Industrial electronic music, industrial metal, and industrial rock are music genres that emerged in the mid-1980s. The first is a genre of electronic music originating in the 1970s, employing heavy, distorted and/or synthesized sounds. The other two are subgenres of heavy metal music that incorporate elements of industrial music into their sound.
The term “industrial” was first used in relation to music in the mid-1970s with the founding of Industrial Records by Throbbing Gristle members Genesis P-Orridge and Peter Christopherson. While the genre name originated with Throbbing Gristle’s emergence in the United Kingdom, concentrations of artists and labels vital to the genre also emerged in America, namely in Chicago.
In general, academic definitions of the genre name “industrial” have tended to precede “electronic” from its origins onwards. In both cases, a distinction is made between experimental and more commercial forms of industrial music such as EBM (electronic body music).
Industrial music is a genre of music which draws on transgressive and provocative themes. The term was coined in the mid-1970s with the founding of Industrial Records by Genesis P-Orridge of Throbbing Gristle and Monte Cazazza. While the genre name originated with Throbbing Gristle’s emergence in the United Kingdom, concentrations of artists and labels vital to the genre also emerged in America and Europe.
Industrial electronic music includes a wide range of percussive electronic music genres made largely for industrial purposes, including factory records, using electric or electronic means. The term was coined in the mid-1970s for Industrial Records artists. Their first album was called “The Second Annual Report”. This was followed by a series of albums titled “Industrial Music For Industrial People”. Some artists have been known to incorporate elements of other genres, such as dub and dubstep into industrial.
Metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the United Kingdom. With roots in blues rock and psychedelic/acid rock, the bands that created heavy metal developed a thick, massive sound characterized by highly amplified distortion, extended guitar solos, emphatic beats and overall loudness. Heavy metal lyrics
Industrial music is a genre of experimental music that draws on harsh, transgressive or provocative sounds and themes. AllMusic defines industrial music as the “most abrasive and aggressive fusion of rock and electronic music” that was “initially a blend of avant-garde electronics experiments (tape music, musique concrète, white noise, synthesizers, sequencers, etc.) and punk provocation”.
Industrial music drew from a broad range of predecessors. According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the genre was first named in reference to an art movement first known as “Industrial Art” in the late 1970s. The term has been used to describe artists since the 1970s such as Cabaret Voltaire, Coil and Throbbing Gristle. While these artists are considered forerunners to the industrial music movement, they did not adopt the genre name until some years later.
There have also been attempts to link certain underground metal bands to industrial and add them to the genre. For example, Godflesh have been described as “a precursor to industrial metal”, mostly due to their pioneering fusion of metal and industrial music; other industrial metal acts such as Fear Factory, Ministry and Nine Inch Nails have also been described as industrial rock because they
Industrial electronic music is a genre of electronic music that draws on transgressive and provocative themes. The term was coined in the mid-1970s with the founding of Industrial Records by Genesis P-Orridge of Throbbing Gristle and Monte Cazazza. While the genre name originated with Throbbing Gristle’s emergence in the United Kingdom, concentrations of artists and labels vital to the genre also emerged in Chicago.
In the late 1970s and early 1980s, artists such as Cabaret Voltaire and SPK explored industrial music’s beat-driven sound. Many other groups adopted use of industrial soundscapes, textured noise and electronic instrumentation, while often retaining pop song structures.
Throbbing Gristle’s pioneering style consisted of creating “music from found objects”, using electronic equipment to generate sounds from items not usually considered musical, such as typewriters, radios, or car brake drums, for example. This approach tied in with their anarchist stance and desire to create music outside of traditional rock instrumentation.
Many other artists have been cited as influences such as Kraftwerk and Brian Eno, Daniel Miller, among others
Industrial Music is a subgenre of rock, pop and electronic music. The term was coined in the mid-1970s with the founding of Industrial Records by Genesis P-Orridge of Throbbing Gristle and Monte Cazazza. While the genre name originated with Throbbing Gristle’s emergence in the United Kingdom, concentrations of artists and labels vital to the origin and continuation of industrial music have been located in America.
Industrial music draws on transgressive and provocative themes. The term was coined to describe Throbbing Gristle’s appeal to the underground scene. This early group has been described as “proto-industrial,” as are other acts such as NON, SPK and Z’EV.
Industrial music was created originally by using mechanical and electric machinery, modified through live performance (as in noise music). These links preferred new electronic sound sources over traditional instruments, particularly keyboards or synthesizers; modern industrial music often incorporates samples from factory noise or field recordings.
The industrial genre takes its name from the Industrial Records label founded by Genesis P-Orridge of Throbbing Gristle with Peter Christopherson (Sleazy) and Cosey Fanni Tutti in 1978. The first industrial artists experimented with
Industrial music is a style of experimental music that draws on transgressive and provocative themes. The term was coined in the mid-1970s with the founding of Industrial Records by Genesis P-Orridge of Throbbing Gristle, and the first industrial musicians experimented with noise and aesthetically controversial topics, musically and visually, such as fascism, serial killers and the occult.
Industrial bands have drawn inspiration from diverse sources across the spectrum, from classical minimalism to punk. Their work has influenced numerous other genres, including industrial rock (bands like Nine Inch Nails and Marilyn Manson), noise rock (bands like Swans, NoMeansNo, Brainbombs and Whitehouse) and post-punk (bands like Bauhaus).
Industrial music was created originally by using mechanical and electric machinery, later advanced synthesizers, samplers and electronic percussion as the technology developed. Today much industrial music is made with software synthesizers, drum machines and live electronics.
As well as incorporating elements of electronic music, industrial has frequently incorporated rock, punk rock or noise rock. It has also fused with genres such as ambient and gothic rock; a number of industrial rock acts began as industrial bands but then added rock elements to their music.
“Industrial Music for Industrial People”
The first industrial artists experimented with noise and aesthetically controversial topics, musically and visually, such as fascism, serial killers and the occult. Their production was not limited to music, but included mail art, performance art, installation pieces and other art forms. Prominent industrial musicians include Throbbing Gristle, Monte Cazazza, SPK, Boyd Rice, Cabaret Voltaire, Z’EV.
Neofolk
A type of folk music that emerged from post-industrial music. It is heavily influenced by traditional folk cultures—such as Celtic folklore—and urban industrial spaces. Neofolk includes subgenres such as martial industrial or apocalyptic folk. Neofolk musicians often have ties to other alternative genres such as neoclassical and dark ambient.
Not to be confused with the subculture known as “folk punk.”
Noise music
Noise music is a term for a loose category of music that is generally harsh and hard to listen to; it may also include field recordings (sounds recorded from the natural world), spoken word or found sounds. The genre emerged in Japan during the late 1980s and early 1990s as a response to the then-prominent noise rock genre that was