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.

About New Horizon

“New Horizon: A Hungarian Electro-Industrial Compilation” is a various-artists release gathering seventeen tracks from the Hungarian electro-industrial and EBM underground. It was released on 7 September 2023 in digital and CD formats.

The compilation was mastered by Istvan Gazdag of First Aid 4 Souls, with photography by Dóri Hrisztu-Pazonyi and design by Kollektiva. It brings together 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, and Aras Focum.

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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