IDM-driven album “Equilibrium”, released on 1 October 2021.

“Access Denied” appeared on 19 November 2021 as another digital release on the label and collected earlier material originally written and recorded in 2015. It holds nine tracks: “Impact”, “Pxy 887”, “Transarctic”, “Access Denied”, “NeST”, “Abacus”, “Dead End”, “Netu” and “Dont Turn The Key”. On 21 March 2022 Fractal issued the 14-track album “Hologram” on CD and digital, again with artwork by Ryby and mastering by Anatoly “TOKEE” Grinberg.

In 2023 Lukowicz released the albums “Last Day On Earth” and “Solar System” followed by the CD “Antidote”, released on 9 June 2023 as a limited digipack edition of 100 copies. Later that year the four-track “Network” EP arrived as a digital release. On 18 April 2024 Fractal released “Overload”, a digital and CD album, again as a limited 4-page digipack with design by Ryby and mastering by Grinberg. The project returned in January 2026 with “Hide In The Light”.

Inferno Sound Diaries

I have been working for over 30 years with Side-line as the main reviewer. My taste is eclectic, uncoventional and I prefer to look for the pearls, even if the bands are completely unknown, thus staying loyal to the Side-Line philosophy of nurturing new talents.

www.side-line.com

Genre/Influences: EBM, Industrial.

Format: Digital.

Background/Info: Hungarian born Gyorgy Turoczy aka ‘Mortum’ has been releasing music under the Human Vault moniker since 1997. Actually based in New-York (USA) this project released an impressive discography and got signed last year to Aliens Production. This album is a kind of retrospective featuring songs composed between 2011 and 2021. 

Content: Human Vault stands for a powerful sound, which might be best described as the imaginary offspring between FLA, Mortal Constraint and Skinny Puppy. The songs are elaborated and often reminiscent of the 90s. 

The work features 14 songs and 7 remixes by Willful Deception, First Aid 4 Souls, Gary, Nova State, PTR and 2 by Sik_Of_Novakill. 

+ + + : If you don’t know this band yet, the album is a perfect opportunity to get familiarized by the sophisticated and intelligent sound of Human Vault. The composition reflects intelligence characterized by impressive and overwhelming sound treatments. It’s a rough production and subtle. There’s a perfect balance between powerful tracks driven by faster rhythms and more evasive cuts revealing dark and powerful atmospheres. Among the remixes I noticed great contributions by Sik_Of_Novakill, Gary and Nova State. 

– – – : I think it’s a pity this band isn’t more known by the EBM audience. That’s why I would have preferred to get more ‘older’ songs instead of remixes –even if the remixes are excellent!

Conclusion: I’m really wondering how Human Vault will evolve, but this project can look back at a very strong basis. 

Best songs: “Do Not Believe In You”, I Pray I Die”, “This Hate (Edit), “You Deny (Edit)” + “This Hate – Abjection Mix by Sik_Of_Novakill”, “This Hate – Neuroclub Remix by Gary”. 

Rate: 8.

Artist: www.facebook.com/mortum/exabyss 

Label: www.label.aliens.sk / www.facebook.com/pages/Aliens-production-label/200028820052578

About Human Vault

Human Vault is the dark electro project of Gyorgy Turoczy, who records as Mortum. He started the project in Hungary in 1997 and later relocated to New York.

Early material appeared without a label, among it the “Fuck Symbols Fuck Gods” EP in 2002 and the albums “Pagan Propaganda” in 2005 and “Mutilated Dreams” in 2007. From 2008 his own Exabyss Records issued “Where Gods Die”, “Omnium Humanity” in 2009, the double CDr “Tears Of The Quiet Ones” in 2011, “Existence Means Nothing” in 2014 and the CD “As The Beggars” in 2015.

Cassette releases on No Labels Interested followed with “For All Your Religions” and the “DataSect” EP in 2017 and the “It Is War Again” EP in 2019. Exabyss Records issued “The Immortality Craft” and the double-cassette compilation “The Box” in 2019, the “Self Rust” EP and “The Evoke Of The Terrific Nothing” in 2020. Aliens Production released the compilation “God Under Construction [2011-2021]” in 2021, and Phage Tapes issued a CD version in 2022.

The remix album “Carnal Motives” followed in March 2022, a month after Side-Line published a Click Interview with Human Vault. The “The Undermining Instrument Of Fate” EP arrived later in 2022, the compilation “The Vault” in 2023, “All Must Be Gone” in 2025 and “Waiting Is Endless” in 2026.

Inferno Sound Diaries

I have been working for over 30 years with Side-line as the main reviewer. My taste is eclectic, uncoventional and I prefer to look for the pearls, even if the bands are completely unknown, thus staying loyal to the Side-Line philosophy of nurturing new talents.

www.side-line.com

Genre/Influences: IDM, Cinematographic.

Format: Digital. 

Background/Info: Tomasz Lukowicz has released three albums in 2021. The prolific Polish producer already revealed great things with “Human Error” and now strikes back with his third work featuring ten new songs. 

Content: “Equilibrium” moves on where previous work(s) stopped; it’s a sophisticated composition, exploring more explicit IDM fields. there still is a dense and overwhelming Cinematographic style, which is constantly driven by rhythms, but the work is clearly evolving. 

+ + + : “Equilibrium” is a great piece of music; it’s an intelligent composition built up with great sound treatments like subtle bleeps, heavy blasts and solid bass lines. The mix between IDM and Cinematographic passages sounds in perfect balance. This is without a shadow of a doubt the most accomplished Fractal-opus to date.  

– – – : It would be interesting to hear some passages with vocals and/or chants. 

Conclusion: Fractal has evolved in a rather fast way, but this album clearly sounds like a strong basis and even a reference to move on with.

Best songs: “Microsphere”, “Hacked Mind”, “Equilibrium”, “Hologram”.

Rate: 8.

Artist: www.facebook.com/tomasz.lukowicz.1 

Label: www.label.aliens.sk / www.facebook.com/pages/Aliens-production-label/200028820052578 

About Fractal

Fractal is the dark electronic project of Polish-born musician Tomasz Lukowicz, who has been based in Chester, England, since 2004 and releases his work mainly through the Slovak label Aliens Production.

Fractal debuted in mid-2021 with the albums “Human Error” and “A Unique Hybrid”. “Equilibrium” followed on 1 October 2021, and “Access Denied” collected earlier material written and recorded in 2015.

The 14-track album “Hologram” arrived on 21 March 2022, with artwork by Ryby and mastering by Anatoly “TOKEE” Grinberg. “Last Day On Earth” and “Solar System” followed in 2023, along with the limited digipack CD “Antidote” on 9 June 2023 and the four-track “Network” EP. “Overload” arrived on 18 April 2024, and the album “Hide in the Light” in January 2026.

