Budapest artist Planetdamage (aka Máriusz Bari) has released his second album “KILLCAPS” as a digital album on Bandcamp. Thematically the 15-track record tackles surveillance, artificial intelligence, and corporate and state oppression.

The album includes 12 original tracks plus remixes by Angelspit, Kris Baha and Statiqbloom. Part of the material also comes from Bari’s heavier side project RTFXX. Also featured on a couple of tracks is Marty Rawkman of Sydney act New Project who handled guitars, extra backing vocals and lyrics to “Incendiary“. The album was mastered by Colin C. at The Cell Studio.

About Planetdamage

Planetdamage is the Budapest-based solo project of Máriusz Bari, a writer, journalist, lecturer and musician. Planetdamage was founded 2016 and is one of two aliases for Bari’s musical work, the other being RTFXX.

Bari self-released the EP “Snapshots of a Surveillance Manifesto” on May 25, 2016. After that, he moved to Two Gods Records, the label run by Martin Bowes of Attrition, where he released “Angst” on December 1, 2016 followed by the physical “Angst LP/2CDEP” on September 23, 2017, and “Stray Signal” on February 1, 2018.

He then shifted to Black Pill Red Pill Records with “Hi Rez Lo Life”, released on January 11, 2019. It was followed by “Scraps” on June 16, 2020, the debut full-length “Relapse Protocol” on November 13, 2020, and “Relapse Protocol – The Remixes” on May 31, 2021. Later releases include “Black Ice” on March 4, 2022, the RTFXX release “Cheatcode (Neongreen is Humanmeat)” on March 3, 2023, the 2024 cover “Én leszek a mély”. The project also participated on the Hungarian compilation “New Horizon“, and now there’s “KILLCAPS”.

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: EBM, Dark-Electro, Minimal-Electro, Dark-Pop. 

Format: Digital, CD.  

Background/Info: This compilation features seventeen Electro-underground projects from the Hungarian scene. The album has been mastered by one of the most famous artists from this scene: Istvan Gazdag from First Aid 4 Souls.

Artists: Planetdamage, Stahlgeist, Re-Infection, Techno Pop, Grip, Empelde + Planetdamage, 3.N.D., Man-Machine, Worker, Celina, RTFXX, CMC, Vacuum(X), Tief Larm, Livingtotem, Calm T, Aras Focum.

Content: Hungarian Electronics by different more familiar- and totally unknown artists. The selection is quite diversified but often carried by EBM and Minimal Electronics while also walking on darker paths of Electro-Pop, Trance, Industrial ao. You’ll notice several projects singing in their Mother tongue while others prefer the English language.

+ + + : I like this kind of compilation, giving us the opportunity to get more familiarized with less familiar Electro scenes. We of course know Hungarian projects like First Aid 4 Souls and Black Nail cabaret (both aren’t featured here) but also Stahlgeist, Planetdamage, Man-Machine or the great LivingTotem but most of the artists were discoveries. From these artists I like the somewhat Shamen sounding Techno Pop, the EBM driven Grip which is empowered by guitar, the darker electro side of Man-Machine and the Dark-Pop inspired Celina -which reminds me of Ayria. But most significant cuts are the ones by Stahlgeist -revealing alluring EBM and the Minimal-EBM/IDM Planetdamage.

– – – : I regret the compilation doesn’t feature a booklet with more information about the bands and the Hungazrian scene.

Conclusion: Hungary is a small Electro scene but featuring real great artists so I hope we’ll get the opportunity to discover more stuff from these bands.

Best bands: Stahlgeist, Planetdamage, LivingTotem, Techno Pop, Grip.

Rate: 8.

Label: https://new-horizon.bandcamp.com/album/new-horizon-a-hungarian-electro-industrial-compilation

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.

