Amsterdam, May 22, 2025 — Maike Depas' label The Innovation Studio Records turns up the heat with its first-ever compilation, spotlighting the ferocious pulse of the modern hard techno underground. Across ten blistering tracks, the release serves as a launchpad for the label’s broader vision: unrelenting energy, genre-expanding ideas, and simply no compromise. Set for a May 22 release, HARD NEVER DIES is a ruthless, full-throttle showcase of where the genre’s headed — and who’s leading the charge.
The release assembles a sharp-edged mix of talent, including ACOR, RBX, Akoriz, and WarinD, as well as Aekae, Marco Leckbert & Luca Maier, ANKKH, and DLVM. Joining them is the boss himself, Maike Depas, whose track 'Bass in My Face' hits with breakneck energy. While the compilation is relentless in pace, it never loses depth — ANKKH’s ‘TNT’ stands out with dynamic detail and firepower, while DLVM’s 'In This House' offers a playful bounce in an otherwise hard-hitting storm. Together, the release is more than just a collection of hits, it captures a love-hate dynamic that defines hard techno’s rising popularity: it punishes, then seduces; overwhelms, then hypnotizes. HARD NEVER DIES is more than just a title, it's a warning that the scene isn't slowing down — and The Innovation Studio Records just poured fuel on the fire.
The release assembles a sharp-edged mix of talent, including ACOR, RBX, Akoriz, and WarinD, as well as Aekae, Marco Leckbert & Luca Maier, ANKKH, and DLVM. Joining them is the boss himself, Maike Depas, whose track 'Bass in My Face' hits with breakneck energy. While the compilation is relentless in pace, it never loses depth — ANKKH’s ‘TNT’ stands out with dynamic detail and firepower, while DLVM’s 'In This House' offers a playful bounce in an otherwise hard-hitting storm. Together, the release is more than just a collection of hits, it captures a love-hate dynamic that defines hard techno’s rising popularity: it punishes, then seduces; overwhelms, then hypnotizes. HARD NEVER DIES is more than just a title, it's a warning that the scene isn't slowing down — and The Innovation Studio Records just poured fuel on the fire.
Tracklist:
MAIKE DEPAS - Bass In My Face
SCARLETT. – Hard to get to Sleep
Akoriz - Destroy your Brain
WarinD – Illusion
Marco Leckbert, Luca Maier – Una Y Otra Vez
RBX - Feel the Kicks
ANKKH - TNT
ACOR - Fake Like That
DLVM – In This House
Aekae - Awaken Me
MAIKE DEPAS - Bass In My Face
SCARLETT. – Hard to get to Sleep
Akoriz - Destroy your Brain
WarinD – Illusion
Marco Leckbert, Luca Maier – Una Y Otra Vez
RBX - Feel the Kicks
ANKKH - TNT
ACOR - Fake Like That
DLVM – In This House
Aekae - Awaken Me
About Maike Depas
Italian hard techno DJ and producer MAIKE DEPAS (Michelangelo De Pasquale) is rapidly becoming one of the most exciting talents in electronic music. Drawing from a decade of experience and a sound that merges 90s rave, hard techno, and psy-trance, Depas has redefined his artistic vision in 2024, earning recognition from DJ Mag Italia, Mixmag Germany, and FAZE as a rising star in the global scene.
A classically trained musician who studied composition and piano at the Milan Conservatory, Depas blends technical precision with raw, boundary-pushing energy. His recent audio-visual relaunch has brought his dystopian aesthetic to life, highlighted by a live set at Berlin’s Teufelsberg, shooting with cyberpunk designer Demobaza, and collaborating with the likes of Amstra, Mattia Trani, and Matasism. In the past year, Depas has released a series of EPs under Mattia Trani’s Pushmaster Discs, including ‘Tokyo Nights’ and the most recent ‘Circle of Life’, which dropped on Oct. 11. His latest major release, the ‘Sexy Devil Horse EP’ (released December 2024 through his own label, The Innovation Studio Records), has taken his sound to new heights, fusing bold experimentation with undeniable hooks, marking a thrilling new chapter in his evolving career.
A classically trained musician who studied composition and piano at the Milan Conservatory, Depas blends technical precision with raw, boundary-pushing energy. His recent audio-visual relaunch has brought his dystopian aesthetic to life, highlighted by a live set at Berlin’s Teufelsberg, shooting with cyberpunk designer Demobaza, and collaborating with the likes of Amstra, Mattia Trani, and Matasism. In the past year, Depas has released a series of EPs under Mattia Trani’s Pushmaster Discs, including ‘Tokyo Nights’ and the most recent ‘Circle of Life’, which dropped on Oct. 11. His latest major release, the ‘Sexy Devil Horse EP’ (released December 2024 through his own label, The Innovation Studio Records), has taken his sound to new heights, fusing bold experimentation with undeniable hooks, marking a thrilling new chapter in his evolving career.
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