Inferno Sound Diaries

I have been working for over 30 years with Side-line as the main reviewer. My taste is eclectic, uncoventional and I prefer to look for the pearls, even if the bands are completely unknown, thus staying loyal to the Side-Line philosophy of nurturing new talents.

www.side-line.com

Polish musician Kuba Włodarski set up Egoist around 2002/2003 as a solo Electro-Industrial music project. A self-released demo CD came to light in 2004, and was followed by live gigs. In 2008 Kuba had the pleasure to collaborate with ‘Jan Siuta Art Gallery’ in Krakow, which resulted in the “Phazes”-album; Industrial-Ambient music to accompany cycle of exhibitions: “Ritual, Rhythm, Harmony”. In 2020 the digital version of the album “Breaking Moment” got released by Slovak label Aliens Production and followed by a limited physical release in 2021. The album is clearly appealing for lovers of Canadian EBM reminding Front Line Assembly. The album is a well-crafted and sophisticated work. Recently the digital remix album “Phantoms” has been released on Aliens Production as well.  

(Courtesy by Inferno Sound Diaries)

Q: Egoist is an ‘older’ project, which has been reactivated, right? Can you tell us how you got involved with music and what kind of music/sound did you wanted to create with Egoist?

Kuba: Egoist is an old project indeed, but it was rather hibernated than abandoned… I was always involved in doing music, but even when I was working in some cooperative projects covering slightly different musical stylistics, I was always keeping Egoist in back of my mind, and was composing ‘Egoist’ songs –slowly but surely…

Q: Your sound is clearly driven by EBM influences reminding Front Line Assembly. What’s your perception of EBM and what’s the impact of Frontline Assembly and other sources of inspiration on your own music? How do you transpose these influences into an own sound?

Kuba: I always had a soft spot for Canadian Electro-Industrial music. Skinny Puppy, Numb, early Psyche and of course Front Line Assembly. What kept me interested, especially in Skinny Puppy and FLA, was the complexity of their sound, attention to almost every detail that emerges in the background, helping to create rich, evolving sonic atmospheres. As to the FLA –in my early stuff I might have been under too much influence regarding song structures, etc., it seems, however, that I managed to broke off that convention as you may hear in more recent songs.

I really appreciated, but was never too carried away by classic European EBM bands such as Front 242, DAF or Nitzer Ebb. I was always intrigued in more complex alternative ‘body’ music – like Haujobb, Gridlock as well as classic industrial acts.

Q: Tell us a bit more about the re-release of “Breaking Moment”, which was originally (self)-released in 2004 as an EP. And what can say about the extra songs?

Kuba: The self-released demo consisted of 5 original tracks and a remix of a Controlled Collapse song. It was received rather well by the audience and gave me opportunity for live shows. In 2005 I did a gig in Bratislava, during ‘Apocalyptic Visions’-festival, organized by Ryby (Peter Rybar) of Disharmony and Aliens Production label. During full European lockdown AD 2020 Peter contacted me and proposed releasing a full LP with tracks from my demo plus previously unpublished material. I collected songs that I thought were good enough to be released, Ryby took care of mastering and production side of things, and released it as both digital download and 13 track physical CD. I believe the extra songs are more mature, complex and showing an evolution in music I make.

Q: How do you see yourself as musician/producer? Do you’ve a specific way of working and are there specific references/criteria in the production work?

Kuba: I do not have a proper modus operandi when it comes to creating music. I try to combine the most convenient benefits of hardware synths, drum machines, samplers, whatnot and the overwhelming power of computer equipment used for musical purposes nowadays. I’m certainly not a big fan of mixing and music production in general, as I find it much less interesting than the creative process, such as sound sculpting, arranging, etc.

If you ask about the compositional process -it varies, sometimes I have a general outline of the main theme and structure of the piece or just fragments of the melody lines around which I arrange the whole song. Sometimes interesting ideas emerge during jam sessions to be developed later during work in D(igital)A(udio)W(orkstation).

Q: There’s a new album (or EP) out now featuring two new songs and an impressive list of remixes. Tell us a bit more about the writing of the title song “Phantoms”? What do you think about the remixes? Any favorite ones?

Kuba: Remixes are intentionally of different, bar electronic, stylistics, as it shows how much one can make with the same source track. It is a very interesting experience to find out what parts of the original song were most appealing to remixers, and how they transformed it, picking up different ‘start points’ and approaches.

If I had to choose my favorite remix –I think it would be Tomtylor’s one or a dancefloor killer by Procesor Plus.

Q: What are your further plans about new productions, live shows, remixes and eventually side-activities?    

Kuba: I did remixes for well known Polish alternative artists, i.e.: Agressiva 69 and Clicks. Right now I am finishing a thing for legendary polish Post-Punk formation 1984. I am also preparing EGOIST live shows, which will start at the end of 2021 at ‘Energia Dzwieku’-festival in Wroclaw, alongside Frett, Liebknecht and Haujobb, as well as trying to find time and energy to finish an EP of my side-project Brud.

Inferno Sound Diaries

I have been working for over 30 years with Side-line as the main reviewer. My taste is eclectic, uncoventional and I prefer to look for the pearls, even if the bands are completely unknown, thus staying loyal to the Side-Line philosophy of nurturing new talents.

www.side-line.com

Genre/Influences: EBM.

Format: Digital, CD.

Background/Info: Egoist is an ‘old’ and rather unknown Polish solo-project set up in 2002 by Kuba Włodarski. Two years later he released the demo “Breaking Moment” featuring five songs plus a reworked song from Controlled Collapse. The project comes back to life with this official debut album featuring the demo songs plus eight extra tracks.   

Content: “Breaking Moment” is easy to describe; this is pure old-school EBM reminding me of the best years of Frontline Assembly. The songs are elaborated, driven by solid rhythms, multiple bleeps and effects, dark strings recovering the album with an overwhelming atmospheric side and harsh vocals, which are sometimes robotic.

+ + + : Egoist definitely sounds 99% influenced by Frontline Assembly. I already heard numerous emulations of this legendary and leading Canadian formation, but Egoist definitely belongs to the best followers. It’s a well-crafted, mature and sophisticated production. The songs have been achieved with numerous little bleeps and details. I also noticed various space-like effects, but the songs remain driven by retro-EBM. One of the best cuts I recommend listening to is “Assassin”, which reveals blasting sound treatments and a ghost-like melody line. But it also stands for the power of this project. It’s also amazing to see how ‘older’ tracks haven’t suffered from the weight of time.

– – – : The only negative point I can think about is that Egoist will never be Frontline Assembly! But there’s no reason to compare both bands; this is Egoist and “Breaking Moment” sounds definitely better than the FLA-albums from the last few years.

Conclusion: If you’re into intelligent EBM inspired by the famous Canadian school, you definitely have to discover Egoist!

Best songs: “Automate”, “Whislist”, “Fallen”, “Melting Point”, “W.h.a.t.”.

Rate: 8½.

Artist: www.facebook.com/egoistsound

Label: www.label.aliens.sk / www.facebook.com/pages/Aliens-production-label/200028820052578

About Egoist

Egoist is the solo project of Polish musician Kuba Włodarski, who describes it on Discogs as electro-industrial work in the vein of Front Line Assembly. The project dates back to 2002 and issued the self-released CDr demo “Breaking Moment” in 2004.

