IHM’s 2016 debut release “Warehouse Memories” announced a bold new voice to techno - on the one hand, his production chops were already fully developed, giving the tracks a huge, warehouse-ready sound. On the other, an expressive and grand (or grandiose, if you listen to the haters) emotional contour brought out a wide, cinematic flavor. “Shades of Night” positively soars, leaving behind the mannered, aloof reductions that were endemic to the genre at the time. Do the vocals sound like Coldplay? Yes, kinda. Does it slap? Absolutely.

This willingness to break rank with techno’s hermetic, insular factions was more than a breath of fresh air. 2016 was a moment of generational transition: a new crop of soon-to-be-huge, bangers-first headliners like Amelie Lens and Charlotte de Witte still in their initial ascent, while an influential cadre of scene leaders turned away from crossover appeal and focused on distillation and reduction. IHM split the difference and forged his own path, with bombastic tracks that foregrounded an unflinching melodicism mixed with teeth-staining grit and a feverish performance style that was reminiscent of a hardcore punk frontman. Tracks like  2017’s melancholic anthem “Sorrows of the Moon” built on the promise of his debut, showing this was no fluke of beginner’s luck.

While his most popular songs tend to balance throttling kick drums with swelling harmonies, IHM doesn’t always pull on your heartstrings. At times, he feels like the heir apparent to The Prodigy, with similarly seismic rave anthems that could convince a leery rock audience as much as a staunch techno head. 2021’s “Two Steps From Heaven” is a solid example of IMH’s harder side, with code-red synths jacking your adrenaline like a fire alarm and a twisting, acid techno loop at the core. But where The Prodigy always harkened back to the moody ruggedness of rural England, IHM can’t help but sound indisputably French. There’s a latent glamor and smooth allure baked into the music. Even an early-career ear cleaner like “Your Time Has Come” manages to locate the essence of a hit amidst its searing beatdown. The decisive element may simply be IHM’s thrill at his own process; you can sense his glee with every filter sweep and kick drum hit, and it’s infectious.

The rest of the lineup matches his fervor. Herrensauna resident Héctor Oaks is a cult favorite who’s been turning more and more heads with his freewheeling, high energy all vinyl sets. KYRUH is one of NY’s most exciting breakout artists. In the last two years, she’s positively seized the moment, playing with a burning urgency and conviction. Como Se DJ is a newcomer but already showing a ton of promise, with a groovy soulfulness that can turn hard-edged and bracing at a moment’s notice. Together, they embody the unstoppable energy and defiant speed that RUSH is named for.