Industrial rock
Industrial rock is a fusion genre that fuses industrial music and rock music. It initially originated in the 1970s, and drew influence from early experimental and industrial acts such as Throbbing Gristle, Einstürzende Neubauten and Chrome. Industrial rock became more prominent in the 1980s with the success of artists such as Killing Joke, Swans, and partially Skinny Puppy, and later spawned the offshoot genre known as industrial metal. The genre was made more accessible to mainstream audiences in the 1990s with the aid of acts such as Nine Inch Nails and Marilyn Manson, both of which have released platinum-selling records.
Industrial rock
Mid-1980s United States, United Kingdom, Germany
History[edit]
Origins (late 1970s and 1980s)[edit]
Richie Unterberger assessed the Red Krayola as "a precursor to industrial rock"[1] with their 1967 record The Parable of Arable Land exhibiting music made by 50 people on anything from industrial power tools to a revving motorcycle whilst Pitchfork's Alex Lindhart cited their 1968 follow up God Bless the Red Krayola and All Who Sail With It as being "bootleg Einstürzende Neubauten at its grimiest atonality". AllMusic critic Alex Henderson has stated that experimental group Cromagnon's 1969 record Orgasm foreshadowed the industrial rock sound.[2] Specifically, Pitchfork's Zach Baron noted their song "Caledonia" for its "pre-industrial stomp".[3] Krautrock musicians Michael Rother and Klaus Dinger included industrial noise on their track "Negativland" (from their 1972 debut Neu!) as well as krautrock band Faust on their track "Meadow Meal" (from their 1971 debut Faust). AllMusic stated that Suicide's 1977 debut album "provided the blueprints for post-punk, synth pop, and industrial rock."[4]
In 1976, English musician David Bowie collaborated with American musician Iggy Pop on his 1977 solo debut The Idiot.[5] Musically, the album is said to contain elements of industrial rock,[6] notably the closing track, "Mass Production", which contains numerous "proto-industrial noises" created using tape loops,[7] and is described by Hugo Wilcken as "early industrial electronica".[8] The Idiot has been described as having a major influence on Joy Division, who formed shortly before its release.[9] Joy Division were signed to the industrially themed label Factory Records which had been founded in 1978; their albums Unknown Pleasures (1979) and Closer (1980) heavily influenced the further development of industrial rock. Chrome has also been credited as the "beginning of industrial rock"[10] and their 1978 Half Machine Lip Moves was listed on Wire's "100 Records That Set The World On Fire (When No One Was Listening)".[11]
Industrial rock was created in the mid- to late 1970s, amidst the punk rock revolution and disco fever. Prominent early industrial musicians include Throbbing Gristle, Cabaret Voltaire, NON, SPK and Z'EV.[12] Many other artists have been cited as influences such as Kraftwerk, Gary Numan, and Tubeway Army as well as Einstürzende Neubauten and Fad Gadget. Many other musical performers were incorporating industrial music elements into a variety of musical styles.
Some post-punk performers developed styles parallel to industrial music's defining attributes. Pere Ubu's debut, The Modern Dance, was described by Jim Irvin as "industrial",[13] and Chris Connelly said the musical project Foetus was "the instigator when it comes to the marriage of machinery to hardcore punk."[14] Music journalist Simon Reynolds considered Killing Joke, which saw mainstream success with their 1985 album Night Time,[15] "a post-punk version of heavy metal."[16]
Others followed in their wake.[17] The New York City band Swans were inspired by the local no wave scene, as well as punk rock, noise music (particularly Whitehouse) and the original industrial groups.[18] Steve Albini's Big Black followed a similar path,[19] while also incorporating American hardcore punk.[20] Big Black has also been closely associated with post-hardcore and noise rock, though their ties to industrial music are extremely apparent. The Swiss trio The Young Gods, who deliberately eschewed electric guitars in favor of a sampler,[21] also took inspiration from both hardcore and industrial.[22] In 1986, Canadian band Skinny Puppy released the album Mind: The Perpetual Intercourse,[23] with its lead single, "Dig It", seeing frequent airplay on MTV.[24] The song was a major influence on Nine Inch Nails founder Trent Reznor, who used it as inspiration when writing his first song, "Down in It".[25]: 38
Chicago's Wax Trax! Records became a vanguard for the genre in the 1980s[26] and is credited for introducing it to the United States.[27] Ministry's 1988 album The Land of Rape and Honey, departed from the band's synthesizer-oriented sound for a rock style that drew from hardcore punk and thrash metal, while retaining electronic elements and samples.[28][29] Ministry frontman Al Jourgensen was also involved in multiple industrial rock side projects that were signed to Wax Trax!, including Revolting Cocks, 1000 Homo DJs and Pailhead.[30] Drawing heavy influences from the New York's no wave scene, Cop Shoot Cop incorporated two bass guitars with no guitars.[31]