The material returned in expanded form on Aliens Production. The label issued “Breaking moment” as an eleven-track digital album on 15 May 2020, with a CD edition following in 2021 through Aliens Production together with Monotype Pressing and Digi Pres. The running order is “Product”, “Fallen”, “Melting point”, “Century of sorrow”, “Equalization”, “Automate”, “W.H.A.T?”, “Remake”, “Wishlist”, “Dellusion” and “No! I am not!”. Discogs credits Tomasz Malski, Anatoly Tokee Grinberg and Tomasz Kantyka alongside Włodarski.

A second album, “Phantoms”, followed on Aliens Production in 2021. Włodarski discussed his approach to the project shortly afterwards in ‘Click Interview’ with Egoist: ‘I Was Always Intrigued In More Complex Alternative ‘Body’ Music’.

Inferno Sound Diaries

I have been working for over 30 years with Side-line as the main reviewer. My taste is eclectic, uncoventional and I prefer to look for the pearls, even if the bands are completely unknown, thus staying loyal to the Side-Line philosophy of nurturing new talents.

www.side-line.com

Genre/Influences: Electronic, Cinematographic-EBM.

Format: Digital.

Background/Info: Behind Fractal is hiding Polish producer Tomasz Lukowicz. Next to “Human Error” he released another album (cf. “A Unique Hybrid”) the same day, both works being Fractal’s debut.

Content: The opening song clearly indicates the inspiration and sound of Fractal. This is an instrumental Electronic composition, which is driven by abyssal atmospheres and overwhelming sound blasts. Some passages remind me of early Delerium so in the end this work sounds a bit like a EBM-Soundtrack.

+ + + : Releasing an instrumental album remains a tricky business. But Fractal masterly succeeded in this exercise; using deep bass lines, achieving overwhelming –and sometimes somewhat Psychedelic, atmospheres, but most of all dealing with an intelligent and elaborated production. The last song brings a true climax to the opus.

– – – : The songs feature a few samplings, but a bit more spoken passages would have been cool.

Conclusion: Fractal is an interesting newcomer, which took me by surprise achieving an exciting instrumental EBM-driven work.

Best songs: “Synasthesia”, “Vox 7bq”, “Gravity Is The Problem”.

Rate: 7½.

Artist: www.facebook.com/tomasz.lukowicz.1

Label: www.label.aliens.sk / www.facebook.com/pages/Aliens-production-label/200028820052578

About Fractal

Fractal is the solo project of Polish producer Tomasz Lukowicz. “Human Error” was released on 8 June 2021 by Aliens Production and holds nine tracks: “Collision”, “Bio – Security”, “Vox 7bq”, “Nostromo”, “A.I.”, “Perfect tragedy”, “Gravity is the problem”, “Bass hunter” and “Synasthesia”. The label describes the record as a cyber soundtrack built on hybrid beats and minimalist sounds.

The project stayed with the same label afterwards. Side-Line reviewed “Equilibrium” in December 2021, “Access Denied” in January 2022 and “Hologram” in May 2022, then Fractal – Antidote (Album – Aliens Production) in August 2023. “Network” followed in 2024 and “Overload” later that year.

The most recent entry in the discography is Fractal – Hide In The Light (Digital/CD Album – Aliens Production), reviewed in April 2026.

Inferno Sound Diaries

I have been working for over 30 years with Side-line as the main reviewer. My taste is eclectic, uncoventional and I prefer to look for the pearls, even if the bands are completely unknown, thus staying loyal to the Side-Line philosophy of nurturing new talents.

www.side-line.com

Genre/Influences: Electronic, Electro-Ambient.

Format: Digital, CD.

Background/Info: “Rage” is the debut album of a new project by Igor Senigla (known from Ish and Ambiguous).

Content: The Slovak artists composed an instrumental opus, which is clearly Electronic, but accomplished with an impressive number of influences. Dynamic and mainly broken rhythms carry the songs. The influences are moving from pure ambient to bleeping Acid passages to EBM-like bass lines to D’n’B elements. It all together creates an open minded Electro production, which could serve as Electronic soundtrack.

+ + + : “Rage” might be somewhat considered as a modern EBM-Soundtrack, but the reality is that it’s more diversified and definitely sophisticated. This album reflects an intelligent Electronic canvas, which is hard to put in one specific layer. The songs are well-crafted, revealing impressive sound treatments, but most of all I like the dynamic cadence and menacing atmosphere. Songs like “Flow” and “Breakpoint” both illustrate the genius of this composer.

– – – : The more Experimental “Terminal” is the single cut, which couldn’t convince me. Do you hear me complaining?

Conclusion: D/Flect has accomplished an intriguing, imaginary EBM Soundtrack.

Best songs: “Breakpoint”, “Flow”, “Harm”, “Impact”.

Rate: 8.

Artist: www.facebook.com/Dflect-102435101984968

Label: www.label.aliens.sk / www.facebook.com/pages/Aliens-production-label/200028820052578

About D/Flect

D/Flect, spelled Deflect on Bandcamp and Discogs, is a project from Holíč in Slovakia. Discogs lists Ambiguous, Ish and Igor S among the same producer’s other names, which matches the review’s attribution to Igor Senigla.

“Rage” was released on 22 June 2021 by %s and runs to eleven instrumental tracks: “Frequence 760626”, “Nocturnal animals”, “Fusion”, “Central transmitter”, “Flow”, “Breakpoint”, “Grid”, “Terminal”, “Harm”, “Impact” and “Frequence 7031”. The label presents it as hybrid, pulsating material built on broken beats, noises and voices.

A second Deflect album, “Alive”, followed on the same label as a CD in 2025.

Inferno Sound Diaries

I have been working for over 30 years with Side-line as the main reviewer. My taste is eclectic, uncoventional and I prefer to look for the pearls, even if the bands are completely unknown, thus staying loyal to the Side-Line philosophy of nurturing new talents.

www.side-line.com

Genre/Influences: Ambient-Electro, Experimental, Industrial.

Format: Digital.

Background/Info: Right after the debut EP “Into The Deep”, Peter ‘Ryby’ Rybar strikes back with a second EP of his solo-project Triode. The Slovakian artist –known for his involvement with Disharmony and running Aliens Production, presents us four more songs. Notice by the way there’s a limited cassette edition featuring both EP’s plus a bonus cut.

Content: Globally speaking this new production moves on in the line of the debut-EP. There’s still a very explicit Electro- and Ambient inspiration featured, moving throughout space-like atmospheres. But “Atrium” sounds more elaborated and accomplished with some extra Industrial sound treatments. The production is also much darker revealing haunting atmospheres right at the final part of the EP. This last song also reveals spooky vocal parts.

+ + + : I personally prefer “Atrium” instead of the first EP. I like the dark sound atmospheres, which are mixing dreamy passages and more anguished parts. Especially both last cuts are driven by ghost-like influences, the vocals at “Resurrection” empowering the state of fright. The Industrial sound treatments like some crashes are still accentuating the darkness hanging over this work.

– – – : I feel like a hiatus between both debut tracks and both last cuts. Luckily the tracklist evolves crescendo so you’ll get the best right at the end.