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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

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

“Don’t know zero” is Angelspit’s first single from their forthcoming album “Diesel priest”. It’s out now via Black Pill Red Pill. The 11 track single features vocals from Imogen (Miss Ballistic) and Angelspit’s Zoog Von Rock on the title track, with guitars by George Bikos (MeteorEYES).

The single features the exclusive B-side “Love That Drug” plus 9 remixes from artists Ashley Bad, DJ Underminer, Planetdamage, Sister Sarin, Slighter, SpankTheNun, Spark Chamber, Steven OLaf and Tommy Tranq.

You can check it out 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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Out now is Planetdamage “Relapse Protocol – The Remixes” on the Black Pill Red Pill label. “Relapse Protocol – The Remixes” holds 8 tracks and as source material the album “Relapse Protocol” was used, that one was released in November 2020.

The following remixers participated: Aether Pilot, Spankthenun, Mach Fox of Zwaremachine, Freeze Etch, The Gothsicles, Chrome Corpse and Vandalaze. Mastering (and additional production on track 5) was done by Reza Udhin (Killing Joke, Implant) of Cryonica Audio Mastering.

You can hear the EP below.

Damage has been working as a producer for 5 years, landing 5 EPs and a number of remixes, collaborating with bands like First Aid 4 Souls or Black Nail Cabaret, having been remixed by musicians such as Haujobb, Leaether Strip or Attrition.

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!

side-line.com

Genre/Influences: EBM, Body-Pop, Dark-Pop.

Format: Digital.

Background/Info: Earlier this year First Aid 4 Souls released the “Fire”-album, which was a kind of conceptual work on, which the band’s mastermind worked together with Hungarian compatriots/singers like Emke from Black Nail Cabaret, Josef Stapel from Ultranoire or yet Vic Willow from Planetdamage. “Dreambox” is an EP taken from this work featuring a selection of fourteen songs.

Content: “Das Messer” feat. Emke and “Dreambox” feat. Josef Stapel are the main songs from the EP. Five remixes from each song have been made while you’ll also get remixes of the songs “Burn”, “Ordinary Demonism” and “Freedom” all featuring vocals by Vic Willow. As a little extra “Bring Back Armageddon” is a new song featuring Nick Sonick from Wet Lips. The main particularity of the work is that István Gazdag is responsible for all remixes. From orchestral to 80s, to more Industrial-driven to EBM to refreshing Pop he tried to create different edits.  

+ + + : “Das Messer” remains a great union between the sophisticated Dark-Body-Pop of first Aid 4 Souls and the charismatic vocals of Emke. This woman has such a charisma emerging from her voice that she cannot leave you unmoved. The “Zombie Club Mix ” has something more Industrial-like while the bouncing “Batcave”-version both are attention grabbers. “Dreambox” featuring Josef Stapel remains a cool song as well. There’s a duality between the EBM sequences and the more Pop-like way of singing, but here again it perfectly works and especially the “Club Mix” is worthy of examination. I also like the songs featuring Vic Willow while having a preference for the punchy “Club Mix” of “Burn” and the sophisticated “Club Mix” of “Freedom”.

– – – : The new song “Bring Back Armageddon” is a more pompous, orchestral song, which can’t compete with the other cuts from the EP. This EP is mainly meant for the fans.

Conclusion: The songs on this EP reveal the eclectic Electronic format from one of the best Hungarian formations in the genre.

Best songs: “Das Messer feat. Emke”, “Dreambox feat. Josef Stapel – Club Mix”, “Das Messer feat. Emke – Batcave Version”, “Freedom feat. Vic Willow – Club Mix”.

Rate: (7½).

Artist: www.facebook.com/First-Aid-4-Souls-180876236297

Label: www.alfa-matrix.com / www.facebook.com/Alfa.Matrix

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, body-pop.

Format: Digital.

