Way Back When: Amnesia’s “Hysteria” and the Rise of Belgian New Beat The track “Hysteria” is a late-1980s classic from the Belgian electronic music scene, specifically the hypnotic and genre-defining movement known as New Beat.
Emerging from the alt underground club culture of Belgium, New Beat was characterized by its slowed-down BPMs, dark synth textures, and a mesmerizing electro pulse that blurred the lines between industrial, EBM, and acid house. It was moody, mechanical, and magnetic—music made for the dancefloor, but with a shadowy soul.
The project Amnesia wasn’t a traditional band, but rather a studio creation helmed by Stephan Novak. After producing the first album, promoters Michel Nachtergaele and Bruno Vangarsse brought in additional DJs to perform and promote the music in clubs, helping to cement Amnesia’s place in the New Beat canon.
“Hysteria” stands out as a sonic time capsule—a track that captures the raw, experimental energy of a scene that would go on to influence techno, trance, and industrial music across Europe and beyond.