Conclusion: Both EP’s by Triode reveal 8 songs of Electro-Ambient, Experimental and Industrial music. “Atrium” feels like the best is yet to come.

Best songs: “Resurrection”, “Less”. 

Rate: (7).

Artist: www.facebook.com/triodeatmos

Label: www.label.aliens.sk / www.facebook.com/pages/Aliens-production-label/200028820052578

About Triode

Triode is the solo project of Slovakian artist Peter ‘Ryby’ Rybar, also known for his involvement with Disharmony and for running the label Aliens Production. Triode debuted with the EP “Into The Deep”, four songs inspired by sacral imagery intertwined with modern civilization, before this second EP “Atrium” followed with a darker, more Industrial-leaning production. Both EPs were also issued together on a limited cassette edition with a bonus track.

Inferno Sound Diaries

I have been working for over 30 years with Side-line as the main reviewer. My taste is eclectic, uncoventional and I prefer to look for the pearls, even if the bands are completely unknown, thus staying loyal to the Side-Line philosophy of nurturing new talents.

www.side-line.com

Genre/Influences: Ambient-Electro, Experimental.

Format: Digital.

Background/Info: Triode is a brand new project driven by Aliens Production owner Peter ‘Ryby’ Rybar. He’s also involved with Disharmony and Oxyd. “Into The Deep” features four songs, which are inspired by ‘sacral images intertwining with modern civilization falling into the bowels of infinity’. 

Content: The sound universe of Triode opens a gate to an Ambient-Electro universe, which sounds pretty space-like –and therefore sometimes reminds me  of the ‘Berlin school’, but at the other side still pretty dark and ominous. It’s a refined composition of songs that are progressively evolving. “Rest” features somewhat surprising Gregorian chants adding a heavenly touch to this sonic trip.

+ + + : Triode definitely appears to be a project for fine tasters, a restricted number of music lovers with an open-minded taste for electronic music. Triode has some retro-like evoking elements of the Berlin school, but at the other side still a very personal approach characterized by dark atmospheres. I’ve always been a huge lover of Gregorian chants and that’s why I like “Rest” resulting in an elevating sensation.

– – – : The work is missing a true climax, the tracks remaining pretty calm and often too flat.

Conclusion: Triode is an interesting project from this label owner, Aliens Production remaining a true reference when it comes to intelligent- and visionary Electro.

Best songs: “Rest”, “Sonda”.

Rate: (6½).

Artist: www.facebook.com/triodeatmos

Label: www.label.aliens.sk / www.facebook.com/pages/Aliens-production-label/200028820052578

About Triode

Triode is the solo project of Slovakian artist Peter ‘Ryby’ Rybar, who also runs the label Aliens Production and is involved with Disharmony and Oxyd. “Into The Deep”, four songs described as inspired by sacral imagery intertwining with modern civilization, is Triode’s debut EP. A second EP, “Atrium”, followed with a darker, more Industrial-leaning sound; both EPs were also issued together on a limited cassette with a bonus track.

Inferno Sound Diaries

I have been working for over 30 years with Side-line as the main reviewer. My taste is eclectic, uncoventional and I prefer to look for the pearls, even if the bands are completely unknown, thus staying loyal to the Side-Line philosophy of nurturing new talents.

www.side-line.com

Genre/Influences: Ambient-Electro, IDM, Cinematographic.

Format: Digital, CD, Cassette.

Background/Info: Disharmony has released its first new album in five years. The Slovakian project driven by Aliens Production label owner ‘Ryby’ and Robert Gajdos (Headdreamer) have been inspired by a rather dystopian vision of our world resulting in twelve songs.

Content: Disharmony always has been a project with a very sound approach and the new work doesn’t change this approach. The songs are still driven by sophisticated Electronics, mixing poignant ambient atmospheres together with a touch of Experimentalism, but also daring to revisit the dark-Electro genre at “Reborn”, which could have been a song written by :Wumpscut:. The album features instrumental songs while other cuts feature vocals. One of the songs (cf. “I’ll find The Way”) is featuring vocals by Human Vault. Two songs from the album (cf. “Polyspace” and “Reborn”) were previously released on EP’s preceding this new full length.

+ + + : Disharmony remains a true sonic experience for all lovers of sophisticated and intelligent Electronic music. The band in a way is a true ambassador for the label’s sound. This album sounds more diversified than former productions and that’s a rather good thing, revealing a formation that doesn’t want to repeat itself although holding on the basis of its original sound. Disharmony appears to be a sonic process that evolves and explores new ideas. From refined and subtle arrangements featured at “Loopers” to the already familiar, great Dark-Electro piece “Reborn” to the dreamy “Polyspace” this band reveals using an impressive sonic canvas. Another track I want to mention is “Till The End” for the duality running through the song; at one side there’s a harsh Industrial input while at the other side you’ll notice subtle, bleeping sequences.

– – – : I was not convinced by the opening, intro-like cut, the short instrumental ‘intermezzo’ “Mantra” and the last track.

Conclusion: Disharmony is back, reminding us that composing music is the result of a creative process where the musicians have to be constantly open to explore and experience new ideas.

Best songs: “Loopers”, “Reborn”, “Polyspace”, “Till The End”.

Rate: (8).

Artist: www.facebook.com/dISHARMONY.Offical

Label: www.label.aliens.sk / www.facebook.com/pages/Aliens-production-label/200028820052578

About Disharmony

Disharmony is a Slovakian electronic project driven by Aliens Production label owner “Ryby” and Robert Gajdos, who also records as Headdreamer. The project released the digital EP “Memorized Skin” in 2016 and the album “Fragments Of Time” in 2017, the same year the pair discussed their approach in a Side-Line interview.

“Resonance” followed in 2021 as the project’s first full-length in five years. Disharmony continued with “Cloned III” (2022), the “Mindhunter” EP (2023), the “Abyss” EP (2023) and “Pendulum” (2024), all on Aliens Production.

Inferno Sound Diaries

I have been working for over 30 years with Side-line as the main reviewer. My taste is eclectic, uncoventional and I prefer to look for the pearls, even if the bands are completely unknown, thus staying loyal to the Side-Line philosophy of nurturing new talents.

www.side-line.com

Genre/Influences: Gothic, Minimal-Electro, Electro-Pop, Wave-Pop, EBM.

Format: Digital, CD.

Background/Info: The title of the album speaks for itself; this is Electronic music made in Slovakia! A first compilation was already released a few years ago while we now get a fine selection of eighteen bands hailing from Slovakia… and the Czech Republic.

Artists: Eight Chances, Adrian Ulik, 580 Miles, Eclipsed, Gladia Moony, Lightune, Grawlix, ImiAFan, BisTros, Havran228, IAmNot, MFLS feat. Milan Monte Bartalsky, Montage, Love My Science, The Silence, The Opposer Divine, The Roben, Chebeaff feat. Key Head feat. Solo.

