The Noise and the Machine: A Brief Look Into Industrial Rock
I don’t really have a better introduction for this thing. I’m just feeling like talking a bit about the industrial rock genre. I’m going to dig into what it is (how to define it I guess), it’s history, some of the bands included in the genre, and my own personal (albeit limited) experience with the genre, etc…
So what exactly is industrial rock you might ask? For all intents and purposes, industrial rock is a fusion genre. It blends rock music, punk rock, and metal with electronic elements. Often experimental. It is usually harsh and abrasive with distorted guitars, (sometimes) live drums combined with synthesizers, sequencers, samplers and drum machines. Themes of the music are often dystopian in nature. The term “industrial” as a genre comes from the band that, more or less, started the genre.
So where did it start? Most signs point to the British band Throbbing Gristle. This band started in 1975. In 1976, they released their first single "United/Zyklon B Zombie” on their own label, Industrial Records. Their debut album The Second Annual Report, released in November 1977, also on Industrial Records, has been heralded as the first industrial rock album ever released. Some other early pioneers of industrial rock include England’s Cabaret Voltaire, Germany’s Einsturzende Neubauten, and San Francisco’s Chrome.
Based on my own perspective, I think industrial rock really hit its high point in the late 80s and early 90s. Bands like Nine Inch Nails, Ministry, and Skinny Puppy being the “big 3” that really elevated the genre into the mainstream. Some other bands that were really prevalent in the industrial rock scene were Front 242, KMFDM, My Life With the Thrill Kill Kult, Nitzer Ebb, and Front Line Assembly, among others. Another band that I contend was an industrial rock band, although many do not consider them indicative of the genre, is Steve Albini’s Big Black.
My friend Dave brought up an interesting question in regards to industrial rock and who is and who isn’t.
“I wonder where is the line with industrial. Meaning, when does something crossover from begin something else to industrial?”
While I don’t really have an educated, intelligent answer for the question, I feel like genres in general can be somewhat subjective. While in the case of Big Black, one could make the case that they are more post-hardcore or noise rock rather than industrial rock. Here is how I see it, and I’m using Big Black as an example. This band’s guitars are heavily distorted and, at least on their recordings and most of their live performances, used a drum machine rather than a live drum kit which gave it an industrial edge. My friend Justin also brought up a good point in this discussion.
“I feel like industrial uses a lot more synths and keys than noise rock. A lot more electronic elements.”
This is a good case for Big Black being noise rock or post-hardcore vs industrial rock. But I’d rather not spend my time in this post talking about whether or not a specific band is or isn’t. Another case of genre defining being subjective. At least in my uneducated opinion.
No discussion about industrial rock would be complete without mentioning the record label Wax Trax! Records. This label was formed in Chicago, Illinois by Jim Nash and Dannie Flesher. It started out as a record shop and once becoming a label it became a strong presence in the industrial rock scene. Some of the most noteworthy Wax Trax! artists were Front 242, KMFDM, Front Line Assembly, My Life With the Thrill Kill Kult, Laibach, Revolting Cocks, Pailhead, and more. The label was sold to TVT Records in 1992 and discontinued in 2001. It re-emerged in 2014, however, when Jim Nash’s daughter Julia re-started it when she released a single by the band Cocksure and followed up with a new release of a single by Front 242. There is a documentary film that was released in 2018 about the history of the label called Industrial Accident: The Story of Wax Trax! Records.
Another label that is important to industrial rock is Nothing Records. It is technically a vanity label that was founded by Nine Inch Nail’s Trent Reznor under the larger company Interscope Records. The “biggest” artist’s on the label were Nine Inch Nails and Marilyn Manson but other band’s whose albums were released by the label include Einsturzende Neubauten, Pop Will Eat Itself, Prick, and Meat Beat Manifesto, among others.
Hmmm….where else to go with this? Oh yeah! My own personal history with the genre. I believe that the first industrial band I heard was Skinny Puppy. Skinny Puppy were formed in Vancouver, Canada in 1982. The album was 1989’s Rabies. The song from the album that I first heard was “Tin Omen.” Still my favorite Skinny Puppy tune. After listening to them, I began to dig into more industrial rock bands such as Ministry and KMFDM. While I was still listening to a lot of punk rock in the early 90s, industrial rock bands were also very much part of my music listening repertoire. I saw a lot of these bands live. Off the top of my head, the industrial bands that I have seen live are Ministry, Skinny Puppy, Godflesh, My Life With the Thrill Kill Kult, Nine Inch Nails, and Pigface. There might have been more but those are the ones that I can remember.
I’m not sure what else to talk about here. Maybe there will be a part two if I can think of other stuff to talk about on the subject. I will, however, leave you with a few videos of some of my favorite industrial rock songs. Enjoy.
Let me know what else you’d like me to talk about on this subject. Or tell me that I don’t know what the hell I’m talking about and to quit it. LOL. Or, is there something about industrial rock that hits you, either positively or negatively? What do you like about it or what do you dislike about it? What are some of your favorite industrial rock bands? Either way, I love to see comments on this thing so work with me here!
I have a new Discograffiti coming soon by the way. It’s not industrial rock related, I just wanted to mention that it is coming. I’m hoping to have it ready for release by Wednesday.
Have a great week.