Tensal is the solo project of Héctor Sandoval, a visionary artist also known as one half of the influential duo Exium and a key force behind Komatssu and Selección Natural. Created as a space to express his more cyclical, modern interpretation of techno, Tensal is where Sandoval fuses rhythmic experimentation with textured sound design, building a universe that bridges the hypnotic and the physical, the cerebral and the instinctive.
What began with releases on his own imprint Tensal Records quickly evolved into a global project. His sound caught the attention of top-tier techno labels, leading to acclaimed EPs and albums on Mord, Modularz, Arcing Seas, Cabrera, PoleGroup, and Soma — the latter hosting his debut LP in 2018. Tensal’s catalog is a testament to both consistency and reinvention, with a sonic identity grounded in analog exploration and modular experimentation.
Renowned for his remix work, Tensal has reinterpreted tracks by key figures like Slam, Oscar Mulero, Electric Índigo, Perc, Amotik, Envoy and Monrella, adding his signature energy and rhythmic tension. His productions consistently receive widespread support from peers and tastemakers alike, and have been reworked by artists like Pessimist, Umwelt, Shifted, Anthony Linell, Mike Parker, Shed, Pangaea, Alessandro Adriani – to name a few.
As a DJ, Tensal crafts deep, immersive journeys through the full spectrum of techno. His sets — built predominantly from his own material — are textured, powerful, and ever-evolving. This sound has taken him across more than 50 countries, from underground hubs in South America, Japan, the US, and Russia to the most iconic clubs and festivals across Europe, where he’s a regular behind the decks in Germany, France, the UK, the Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, Poland, Greece, and further.
In 2020, he launched Komando Terrorismo Sonico (K.T.S.) alongside longtime collaborator Juan Rico (Reeko/Architectural) — a raw, high-voltage side project exploring the sharper edges of acid techno and breakbeat. Their debut album Insurrección arrived in 2021 via Tensal LTD, followed by a string of intense remixes and continued underground activity.
Then came Syndromania, Sandoval’s genre-bending alias that debuted in 2022 with the Sacrilegio EP on KAOS, the label run by Héctor Oaks. The release marked a bold step forward — blending elements of trance, EBM, and Chicago house into Tensal’s rhythmic framework, proving his versatility and refusal to remain confined by genre.
Tensal’s momentum has only grown since. With recent releases like The New Land Order on BPitch, Virgo on ARTS, Perpetual Survivor on MORD, and the Exium-produced Regressions EP on VOID+1, Sandoval continues to push techno’s boundaries with clarity and intent. Each record reflects his evolving artistry — built on deep technical knowledge, relentless experimentation, and a commitment to shaping the future of sound without losing sight of its underground roots.
In late 2024, Tensal collaborated with Amorphic to release the Distant Landscapes EP on James Ruskin’s Blueprint Records. This four-track release showcases a fusion of deep, driving techno that aligns seamlessly with Blueprint’s influential catalog.
Through every project and reinvention, Tensal remains unmistakable — an artist with a singular sonic signature who evolves relentlessly without ever diluting the essence of his sound.