Content: I have to admit I wasn’t familiar at all with most of the featured bands. I only knew ImiAFan, Eclipsed and The Opposer Divine, which both are great projects. But I now got the opportunity to discover numerous ‘new’ names. The bands are dealing with much diversified genres, but as the title of the compilation indicates it’s mainly Electro! A lot of songs have been sung in the artists’ Mother tongue while others sung in English.

+ + + : This is the kind of compilations I particularly like and support. This is a way to discover new artists from countries we’re not used to hearing Electronics… although I have to confess Aliens Production remains one of my favorite labels while 4mg Records is another (smaller) interesting label. So there’s a scene in Slovakia and thanks to this compilation I got the opportunity to hear a few cool songs. I want to mention the Minimal-Electro from Adrian Ulik, the somewhat harder Lightune, the instrumental track from Grawlix, the Front 242-reminiscent IAmNot, the intelligence of Montage and the Wave-Pop of Love My Science. ImiAFan remains another sensation if you’re into Minimal-Electro treatments.

– – – : There’re a few forgettable songs, but you don’t hear me to complaining as I truly like this kind of samplers.

Conclusion: Buy a sonic Electro ticket to discover unknown, but promising names from the Czech Republic and Slovakia.

Best bands: ImiAFan, Grawlix, IAmNot, Montage, Love My Science.

Rate: (8).

Label: www.synthslovakia.sk / www.facebook.com/SYNTHSLOVAKIA

About Synth Slovakia

Synth Slovakia is a Slovak initiative, run together with Culture Point, that promotes electronic and synthesizer music from Slovakia. Its first compilation, released in 2017, was covered by Side-Line as a 30-year overview of Slovak electronic music.

“SYNTH SLOVAKIA Vol.2” followed on 12 December 2020, curated by Robert Herceg and expanding the selection beyond the first volume’s scope to include stage music, instrumental work, ambient, retro, synthwave, darkwave, electro and EBM, with eighteen acts from Slovakia and the Czech Republic represented, according to the compilation’s Bandcamp credits.

Inferno Sound Diaries

I have been working for over 30 years with Side-line as the main reviewer. My taste is eclectic, uncoventional and I prefer to look for the pearls, even if the bands are completely unknown, thus staying loyal to the Side-Line philosophy of nurturing new talents.

www.side-line.com

Genre/Influences: Electro-Ambient, Minimal-Electro, IDM, EBM, Industrial.

Format: Digital, CD.

Background/Info: Martin Pavlík has been active under the Frontier Guards moniker for several years now. The Czech artist has released five full length albums so far, revealing an intelligent Electronic composition, which mixes different genres together. “Reload” was released at the end of last year and features different remixes by other artists, and also includes a few exclusive cuts.

Content: The album features 11 remixes from songs that are going back to the debut album of Frontier Guards plus 3 new cuts and 1 cover version from a Czech Hardcore/Rock band Insania. Remixes have been accomplished by Amnistia; ISH, KIFOTH, MC1R, Terminal State, Tokee, Vaclav Neckar, Last Influence Of Brain, Jihad and Jan Vozary (2 remixes). The result is a pretty diversified work wherein each band tries to inject its own touch and style. The cover version of Insania definitely sounds as the heaviest cut from the work. The ‘new’ songs remind me of early Skinny Puppy, mixing Dark-Electro together with Industrial sound treatments. Each song is featuring a guest singer.

+ + + : I’m not a huge fan of remixes, but this work reveals a few brilliant ones. Terminal State did a great job remixing “Dark Age” into EBM. Tokee transformed “Last Breath” into an accomplished Minimal-Electro format. Last Influence Of Brain holds on the intelligence of “Transcendental Experiment”. The new songs are still pretty cool and especially this early Skinny Puppy touch at “Reload” featuring Patrik Lev (Depressive Disorder) and “Trajectory Of Life” featuring  Tomas Mutina (Terminal State) are real great songs.

– – – : There’re always a few remixes, which can’t totally convince, but globally speaking this album stands for diversity so in the end, everyone will find something to its taste.

Conclusion: I can only say Frontier Guards is a great artist inspiring other artists to accomplish great remixes.

Best songs: “Last Breath – Tokee Remix”, “Dark Age – Terminal State Remix”, “Transcendental Experiment – LIOB Remix”, “Reload”, “Trajectory Of Life”.

Rate: (8).

Artist: www.frontierguards.eu / www.facebook.com/frontierguardscz

Label: www.label.aliens.sk / www.facebook.com/pages/Aliens-production-label/200028820052578

About Frontier Guards

Frontier Guards is the electro-industrial project of Czech artist Martin Pavlik. The project debuted with the album “Predestination” in 2008, followed by “Interface” (2013), “Battleground” (2014), “Oblivion” (2017), and “You” (2019). “Reload” was released at the end of 2020, bringing together remixes from other artists alongside new and exclusive material. Frontier Guards continued with the albums “Colony” (2023) and “Wonder” (2024).

Inferno Sound Diaries

I have been working for over 30 years with Side-line as the main reviewer. My taste is eclectic, uncoventional and I prefer to look for the pearls, even if the bands are completely unknown, thus staying loyal to the Side-Line philosophy of nurturing new talents.

www.side-line.com

Genre/Influences: IDM, EBM, Electro-Ambient, Experimental, Industrial, Minimal-Electronics.

Format: Digital, 2CD.

Background/Info: Slovakian label Aliens Production is already active for numerous years now and became one of the labels dealing with ‘intelligent electronic music’ I deeply respect. This compilation features twenty six bands perfectly illustrating the sonic approach of the record company.

Artists: =mp45=, Stairway Maze, Alienated Entity, Jihad, Human Vault, Media Data, Disharmony, Mortal Constraint, Mortaja, mulpHia, Amnistia, Spherical Disrupted, ISH, INABLVCKDOG & Jash Teua, Noire Antidote, Sunao Inami, Holon, Samhain, Headdreamer, Na-Hag, Huron, KeyHead, Nadragea, Cyclotimia, Oxyd.

Content: The compilation features a number of familiar artists from the label’s roster plus a selection of ‘guests’. The compilation perfectly stands for the IDM and Minimal-Electro style of Aliens Production, which has been masterly exposed by Alienated Entity, Jihad, Disharmony, Mortal Constraint, Holon and Nadragea. But there also is a solid EBM school represented by Mortaja, mulpHia and Amnistia. Na-Hag brings a hard Industrial-Tribal touch to the work while other artists are more into the Ambient/Cinematic style.

+ + + : This is the kind of compilation, which will give an opportunity to music lovers to discover this great label. The tracklist brings a fine selection of ‘intelligent’ Electronic craftsmen who aren’t always the most famous names although dealing with sophisticated and original music. The album brings a nice selection of visionary artists. Mortal Constraint is a rather surprising and unexpected feature although you’ll discover an old song from 1999. Canadian project Holon probably deserves a nomination for the award of most subtle song from the album while Na-Hag will be the uncontested winner of power and Industrial-Tribal creativity. I also have to mention =mp45”, which is the single artist featuring 2 tracks. I especially enjoyed the pure IDM-opener.

– – – : I maybe expected a bit more from tracks by artists like Disharmony, ISH, Spherical Disrupted and Oxyd, but you don’t hear me to complaining. 

