Industrial is a genre of electronic music that was created in the 1970s and 1980s. The music is an arrangement of sounds, such as machinery and heavy industry, that is put together to create a new and unique sound. Industrial music usually has a dark tone to it and often contains themes of alienation, apocalyptic visions, and dystopian society.
Industrial Music Producers – The History of Industrial Music: A blog covering the history of industrial music from where it originated to the growing popularity in the 21st century.
Industrial music began with industrialization in the mid-twentieth century, when people were being alienated by work in factories. In Europe, this was associated with post-World War II economic boom that had people working long hours in factories replacing people who died during the war. Factory conditions were not as great as they are today, so people felt like they were just another cog in a machine and no one really cared about them.
This feeling of being useless can be heard through the lyrics and music of industrial artists such as Throbbing Gristle and Cabaret Voltaire, who sang about how society at large didn’t care what happened to individuals within it (unless they were rich).
Industrial artists also sang about how humanity was destroying
In the past years, a lot of people were asking me questions like: „Where does industrial music come from?“, „Who are the first industrial music producers?“ or „What is the history of industrial music?“ To answer those questions, I have decided to write this article. I will focus mainly on the early days of industrial music.
During my research I have found out, that there are many different opinions concerning this topic. Some people even claim, that there is no such thing as a history of industrial music, because it would not be possible to determine a certain starting point for this genre. My view differs from this opinion: I consider Einstürzende Neubauten as pioneers of industrial music. Their name can be translated with „collapsing new buildings“ and refers to their innovative sounds created with unconventional instruments. They are seen by many fans as forerunners of the post-punk and experimental rock movement during the 80s and 90s.
The German band was founded in Berlin in 1980 by Blixa Bargeld (guitar), N. U. Unruh (custom-made percussion) and F. M. Einheit (percussion). Barge
There are a lot of different definitions for what Industrial music is, but what it comes down to is that Industrial music, like any other genre of music, is an evolving art form, where there is no set definition.
When you think of industrial music, you might think of a guy behind a computer mixing beats and samples into a song. Well, you would be correct in that assessment, but there is more to it than that. Industrial music has a bit of a storied history. Many bands have been associated with the movement at one time or another. From Nine Inch Nails to Skinny Puppy, Ministry and many others, there are hundreds of artists who have been influenced by the genre in their own way.
Industrial music can be defined as an industrial sound or noise used in music. It utilizes distorted, mechanical-sounding drum beats and synthesizer riffs. It can be described as aggressive sounding and dystopian. It was originally part of the punk scene in the late 70s/early 80s in England and Germany.
You can hear elements of industrial music in other genres today such as metal, rock and even pop/hip-hop, especially if you’re familiar with the sound. This genre has influenced many people over the years;
Industrial music is a genre of music that draws on harsh, transgressive or provocative sounds and themes. AllMusic defines industrial 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 musicians subsequently rejected the punk aesthetic, while some experimental bands explored its possibilities temporarily. Musicians such as Throbbing Gristle, Cabaret Voltaire and NON have blended industrial with other styles such as ambient and electronic dance music. Industrial music has also been incorporated into the work of performance artists such as The Dorauan Duo.
Industrial music has also been used in works by filmmaker David Lynch (Twin Peaks), comic book writer Grant Morrison (The Invisibles), novelist Michael Moorcock (the Jerry Cornelius novels) and others.
The theme of much of industrial music, which is heavily played on the radio and in clubs, is alienation from and opposition to the status quo. In this respect it can be seen as a mutant cousin of punk rock. Its sound is harsh and mechanical, often incorporating distorted vocals and shouted slogans.
Industrial music is derived from the early work of Throbbing Gristle, a British group formed in 1976 by Genesis P-Orridge, Cosey Fanni Tutti, Peter “Sleazy” Christopherson, and Chris Carter. The group’s first two albums were Industrial Music for Industrial People (1978) and 20 Jazz Funk Greats (1979). Throbbing Gristle disbanded in 1981 but reunited in 2004 for a concert at London’s Tate Modern Gallery.
Industrial electronic music gained momentum as a genre in the 1980s with the emergence of bands such as Cabaret Voltaire in Britain and Ministry, Skinny Puppy, and Front 242 in the United States. Nine Inch Nails achieved worldwide success with Pretty Hate Machine (1989), which was reissued in 2004.
In the early 90s, a surge of industrial music hit the world. Artists like Nine Inch Nails and Ministry were topping the charts with their hits. Industrial music is a genre of alternative rock music that incorporates elements of experimental music, noise rock and other genres. The term was coined in the mid-1970s with the founding of Industrial Records by members of Throbbing Gristle.
The origin of industrial music goes back to the late 1970s, when a number of groups began using industrial materials and technology for sound experimentation; this approach often overlapped with that of electronic body music (EBM). Industrial was originally an all-encompassing term for experimental music that drew from avant-garde art, performance art and Dadaism. Its roots extended into various other genres such as punk rock, electronica, experimental rock, noise and dub.
In the mid-1970s, Throbbing Gristle had a top 10 hit in the United Kingdom with their single “United” / “Zyklon B Zombie”. However later they started to move away from their original style when founding member Genesis P-Orridge left the band in 1981. They would go on to record several more albums with different lineups before disbanding in 2010
Industrial music is a genre of music that has become more popular with the rise of electronic and digital instruments. This genre of music was created in the late 1970s as a way to express frustrations with society and modern times. Industrial music was meant to be loud, aggressive and abrasive when it was first created. There are many different aspects that went into creating industrial music, such as the use of sampling, synthesizers, drum machines and vocals that have a dark quality to them.
The main goal of industrial music is to get your attention. It does this by using a number of techniques to create an aggressive sound that will make people think about their surroundings and how they interact with their everyday lives. Industrial music uses sampling to create an effect that is similar to what you would get from a traditional rock band or hip-hop group. The samples are usually taken from other genres of music or they can be found in nature and modified so they are appropriate for industrial use. There is also the use of synthesizers, which allows musicians to create different sounds by combining multiple sounds together electronically.