The Groovemeister General: When Techno Had Groove [VINYL ONLY MIX SERIES]

Mixes & Podcasts

LP, EP, Single & Remix Releases

As a huge fan of Disco, Funk, and Soul I have been experimenting a lot recently in terms of re-evaluating some absolute classics through the sphere of hard techno. This is not an attempt at cashing in on already established pieces of music but a means of paying homage to key parts of my own musical inspiration and opening those avenues of inspiration up to a whole new audience.

In this case, I gave the Candi Staton disco anthem "Young Hearts Run Free" a glitched-out dose of heavy industrialism, Enjoy!

The track is available for FREE DOWNLOAD or Name Your Price

(Any support offered is hugely appreciated so I can continue to do what I love most)

FREE DOWNLOAD

Candi Staton - Young Hearts Run Free (Balrog's Glitch Re-Evaluation)[FREE DOWNLOAD]

Balrog - Sin Remains Unchanged [RAWE]

Volume 02 of the Northern Groove Association Podcast comes from the Northern Groove Association co-creator Balrog.

Leeds-based Balrog is rapidly becoming a well-known name on the techno circuit. Having headlined shows across the UK and Europe with a focus on his own style of industrial groove, the development of the Northern Groove Association, alongside co-creator Sawyl, is a means to get back to the raw essence of underground techno with a focus purely on groove-ridden sounds.

This mix gives a flavour of what to expect from Balrog when he steps up to the decks at the first Northern Groove Association event, which takes place on 10/07/22 at the DBA in Manchester.

NO FRILLS. NO FUSS. JUSTGROOVES.

Ticket link: https://www.skiddle.com/whats-on/Manchester/The-DBA/Northern-Groove-Association-The-Sunday-Roast-01/36081302

N.G.A Podcast: Volume 02 - BALROG [VINYL ONLY MIX]

I am happy to present Vol.03 of my vinyl-only mix series focussing on working through my collection of records from the early and mid-2000s when techno had a hell of a lot more groove than it does now! 

I also decided to record this set live for the first time, and will continue to do so for future volumes in the mix series. 

Check out the live recording via my You Tube channel: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LUvNXEwp5gE&t=1505s

When Techno Had Groove: Vol.03 [VINYL ONLY MIX]

The Northern Powerhouse

Chain of Command

Live recording of part of my set for Out Rage Records at the legendary Tresor Club in Berlin [14/06/2023]

Balrog @ Tresor New Faces: Out Rage Records [Recorded Live At Tresor, Berlin - 14/06/2023]

Live recording of my set for the Hydraulix Records party at the infamous FOLD in London [14/10/2023]

Balrog @ FOLD: Hydraulix Party [Recorded Live At FOLD, London - 14/10/2023]

To celebrate the 20th release on Khazad Records and the first of 2024, label chief Balrog presents his long anticipated album, The Industrial Groove Association.

After nearly three years in the making this album, released on digital and vinyl sampler, represents the true essence of the unique Industrial Groove sound that Balrog has been looking to develop since his emergence on to the techno scene.

Taking inspiration from a broad spectrum of musical genres and culture, over the course of the album Balrog explores the use of captivating vocal stabs and phrases, carefully crafted atmospheric synths and rolling bass lines. All these elements are consistently bound together with the heavy and unrelenting drums and percussion that Balrog has become synonymous with.

This vinyl album sampler features 6 tracks from the LP, pressed on 12" vinyl with full colour sleeve.

You will also receive the download for the full 10 track digital album.

Sampler track list:
A1. The Industrial Groove Association (Ft. Wetworks)
A2. Soul Sisters
A3. Unpolished Groove

B1. Faking The Funk
B2. Take Your Medication
B3. Sunset Over The Dales

INDUSTRIAL GROOVE IN YOUR NOSTRILS

Balrog - Unpolished Groove [KHA020]

Balrog - The Industrial Groove Association (Ft. Wetworks) [KHA020]

Balrog - Take Your Medication [KHA020]

Balrog - Sunset Over The Dales [KHA020]

Balrog - Faking The Funk [KHA020]

Balrog - Bollywood Afterparty [KHA020]

Balrog - Bad Boy Groove [KHA020]

Balrog - Amazonian Acid Trip [KHA020]

February's Live mix is here and it's a belter, this week we hear from Alex Blakemore otherwise known as 'Balrog' but on this occasion he assumes the 'The Groovemeister General' monika for just under 2 hours of House on steds, disco fuelled techno and tribal flavours sprinkled throughout, the 909 is strong on this one. 

Some words from Alex:

"This mix was recorded live from Eastern Bloc for the recent Northern Groove Association event which hosted Habgud the featured artist, The Groovemeister General (AKA. Balrog)

For his set, TGG focused on playing records from his substantial collection of house cuts and techno from the late 90s and early 2000s. This 1.45hr recording is from the final stages of his 3hr set, moving from some house edits into rolling techno grooves."