Conclusion: Aliens Production is a label that will always get my full support! It remains a total guarantee for high-qualitative Electronic music.

Best bands: Holon, Na-Hag, Mortaja, Amnistia, =mp45=, Human Vault, Samhain, Headdreamer.

Rate: (8).

Label: www.label.aliens.sk / www.facebook.com/pages/Aliens-production-label/200028820052578

About Aliens Production

Aliens Production is a Slovak label whose catalog dates back to 1997, when it issued the various-artists compilation “Collection Of Biologic Waste /Be Infected…/”, the first entry in an ongoing “Be Infected” compilation series that continued through further volumes into the 2000s. Its roster has included Disharmony and Oxyd, both featured on “Document Edition II”, alongside acts such as Human Vault, Headdreamer and Stairway Maze.

Inferno Sound Diaries

I have been working for over 30 years with Side-line as the main reviewer. My taste is eclectic, uncoventional and I prefer to look for the pearls, even if the bands are completely unknown, thus staying loyal to the Side-Line philosophy of nurturing new talents.

www.side-line.com

Genre/Influences: EBM, Experimental, Cinematographic.

Format: Digital.

Background/Info: Human Vault is driven by the Hungarian born Gyorgy Turoczy aka ‘Mortum’. Based in New-York (USA) Human vault has been busy since 1997 and has released an impressive number of productions –mainly on the Hungarian label Exabyss Records. This first work released on Aliens Productions is maybe an opportunity to discover this project.

Content: “Self Rust” is clearly driven by good-old and worked-out EBM. The project is reminding me of early Frontline Assembly, and also to the coldness of The Klinik. Some parts are exploring experimental fields while you also will notice industrial elements. The vocals have been produced in a rather spooky way while there are also numerous spoken samplings running through the album. The dark and ghost-like atmosphere is more present than any kind of hard-danceable stuff. 

+ + + : You clearly hear the maturity of this project. The songs are well-crafted and reveal a sophisticated format. There also is a kind of dramatic touch emerging at the surface, which is created by the dense ambient layers. This is accentuated by the ghost-like production of the vocals. Human Vault clearly reminds me of the magic of early EBM bands; comparing this music to FLA and The Klinik is more than simply a reference!

– – – : The album is maybe missing some hard-danceable cuts, but the strength of this album clearly lies in the impressive atmospheres instead of bouncing kicks and danceable tunes.

Conclusion: Human Vault confirms Hungary has a real talented and probably underrated electro-underground scene.

Best songs: “Damn You All”, “Fear Will Come”, “Self Rust”, “This Hate”.

Rate: (7½).

Artist: www.facebook.com/mortum.exabyss

Label: www.label.aliens.sk / www.facebook.com/pages/Aliens-production-label/200028820052578

About Human Vault

Human Vault is driven by Hungarian-born musician Gyorgy Turoczy, who also records as Mortum, and has been active since 1997, releasing mainly through the Hungarian label Exabyss Records. Now based in New York, Mortum issued “Self Rust” as his first release for Aliens Production.

Inferno Sound Diaries

I have been working for over 30 years with Side-line as the main reviewer. My taste is eclectic, uncoventional and I prefer to look for the pearls, even if the bands are completely unknown, thus staying loyal to the Side-Line philosophy of nurturing new talents.

www.side-line.com

Genre/Influences: EBM.

Format: Digital.

Background/Info: Egoist is a polish solo-project set up in 2002 by Kuba Włodarski. He released a demo entitled “Breaking Moment” in 2004 featuring five songs plus a remix he made for Controlled Collapse. Aliens Production now released “Breaking Moment” as an album featuring next to the five original songs six more songs.

Content: From the very first notes and arrangements you clearly can hear where this band found its inspiration. This is an emulation of Frontline Assembly. The sphere and the way the songs have been composed are directly reminding me of the Canadian formation led by Bill Leeb. Even the production of the vocals has this ghost-like touch reminding me of Frontline Assembly during the early 90s period.

+ + + : This is EBM for fine tasters and especially FLA lovers. Okay, this is not FLA, but the way Egoist elaborated its composition is absolutely impressive. This is intelligent EBM made with solid bass lines, haunting atmospheres, great sound effects and danceable rhythms. The whispering vocals’ production is totally matching with this music. “Century Of Sorrow” and “Wishlist” both are my personal favorites, but I also have to mention “Remake” for its brilliant instrumental passage.

– – – : The point with such a production and especially when it all sounds that close to a giant as Frontline Assembly, is that you’ll have to admit there’s only one FLA while all copyists are remaining in the shadows.

Conclusion: Egoist brings no originality and clearly sounds as a FLA-copy, but it’s a damned great one.

Best songs: “Century Of Sorrow”, “Wishlist”, “Remake”, “Fallen”, “Melting Point”.

Rate: (7½).

Artist: www.facebook.com/egoistsound

Label: www.label.aliens.sk / www.facebook.com/pages/Aliens-production-label/200028820052578

About Egoist

Egoist is a solo electro-industrial project set up around 2002/2003 by Polish musician Kuba Włodarski. A self-released demo CD followed in 2004, then live gigs. In 2008 Włodarski collaborated with the Jan Siuta Art Gallery in Kraków on the industrial-ambient album “Phazes”, made to accompany the exhibition cycle “Ritual, Rhythm, Harmony”.

Slovak label Aliens Production released the digital version of “Breaking Moment” in 2020, followed by a limited physical edition in 2021, and later the remix album “Phantoms”.

Inferno Sound Diaries

I have been working for over 30 years with Side-line as the main reviewer. My taste is eclectic, uncoventional and I prefer to look for the pearls, even if the bands are completely unknown, thus staying loyal to the Side-Line philosophy of nurturing new talents.

www.side-line.com

Genre/Influences: EBM, industrial.

Format: Digital.

Background/Info: Morbid Fancy is a ghost from the past… being active during the 90s, this EBM duo from Bratislava (Slovakia) released a few albums on cassette. The band then disappeared from the radar and now strikes back. “Sepulchral Serenade” is a previously unreleased work featuring fifteen songs that were composed by the band years ago now.

Content: “Sepulchral Serenade” is an album that moves back to the retro style of 90s EBM. It’s a dark sound with numerous industrial components and harsh vocals. The industrial touch is very present and is sometimes accentuated by epic arrangements. The songs are mostly supported with dark strings, which is another typical 90s touch. I also noticed an instrumental song, which makes me think of an imaginary industrial EBM soundtrack.

+ + + : Morbid Fancy already was an interesting, but unfortunately less recognized EBM formation during the 90s. This album is a perfect way to rediscover this formation, which clearly had a nose for dark industrial-EBM. Some passages reveal a heavy and bombastic percussion, which reminds me a bit of Vomito Negro. The opening part of the album is absolutely great. You clearly hear its retro-EBM, but it’s still efficient.

– – – : The main point with this kind of work is that a few songs are clearly suffering from the weight of time. So next to some great old-styled EBM you’ll also get a few; softer and forgettable cuts.

