By annual tradition, Bimfest takes place at the end of every year, and this year will be no different. On December 19 and 20, in venue De Casino in Sint-Niklaas, the “beats” and “bleeps” will once again come flying at you from all sides. It will arrive sooner than you think so we would like to introduce the participating acts to you one by one.
FRETT is the solo project of Maciej Frett, best known from the bands Job Karma and 7JK. Since the mid-1990s, he has been a mainstay of the independent industrial/experimental scene in Wrocław (Poland) and is also a curator and organizer of events such as the Wrocław Industrial Festival.
His debut solo album The World as a Hologram (2020, released on Ant-Zen/Gusstaff Records) combines old-school industrial with IDM and techno rhythms, tribal and dance-industrial beats, ambient and noise textures, polished with raw vocals that often carry a harsh or “soulless” edge.
On his more recent album NOTTWO (2023), FRETT continues along these lines while further focusing on retro-synth styles, post-punk, and 1980s electronics, incorporating pop-like structural elements and more prominent vocal contributions from Anna Frett.
Live, FRETT consists of Maciej Frett and his life partner Anna Frett. The project blends atmospheric, industrial soundscapes with rhythms that set the dance floor in motion, while maintaining a dark, experimental edge.
Come and see this on Saturday, December 20 at 6:30 PM at Bimfest, after Akalotz (the band introduced elsewhere on this site—just click the “Bimfest” tag, it’s that simple).
Kurt Ingels (Dark Entries Magazine)
By annual tradition, Bimfest takes place at the end of every year, and this year will be no different. On December 19 and 20, in venue De Casino in Sint-Niklaas, the “beats” and “bleeps” will once again come flying at you from all sides. It will arrive sooner than you think so we would like to introduce the participating acts to you one by one.
Euforic Existence hails from Antwerp and has been delivering hard-hitting EBM and industrial with raw energy and no restrictions for many years. Since their first releases such as Eros and Existence Beating Morality (2014–2015), they have built a reputation for blending harsh electronics with aggressive beats, resulting in powerful performances that dominate both underground clubs and outdoor stages.
In 2025, Euforic Existence was voted by the audience of the Dark Demo(n)s competition as one of the best acts of the evening—hence their presence at the 23rd edition of Bimfest! Expect a Euforic Existence set that hits hard with pounding synths, searing vocals, and a steel, rusted barrel full of industrial rawness.
Euforic Existence will kick off the second day of the Bimfest festival on Saturday, December 20 at 3:30 PM, so make sure to be there on time!
Kurt Ingels (Dark Entries Magazine)
By annual tradition, Bimfest takes place at the end of every year, and this year will be no different. On December 19 and 20, in venue De Casino in Sint-Niklaas, the “beats” and “bleeps” will once again come flying at you from all sides. It will arrive sooner than you think so we would like to introduce the participating acts to you one by one.
The London-based electropop duo Empathy Test has been enchanting audiences worldwide since their formation in 2014. The band, led by charismatic singer Isaac Howlett with production and composition handled by Adam Relf, creates a instantly recognizable sound: cinematic synthesizers, driving beats, and sincere vocals that blend nostalgia with a modern twist. Inspired by films such as Blade Runner, Empathy Test reflects a cinematic quality that can be felt throughout their compositions.
Since their debut EP Losing Touch, Empathy Test has released three critically acclaimed studio albums—Losing Touch, Safe From Harm, and Monsters—as well as the live album Time to Be Alive. Fully funded by fans through crowdfunding campaigns, each release underscores the remarkable loyalty of their global fanbase. Empathy Test’s music has been praised by Clash Magazine, MTV, BBC, and KCRW, and is described as “beautiful” and “highly cinematic.”
Live, Empathy Test brings their music to life with an intensity that has earned them headline tours across Europe and the United Kingdom. They have shared festival stages at Wave-Gotik-Treffen and M’era Luna, and have performed alongside iconic acts such as VNV Nation and Aesthetic Perfection.
Now, after more than a decade of making music, Empathy Test embarks on their 2025 European tour, featuring more than 20 shows in 15 cities from September through December. Fans can expect a setlist spanning their entire career, combining early favorites with powerful tracks from Monsters. With their unique blend of emotion and atmosphere, Empathy Test’s 2025 tour promises to be their most ambitious yet—a must-see for fans of synthpop, darkwave, and electronic music worldwide.
Empathy Test, rarely seen live in Belgium, is the headliner on Friday, December 19, and will begin their set at 11:15 PM—but of course, you’ll be there much earlier.
Kurt Ingels (Dark Entries Magazine)
Apoptygma Berzerk Announce “Kathy’s Song XXV” – 25 Year Anniversary Edition
Apoptygma Berzerk are celebrating 25 years of “Kathy’s Song” with a special anniversary edition titled “Kathy’s Song XXV,” due for release on December 22, 2025 via Pitch Black Drive.
Originally released in December 2000, “Kathy’s Song” has grown into one of Stephan Groth’s most enduring and emotionally resonant compositions in the Futurepop genre over the past quater century.
Fans can already pre-add “Kathy’s Song XXV” on Spotify ahead of its official release.
More details to follow shortly.
Below the original version!
By annual tradition, Bimfest takes place at the end of every year, and this year will be no different. On December 19 and 20, in venue De Casino in Sint-Niklaas, the “beats” and “bleeps” will once again come flying at you from all sides. It will arrive sooner than you think so we would like to introduce the participating acts to you one by one.
Zweite Jugend is a two-piece electro/EBM project from Osnabrück, Germany, formed by Eli van Vegas (vocals, sequences, songwriting, production) and Marcel Lüke (drums, songwriting). Their sound is minimalist, analog, raw, yet atmospheric: they often use vintage synthesizers (ARP Odyssey, SH-101, MS20), acoustic drums, voice, and percussion—and little else. Their work evokes elements of late-1970s electronic music and early EBM, but always with modern production and lyrical sensitivity.
Lyrically, the band is reflective, and Zweite Jugend often explores themes such as love, existential longing, human self-destruction, science, and the night. They usually write the lyrics first and then build the music around them. Zweite Jugend released their debut album Liebe ist Luxus in 2016, followed by Elektronische Körpermusik in 2019. Their third full-length album, Der Wille zur Nacht, marks the conclusion of a planned trilogy, further reinforcing their aesthetic of analog purity, dark atmosphere, and emotional introspection.
Zweite Jugend can be seen and heard live on Friday, December 19 at 10:05 PM. Make sure your watch is set correctly—and some people (I won’t name names) will already experience their “Third Youth” with Zweite Jugend at Bimfest!
Kurt Ingels (Dark Entries Magazine)
