List of post-industrial music genres and related fusion genres

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The term Industrial music was first used in the mid-1970s to describe the then-unique sound of the Industrial Records label artists, a wide variety of labels and artists have since come to be called "Industrial".

There is much disagreement between members of the industrial music scene as to how to categorize the different artists and bands into different subgenres. There is also much disagreement regarding the current state of industrial.

Contents

[edit] The Industrial movement (1975-1981)

Main article: Industrial music

Industrial began as an intellectual movement to challenge the idea of what music can be. The first wave of industrial musicians began performing in the mid-seventies. There are still a number of artists who create music in a fashion very similar to the original philosophies of Industrial Records. These genres all stem directly from industrial.

Popularized by Industrial Records, this sound first defined the term "industrial", but bears little resemblance to what is often called industrial music today. By modern standards, most of this would better be described as experimental music with a noisy bent. Featuring tape loops, cut-ups, vocal and instrumental experimentation, this first incarnation of industrial music would be considered very difficult listening for many of those familiar with modern industrial, but was widely considered to be the defining sound of industrial in the 70s. In contrast to the modern crop of EBM/synthpop styled music now passing under the banner, it tended to be abrasive and confrontational, its philosophy frequently involving a willingness to shock its audience into questioning their definitions of music, among other things.

Artists: Throbbing Gristle, Coil, SPK, Einstürzende Neubauten,Cabaret Voltaire, NON
Labels: Industrial Records, Mute Records, Sterile Records.

[edit] Post-industrial developments

[edit] Power Electronics

Main article: Noise music

Power electronics was originally coined by William Bennett as part of the sleevenotes to the Whitehouse album Psychopathia Sexualis, and is related to the early industrial records scene but later became more identified with the noise music scene. It largely consists of screeching waves of feedback, analogue synthesizers making sub-bass pulses or high frequency squealing sounds, and screamed, distorted, often hateful and offensive lyrics. Deeply atonal, there are no conventional melodies or rhythms in power electronics.

Artists: Whitehouse, Consumer Electronics, Sutcliffe Jügend, Genocide Organ, The Grey Wolves
Labels: Come Organisation (UK), Broken Flag (UK), Freak Animal (Fin)

[edit] Martial industrial

Main article: Martial industrial

Martial industrial, also known as military pop, is a music genre originating in the early and mid-1980s with the music of Laibach and In the Nursery. It often borrows musically from classical music, neofolk, neoclassical, traditional European marches and from elements of industrial and dark ambient.

Artists: Allerseelen, Blood Axis, Death In June, Der Blutharsch, Laibach, Puissance, Von Thronstahl, Wappenbund

[edit] Neofolk

Main article: Neofolk

Neofolk originates from esoteric music circles who started using the term in the late 20th Century to describe music influenced by musicians such as Douglas Pearce of Death In June, Tony Wakeford of Sol Invictus and David Tibet of Current 93 who had collaborated heavily for a period of time. These musicians were part of a post-industrial music circle who later on incorporated folk music based upon traditional and European elements into their sound.

Artists: Death In June, Sol Invictus, Current 93, :Of The Wand & The Moon:, Changes
Labels: World Serpent Distribution, Tesco Organisation

[edit] Fusion genres

[edit] Electronic Body Music

Main article: Electronic body music

EBM (short for electronic body music; The term electronic body music was coined by Ralf Hütter of the German electronic band Kraftwerk in 1978 to explain the more physical sound of their album The Man-Machine.[1]) The term was later used in its current sense by Belgian band Front 242 in 1984 to describe the music of their EP No Comment, released in the same year.[2] it denotes a certain type of danceable electronic music, a mixture of electropunk and industrial music. EBM beats are typically 4/4, often with some minor syncopation to suggest a "rock" rhythm. Heavy synths are usually prominent, and the vocals are often militaristic. This style was widely considered to be the defining sound of industrial in the 80s. In recent years, however, there has been somewhat of a schism within the EBM scene, and it is now not uncommon to hear electro-industrial and futurepop artists referred to as EBM. For this reason, many EBM fans have begun to refer to this earlier style as "old-school EBM".

Artists: Armageddon Dildos, A Split-Second, Bigod 20, D.A.F., Front 242, Nitzer Ebb, Spetsnaz, The Weathermen
Labels: Play It Again Sam (Belgium), Antler Records (Belgium), Wax Trax (USA), Zoth Ommog (Belgium)

[edit] Industrial-Rock

Main article: Industrial rock
See also: Industrial metal.

With its roots in American rock music, Industrial-Rock fused rock sensibilities with the hardness of industrial dance. Known for their live performances, studio releases by these acts often employed rotating and shared lineups due to the frequency of improv and jam sessions. Much of this style's musical output was very aggressive, with confrontational lyrics and samples. This aesthetic was furthered by the larger-than-life stage presence of many acts, which often involved costumes, pyrotechnics, elaborate sets, and horror-inspired makeup.