Conclusion: It’s a pity this album hasn’t been released when it was originally composed, but it will ravish all EBM freaks who heard this band during the 90s.

Best songs: “Psychoanalysis 771”, “Die From Pain (Life Is Beautiful)”, “Discouragement”, “I Saw The Corpse”, “Ascend”.

Rate: (7½).

Label: www.label.aliens.sk / www.facebook.com/pages/Aliens-production-label/200028820052578

About Morbid Fancy

Morbid Fancy is a Slovak EBM duo from Bratislava, active during the 1990s, when the project released several albums on cassette before disappearing from activity. “Sepulchral Serenade” collects fifteen songs written by the band during that original run and left unreleased until this 2020 issue on Aliens Production.

Inferno Sound Diaries

I have been working for over 30 years with Side-line as the main reviewer. My taste is eclectic, uncoventional and I prefer to look for the pearls, even if the bands are completely unknown, thus staying loyal to the Side-Line philosophy of nurturing new talents.

www.side-line.com

Genre/Influences: IDM, experimental, cinematographic.

Format: Digital.

Background/Info:  Jash Teua is a Russian solo-project driven by Zalim Bekulov. He self-released this debut-EP in 2018 while Aliens Production re-released it last year. A debut album entitled “Amentia” has also been released.  

Content: This work features 5 songs, leading the listener into a world of reverie, which is rapidly joined by subtle and intelligent sound treatments. The songs are mainly driven by a slow rhythm while electro-space like atmospheres accentuates the dreamy feeling. There’s a harmony between the influences, which are mainly into cinematographic music and IDM.

+ + + : This is the kind of project you might expect from Aliens Production. A work without real compromises, but into a total artistic freedom although related with IDM and soundtrack music. It has something of an accessible experiment. “My” is a fine exposure of this artist’s sound vision.  

– – – : This kind of project remains complex and mainly meant to conquer a restricted number of listeners.

Conclusion: “Alarm” could be the right soundtrack for an imaginary surreal movie.                                                                                      

Best songs: “My”, “Black Mirror”.

Rate: (7).

Artist: www.facebook.com/Jash.Teua

Label: www.label.aliens.sk / www.facebook.com/pages/Aliens–production–label/200028820052578

About Jash Teua

Jash Teua is the electronic/IDM/ambient solo project of Zalim Bekulov, a musician from Nalchik in Russia’s Kabardino-Balkar Republic and a former member of the group Hagauj. Bekulov self-released the “Alarm” EP in 2018, followed by the album “Amentia” in 2019; Aliens Production reissued “Alarm” the same year. Jash Teua later released “Introspection” on Aliens Production in 2023.

Inferno Sound Diaries

I have been working for over 30 years with Side-line as the main reviewer. My taste is eclectic, uncoventional and I prefer to look for the pearls, even if the bands are completely unknown, thus staying loyal to the Side-Line philosophy of nurturing new talents.

www.side-line.com

Genre/Influences: EBM.

Format: Digital, CD.

Background/Info: Last Influence Of Brain is back on track after a hiatus of eleven years. The Slovakian trio consisting of ‘Solo’, ‘Bop’ and ‘Blazena’ remained active during the past few years with their Samhain side-project. “Insomnicons” is the return of this EBM combo and is the band’s fourth full length. Notice by the way the album has been mixed by  Ken ‘Hiwatt’ Marshall (Skinny Puppy, F.L.A.).

Content: This work is a perfect opportunity to rediscover the somewhat forgotten Last Influence Of Brain. The songs remain inspired and driven by good-old EBM, which is rapidly evoking Frontline Assembly. There’s a similar sophisticated EBM sound, which has been now and then boosted by guitar playing. The rough vocals create a perfect match with the powerful and dark composition. The last song “Twone” has been remixed by Ken ‘Hiwatt’ Marshall.

+ + + : First of all the CD format will catch your attention by its great artwork and digipak format. Sound-wise the music brings good-old EBM influences back to life. The powerful work and intelligent approach are clearly awakening old EBM demons and especially Frontline Assembly’s “Hard Wired” period. The most powerful cuts are the best ones; I have to mention “Binarea” and “Idolatry” are true masterpieces. The power and quality of the songs both remain pretty constant.

– – – : It’s a bit surprising to hear this kind of EBM work released by the IDM-driven Aliens Production, but on the other side it’s not that surprising as the last album was already released on the Slovakian label while Samhain is another label’s band. I’m a bit less convinced by the few softer cuts (like “Khonsu – Again On His Eternal Path”).

Conclusion: This album stands for a great comeback and definitely is a must-have for all EBM fans in search of great music.

Best songs: “Binarea”, “Idolatry”, “Hypnosphere”, “Invasion/Introverted”, “Necroptica”.                                         

Rate:  (8).

Artist: www.facebook.com/lastinfluenceof

Label: www.label.aliens.sk / www.facebook.com/pages/Aliens–production–label/200028820052578

About Last Influence Of Brain

Last Influence Of Brain is an EBM trio from Hlohovec, Slovakia, made up of ‘Solo’, ‘Bop’ and ‘Blazena’. The band’s catalogue includes “Illusions And Reality” (2003, Black Flames Records), “Inner Wars” (2007), “Two Faces” (2009) and “Meantime” (2020), followed by “Insomnicons” and “Insomnicore” (2021). The group returned in 2025-2026 with “The Escape Chronicle”, “Blurred Outlines” and the “Feelings” EP on Electrofrequent.

Inferno Sound Diaries

I have been working for over 30 years with Side-line as the main reviewer. My taste is eclectic, uncoventional and I prefer to look for the pearls, even if the bands are completely unknown, thus staying loyal to the Side-Line philosophy of nurturing new talents.

www.side-line.com

Russian solo-artist, Denis Tverdokhleb, last year released his second full length album “Kelevra”. The work has been released by Aliens Production, which remains a home for intelligent electronics. Stairway Maze mixes IDM, ambient, EBM and cinematic music. Bombast and refinement have been merged together resulting in multiple great songs. I hope this interview will incite you to discover a hidden talent from Russia.

(Courtesy by Inferno Sound Diaries)

Q: Can you first of all introduce yourself and briefly tell us the way you got in touch with electronic music to finally set up Stairway Maze? 

Denis: My name is Denis. I am from Petrozavodsk, a small nice town in Karelia, a region in Russia that is famous for its fantastic Northern nature and landscapes. The surroundings are very inspiring here and I want to believe that the music of Stairway Maze somehow reflects the atmosphere of the North, the place where it was born. And I think it won’t be an exaggeration to say that my music is mainly influenced by the place I grew up and live in, than by other music, bands and projects. But at the same time I can’t deny the fact that many musical genres and styles are also a source of inspiration to me.   

Q: Stairway Maze in an interesting and somewhat enigmatic name for a project so what inspired you and is there any further link between the name of the project and the music you compose? 

Denis: I think the name of the project came from our contemporary way of living itself. I mean, just look around! When I look out the window I can see nothing, but tower blocks! And what is a tower block if not a stairway maze? So I guess on the one hand Stairway Maze is about city life rhythm, but on the other it’s about serenity, beauty and the opportunity to take a breath.