We hope you enjoy

EB x

EBR Podcast 081 - Northern Groove Association  w/ The Groovemeister General - Live 12.01.2024

Live recording of my DJ set at the mighty RSO in Berlin for the infamous Synoid weekender [10/02/2024]

Balrog @ Synoid Weekender, RSO.BERLIN [10/02/2024]

1. Balrog - Phunk Block [HYDRO176]

2. Balrog - Phunk Block (Raw Sewage Tool Mix) [HYDRO176]

3. Balrog - Black Mould [HYDRO176]

Here is Vol.04 of my vinyl-only mix series focussing on working through my collection of records from the early and mid-2000s when techno had a hell of a lot more groove than it does now!

When Techno Had Groove: Vol.04 [VINYL ONLY MIX]

Title: Against Everything (Balrog Remix) 
Artist: Main Artist: Claas Herrmann Remixer: Balrog 
Album: Grim EP 

Catalogue No.: OXIDEP03
Label: OXID Records
Full Release Date: 06 January 2025
Format: digital
Mastering: E.B Mastering
Artwork: Jaszaloth

Tracklist:
1. Claas Herrmann - 01 Grim
2.Claas Herrmann -  02 Strangers
3. Claas Herrmann - 03 Against Everything
4. Claas Herrmann -  04 Against Everything (Balrog Remix) 

Artist Instagram: 
Claas Herrmann: https://www.instagram.com/claasherrmann/ 
Balrog: https://www.instagram.com/balrog_kha/

Artist Soundcloud: 
Claas: https://soundcloud.com/claasherrmannhh=
Balrog: https://soundcloud.com/balrogtechno

Label Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oxid.records/
Label Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/oxid-records

EP Link (Available from 06th January 2025): https://oxidrecords.bandcamp.com/album/grim-ep-incl-balrog-remix-oxidep03

Premiere: Claas Herrmann - Against Everything (Balrog Remix) [OXIDEP03]

Full album mix of the Shelflife 3 album by Calibre.

(Recorded in 2017)

Calibre - Shelflife 3 (Full Album Mix)

Live recording of The Groovemeister General (AKA. Balrog) playing vinyl only at Eastern Bloc Records in Manchester (18/01/2025).

N.G.A Podcast (LIVE): The Groovemeister General (AKA. Balrog) @ Eastern Bloc Records, Manchester (18/12/25) [VINYL ONLY]

Grace - Not Over Yet (Balrog's Warehouse Re-Edit) [RAW]

DE AFTER PODCAST 25: BALROG

Hailing from Leeds in the north of the UK, Balrog storms the scene with a signature blend of heavy groove-driven drums, driving basslines, and distorted vocals. Taking influence from classic hardgroove, his sound brings a modern industrial twist that hits with raw power.

Inspired by the likes of early 2000s techno icons, his focus on industrial groove techno led to releases on renowned labels such as @soma, Green Fetish Records, @crisisofman, and his own imprint @khazadrecords ,home to some of the finest industrial groove and hard techno talents.

His high-energy DJ sets have earned him gigs across the globe, with highlights including performances at @synoidberlin, @northerngrooveassociation, and shows in New York, Berlin & London.

Enjoy this hour by Balrog. 🧡

BALROG SOUNDCLOUD: @balrogtechno
BALROG INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/balrog_kha
BALROG SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1Uh8aGOD08xOY75BcDFtmF 
BALROG BEATPORT: https://www.beatport.com/artist/balrog/691094?srsltid=AfmBOorcvUlVQWYDAHofIWMxA7qF-JmX11oNgrFxVNxXAHwWo3Yp1hL7
____________

DE AFTER INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/deafter_events/
DE AFTER FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/deafterevents
DE AFTER MAIL: info@deafter.nl

DE AFTER PODCAST 025: BALROG

Balrog - The Hip Hop Madonna [Player]

Balrog - The Hook Up [Player]

Balrog - Match Report at the Pleasure Beach [Player]

Live recording of my set on 09/08/2025 from Hyde Park Book Club for Rogue Puppet X Northern Groove Association... 

Balrog @ Hyde Park Book Club, Leeds: Rogue Puppet X Northern Groove Association [09082025]

PINHOLE PRESENTS: 002 BALROG

Introducing Balrog, label chief at one of our personal favourites, Kazhad Records. Known for perfectly blending both industrial and grooving sounds, expecting a hard, noisy, grooving journey.

PINHOLE PRESENTS: 002 BALROG

Decoy

Decoy - Balrog

Balrog - Lambs To The Slaughter 

For the 4th release, Ket Robinson invites 17 friends and talented Artists he really wants to publicize and reunite under KR Records flag!

From France, Argentina, Germany, UK, or Sweden, they represent the future of Techno scene.

Credits:
from KR004, released February 24, 2020
Follow KR Records: https://www.facebook.com/KetRobinsonRecords

Lambs To The Slaughter

Balrog - Lambs To The Slaughter [KR004]

Very happy to make public my entry to the UX remix competition. Choosing Frantic by Dahryl was a no brainer as it is one my favourite releases from the last couple of years.