Artists: Ministry, Big Black, Godflesh, Pigface, KMFDM, The Genitorturers, Nine Inch Nails, Intricate Unit
Labels: Wax Trax! (USA), Invisible Records (USA).

[edit] Electro-Industrial

Main article: Electro-industrial

Electro-Industrial is a typical 1990s movement. Whereas EBM was generally straightforward in structure and production, electro-industrial became known for its deep, layered sound. Typically this is a darker form of EBM, however this can often refer to acts that combine EBM with another subgenre (for example Haujobb, who combine EBM with IDM).

Artists: :Wumpscut:, Skinny Puppy, Numb, Front Line Assembly, Haujobb, Aghast View, Klinik, Suicide Commando, Recently Deceased
Labels: Off Beat (Germany), Zoth Ommog Records (Germany), 21st Circuitry (USA), Pendragon (USA), Metropolis Records (USA).

[edit] Coldwave

Main article: Coldwave (USA)
Main article: Industrial metal

Coldwave has its roots in industrial metal acts like the Young Gods and Ministry, and exploded on the American scene in the mid-1990s. Albums like Chemlab's Burn Out at the Hydrogen Bar exemplified the typical coldwave sound: rock-like guitars with prominent synthesizer accompaniment, and live or sampled drums. Lyrical content varies, but is typically cyberpunk-oriented in some fashion, often with pop sensibilities. Coldwave record labels had a notoriously short lifespan.

Artists: Chemlab, 16 Volt, Acumen Nation, Hate Dept., Out Out, Sweat Engine, Iron Lung Corp., Cyanotic
Labels: Re-Constriction Records (USA), Fifth Colvmn Records (USA). If It Moves (USA).

[edit] Aggrotech

Aggrotech is an evolution of electro-industrial and dark electro with a strong influence of techno music that first surfaced in the mid-1990s, but has been revitalized in recent years. Also referred to as "Terror EBM", and more recently referred to as "Hellektro", its sound is typified by somewhat harsh song structures, aggressive beats and lyrics of a militant, pessimistic or explicit nature. Typically, the vocals are distorted to sound hoarse, harsh and without tone. Artists also frequently use atonal melodic structures.[citation needed]

Artists: Aghast View, Amduscia, Agonoize, Psyclon Nine, Die Sektor, CeDigest, Crisis Mode, Combichrist, Hocico, Virtual Embrace, Tactical Sekt, Funker Vogt, Grendel, Aslan Faction, Tamtrum, Feindflug, Cenobita, Dawn Of Ashes, Suicide Commando, Vigilante
Labels: NoiTekk (Germany) Out of Line Music (Germany)

[edit] Power Noise

Main article: Power noise

Power noise (also known as rhythmic noise) takes its inspiration from some of the more structured and distorted early industrial acts, such as Esplendor Geométrico. There are also certain techno and technoid influences. The term "power noise" was originally coined by Raoul Roucka, who records as Noisex. Typically, power noise is based upon a distorted kick drum from a drum machine such as a Roland TR-909, uses militaristic 4/4 beats, and is usually instrumental. Sometimes a melodic component is added, but this is almost always secondary to the rhythm. Power noise tracks are typically structured and danceable, but are known to be occasionally abstract. This genre is showcased at the annual Maschinenfest festival in Krefeld, Germany, as well as at Infest in Bradford, UK.

Artists: Winterkälte, Imminent Starvation, Axiome, Converter, Greyhound, Terrorfakt, Pneumatic Detach
Labels: Ant-Zen (Germany), Hands Productions (Germany)
Sample of "Death Time" by Converter

[edit] Technoid

Main article: Technoid

Technoid acts take inspiration from IDM, experimental techno and noise music. The end result is usually diverse IDM-influenced rhythms with varying levels of noise and industrial influence. Artists will often use non-conventional sounds within their music, such as field recordings of natural phenomena, dated 8-bit electronic equipment, or samples from artists of a wildly different genre. It is not uncommon for two albums by the same artist to have drastically different sounds and structures, resulting in a number of acts that have evolved a great distance from where they were only years ago. German label Hymen Records is largely responsible for the term and the style.

Artists: Gridlock, Black Lung, Somatic Responses, Xingu Hill
Labels: Hymen (Germany), Mirex (Germany), <UNIT> (USA)

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ (2007-11-25) Klein, MJ WSKU Radio (Kent - Ohio) - Ralf Hütter - 19/06/1978 kraftwerk.technopop.com.br (retrieved on 2008-01-28)
  2. ^ (2004-06-20) Monsoon, Jon EBM - A revolution in progress iAfrica.com (retrieved on 2007-08-03)

[edit] External links

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