Q: You last year released your second full length album “Kelevra”. What kind of album is it and how did the writing and production process happened? 

Denis: The process turned out to be quite complicated actually. First of all it took me much time to pull wits together and to understand  which direction I want to choose in writing the album. I had a few ideas at the moment which I tried to implement, but all of them didn’t work. But then life itself gave me a clue. In September 2018 my father died from cancer, so it obviously made an impact on the mood of the album and the way it sounds. And this album is a dedication to him. But at the same time I didn’t want “Kelevra” to be completely dark. If you listen to the album you can hear that there is also a light within some tracks. It was important for me. I wanted the album to be diverse. 

Q: That’s maybe why your album sounds eclectic and I should even say it’s a real maze… a kind of sonic labyrinth filled with different influences and music styles; IDM, EBM, ambient and cinematic.. What do all these music genres mean- and evoke to you and what explains your eclecticism? 

Denis: Thank you. I do really love cinematic electronics. And if I’ve managed to make it noticeable, that’s the greatest praise for me. As a listener I’ve always loved the music that make your imagination draw some pictures in your mind, that mesmerizes you and puts you into a trance, music that helps you escape from reality. Yet I love grooves, beats and music that pumps ears as well. So all of this of course affects my own music. At the end of the day, as I’ve said already, I prefer diversity. 

Q: How do you look back at your debut album “Hollow Spaces” and what have been the main changes compared with “Kelevra”? 

Denis: I truly love “Hollow Spaces” although it seems quite raw to me technically (now I see that clearly) and there are things I would like to change if I’d a chance to. Anyway there definitely are some good tracks on it, which I really like. And I don’t think that there’re fundamental differences between the first album and “Kelevra”. I suppose that the main and the only aim of the latter is just to reveal the nature of Stairway Maze a bit further. And that’s it. No undertones.

Q: What are the pros and cons living in Russia and dealing with this kind of music, which is often liked by a restricted number of listeners? How do you see Stairway Maze evolving towards further releases? 

Denis: Honestly I don’t want to expatiate much upon that. I would just say that the situation leaves much to be desired, at least concerning small towns like the one I live in. 

And as for Stairway Maze future releases… I don’t know. There is no point of thinking far too ahead. Time will tell, what it would be like. But what really matters for me is that I’m totally sure that there WILL DEFINITELY BE future releases) But no hurry!

Inferno Sound Diaries

I have been working for over 30 years with Side-line as the main reviewer. My taste is eclectic, uncoventional and I prefer to look for the pearls, even if the bands are completely unknown, thus staying loyal to the Side-Line philosophy of nurturing new talents.

www.side-line.com

Genre/Influences: IDM, rhythmic-ambient & cinematographic electro. 

Background/Info: Two years after the debut album “Hollow Spaces” (2017) Russian artist, 
Denis Tverdokhleb, strikes back with the second full length of his Stairway Maze project. 

Content: “Kelevra” sounds like a true electronic assemblage. It’s not an easy thing defining the work of this artist, but the songs clearly resulted from a truly sonic symbiosis. You’ll rapidly notice bombastic drum patterns, aggressive bass lines, refined sound arrangements and dreamy sound waves. It makes me think of a fusion between IDM, ambient, EBM and cinematic music. The songs are instrumental edits although you’ll perceive a few ethereal chants running through “Hail To Barbarians”. 

+ + + : Aliens Productions remains to me a warrant for high-qualitative and intelligent electronic music. Stairway Maze is one more project belonging to this sonic intelligentsia. The album is a perfect mix between different styles; it sometimes feels a bit contradictory, but in the end it all marvelously comes together. The bombast and refinement are leading towards brilliant songs. The work is characterized by an impressive sonic welfare featuring vintage electronic treatments next to subtle filtered sequences. The low, vibrating bass lines can’t leave you unaffected while the evasive passages have something hypnotic.   

– – – : Even if this composition is extremely elaborated I sometimes get the feeling it could be ever more worked out and I especially refer to “Subsurface”. It could be also interesting to hear this album with a few vocal parts. 

Conclusion: Stairway Maze remains a rather unknown project, but if you’re in search of a great electronic experience, “Kelevra” will give you total satisfaction!

Best songs: “Anomaly”, “Hail To Barbarians”, “X”, “Kelevra”, “The Chase”, “Phantoms Of Tiergarten”. 

Rate: (8½). 

Artist: www.facebook.com/iamstairwaymaze 

Label: www.label.aliens.sk / www.facebook.com/pages/Aliens-production-label/200028820052578 

About Stairway Maze

Stairway Maze is the solo project of Russian musician Denis Tverdokhleb, based in Petrozavodsk, Karelia. The project mixes IDM, ambient, EBM and cinematic elements, released through Aliens Production. Tverdokhleb’s debut album, “Hollow Spaces,” arrived in 2017, followed by “Kelevra” in 2020.

Inferno Sound Diaries

I have been working for over 30 years with Side-line as the main reviewer. My taste is eclectic, uncoventional and I prefer to look for the pearls, even if the bands are completely unknown, thus staying loyal to the Side-Line philosophy of nurturing new talents.

www.side-line.com

Genre/Influences: Epic, cinematographic.

Background/Info: Nermi is one of the newest signing to Aliens Production. This is a Russian solo-project driven by Max Ignatev. This is the musician’s debut work features five tracks.

Content: “In The Creation” is a truly orchestral/epic composition, which from the very first notes and arrangements reveals an overwhelming sound production. The epic influences are constantly running through the tracks, which are instrumentals, although sometimes mixed with epic chants. There are some elements in the composition reminding me of the cinematic compositions of Juno Reactor. I here refer to the impressive orchestral approach.

+ + + : Nermi is clearly enlarging the sonic horizon of Aliens Production. It injects some innovation to the label, but it also is an impressive sound production characterized by overwhelming sound atmospheres. The opening piece “Gadreel” is simply phenomenal. But I also have to mention “The Storm Begins”, which is somewhat more into tribal rhythms, but the way this composition moves to a crescendo till reaching its ultimate point is absolutely brilliant. This is intelligent cinematic music reflecting great writing skills and maturity. 

– – – : All the tracks are pretty short and that’s a pity because you want to hear more.

Conclusion: This new Aliens Production project sounds a bit ‘out of the box’, nevertheless it’s a real discovery and I hope to hear more stuff from Nermi.

Best songs: “The Storm Begins”, “Gadreel”, “Last Battle”.

Rate: (8).

Label: www.label.aliens.sk / www.facebook.com/pages/Aliens–production–label/200028820052578

About Nermi

Nermi is the solo-project of Russian musician Max Ignatev, working in an orchestral, cinematic style. “In The Creation”, reviewed here, was his debut release as Nermi.

Inferno Sound Diaries

I have been working for over 30 years with Side-line as the main reviewer. My taste is eclectic, uncoventional and I prefer to look for the pearls, even if the bands are completely unknown, thus staying loyal to the Side-Line philosophy of nurturing new talents.

www.side-line.com