Although I was unsuccessful in terms of the competition I had a lot of fun working on the remix and giving it a Balrog/Thrash Metal rework - top marks if you can guess the vocal sample I used...

Dahryl - Frantic (Balrog Remix) [Remix Competition Entry] FREE DOWNLOAD

As a huge fan of Disco, Funk, and Soul I have been experimenting a lot recently in terms of re-evaluating some absolute classics through the sphere of hard techno. This is not an attempt at cashing in on already established pieces of music but a means of paying homage to key parts of my own musical inspiration and opening those avenues of inspiration up to a whole new audience.

In this case, I gave The Temptations soul classic "Papa Was A Rolling Stone" a heavy, driving warehouse feel, Enjoy!

The track is available for FREE DOWNLOAD or Name Your Price

(Any support offered is hugely appreciated so I can continue to do what I love most)

The Temptations - Papa Was A Rolling Stone (Balrog's Warehouse Re-Evaluation)[FREE DOWNLOAD]

"Wonderlust Records marks the next chapter in the infamous tale of Wonderlust Group, an Ibiza born rave vision that has grown renowned for its uncompromising music policy and carefully crafted artist rosters. A pandemic, a global lockdown and six months of graft is the recipe that they needed to create something special, and they have delivered just that with ‘Wrath of Cerberus’. 

Wrath of Cerberus seeks to only push the boundaries of electronic music further, constantly chasing a higher BPM and a harsher kick drum, while simultaneously including old school melodies and rave. Culminating the rage, misery and creativity of a range of international artists, this 25 track VA acts to set the bar for the future of the label – and its unforgiving attitude. 
Wonderlust’s Holy Trinity of intensity, experimentation and fury is noted within each of the tracks, resonated further through the bespoke illustration created by getweird.art. 

Their compilation of hardcore and industrial acts only supports this ethos more with tracks from D.Carbone, Axel Picodot Patrick DSP, Plexøs, Ex_Machina, Another Alias, Vishscale, Kenny Campbell, ABSNTMNDED, Balrog, Oguz, Kaylah, Akwist, bunkerterror, Armed Response Unit, Syrette, Ohin, Xoplysm, RLHU, Illiya Korniyenko, Melissa D’Lima, Stanz Amor, LEKKE, Realm and RADIUM.

Keeping true to techno’s roots, all profits generated by Wonderlust Records will be donated to BLM charities and other ANTIFA causes."

Balrog - Make Me Feel [WLR001]

I am very happy to present my first self-release of 2021, which is actually an update of a release that came out two years ago,
Special K.

This was one of my first full releases however, as my productions have developed I have become unhappy with the overall quality of the release and so wanted to give the track a fresh injection of industrial power.

As the label that released the track two years ago has failed to pay me any owed royalties, despite it charting on Beatport multiple times and despite them re-releasing it multiple times under new label names, I have decided to self-release this new update.

I have tried in vain to contact the label and have the original track removed but have had no success. This same label has attempted to steal music from me on more than one occasion and epitomise everything that is wrong with the "Business Techno" digital marketplace of phony labels.

So fuck them, here is an updated version of the track, I hope you enjoy it and I massively appreciate any support you can offer.

FUCK SCUMBAG LABELS

Balrog

Special K

Upcoming Dates (2025):
08/02 - Hi-Tech @ Beaverworks, Leeds
28/02 - Siah @ Bunker Club - Turin, Italy
11/04 - Northern Groove Association @ Mintwarehouse, Leeds
03/05 - Mint Festival, Leeds (Disco & House Set)
09/05 - Interuption, Dublin
10/05 - Twistd @ Lavery's, Belfast
30/05 - Poznan, Poland
20-23/06 - Collide Festival, Bristol
26/07 - TBC, Poland 
08/08 - Noctivus, Cardiff
09/08 - Techno Gathering @ Freedom Mills, Leeds
22/08 - Void Disco, London
05/09 - Northern Groove Association @ Eastern Bloc., Manchester
04/10 - Hi-Tech @ Beaverworks, Leeds
13/10 - Manchester, TBC

The Industrial Groove Association…

Hailing from Leeds in the north of the UK, Balrog (Alex) is an artist whose style focuses on heavy rolling drums, driving bass lines, and distorted vocals. His tracks take influence from classic funky and groove focussed techno but with a fresh injection of modern industrial power. Focussing on this signature sound of industrial groove techno has seen him release on labels including Soma, Ear To Ground, Hydraulix, Crisis Of Man, Player, NAKT, Instruments Of Discipline, Moments In Time and Green Fetish.

The industrial groove sound also characterises Balrog’s high-energy DJ sets which have seen him headline events in cities such as New York, Berlin, London, Leeds, Manchester, Budapest, Glasgow, and more.

Balrog also runs his own record label, Khazad Records, which releases music from the very best industrial groove and hard techno talent around.

In addition to his Balrog alias, Alex also also plays and produces under, The Groovemeister General, focussing exclusively on moulding together deep, funky and grooving house and techno records. 

UK & International Bookings: ali@siahmusic.com

Balrog (AKA. The Groovemeister General)

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