Background/Info: Last year Hungarian electro/EBM act First Aid 4 Souls joined hands together with Alfa Matrix unleashing the great album “Keep This World Empty”. The band’s mastermind, Istvan Gazdag, is now already back on track releasing a new and somewhat conceptual work. “Fire” in a way pays homage to the Hungarian underground scene LD50, which reassembled bands and fans. First Aid 4 Souls invited several Hungarian artists to release this new work. The featured artists are Emke from Black Nail Cabaret, Josef Stapel from Ultranoire, Vic Willow and ‘Damage’ from Planetdamage.

Content: Nine of the twelve songs are featuring Vic Willow as the singer and the least I can say is that this artist has a great timbre of voice. He sometimes reminds me of Gary Numan, but he’s injecting passion to the songs. And the songs are moving from pure EBM towards electro-pop tracks. Some cuts are supported with poignant atmospheric layers. This is a real diversified work, also experimenting with orchestral arrangements, funky grooves and even a rather cinematographic last cut. Emke (Black Nail Cabaret) is also an artist with a unique timbre of voice. She really rules over the song and I have to say that Istvan Gazdag created a meticulous composition fitting with her vocals.

+ + + : First Aid 4 Souls is a band I’m keeping an eye on for some years now. I’ve never been disappointed and this new –and particular work, only confirms the talent of Istvan Gazdag. This musician operates as a true sound architect who feels comfortable with different styles of electronic music. But I have to say that the opening song “Burst Of Anger” is just like an amazing sonic assault! The song is driven by menacing bass lines, hard dance kicks and a great lead while the charisma of singer Vic Willow is doing the rest. “The Worm Queen” is another great song with the same singer and here again it reveals intelligent EBM. The somewhat more groovy driven “Burn” –again featuring Vic Willow, is also an attention grabber. I also remain fascinated by the female power of Emke. Last, but not least I like the ‘Hungarian’ concept of the work!

– – – : I noticed a few cuts, which can’t convince me; probably because electro-pop isn’t Istvan’s best exposure.

Conclusion: First Aid 4 Souls remains to me one of the hottest newcomers from the Alfa Matrix stable; this is intelligent EBM mixed with a few more influences.

Best songs: “Burst Of Anger”, “The Worm Queen”, “Das Messer”, “Burn”, “Ordinary Demonism”.

Rate: (8).

Artist: www.facebook.com/First-Aid-4-Souls-180876236297

Label: www.alfa-matrix.com / www.facebook.com/Alfa.Matrix

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

(Photo by Brigi Major) Veteran Hungarian artist István Gazdag joined the Alfa Matrix label in 2019 for the release of the dark EBM album “Keep This World Empty” (get it here on Bandcamp) which was recorded with his partner in crime Mortum on vocals. Gazdag has been very active in the avant-garde electronic / industrial scene since the late 80’s with numerous and quite diversified releases on various labels under his belt and some great remix work for such cult acts like Coil, Soft Cell, Test. Dept., Cabaret Voltaire or Einstürzende Neubauten.

On the new “Fire” album (available now from Bandcamp) you get a collaboration effort with several key-protagonists from the electro industrial scene in Hungary. As a result the release is released under the ‘First Aid 4 Souls feat. LD50’ named after the famous cult sub-culture community site LD50.hu where all the fans and artists in the country gathered. A bit like our legendary Side-Line forum (where trolling became kind of a sports we must admit).

But back to Hungary, the legacy of the LD50.hu forum van be found back on this 12-track album via studio collaborations with other Hungarian artists like Black Nail Cabaret’s dark pop diva Emke, Ultranoire’s singer Josef Stapel, provocative artist Vic Willow (and his voice evoking David Bowie and Gary Numan) or yet the writer/futurist Damage of Planetdamage.

The result is a mix of 80’s tainted moody electro wave with a dance floor edge and noir melancholic vocals. It also shows that the Hungarian dark wave scene is far from being dead, on the contrary. A daring yet very accessible release.

Check out this excellent release below, you can download it right now from Bandcamp!

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!

side-line.com