Industrial metal
historyIndustrial metal is a heavy metal musical genre that draws from industrial music and many different types of heavy metal, using repeating metal guitar riffs, sampling, synthesizer or sequencer lines, and distorted vocals. Founding industrial metal groups include Ministry,Di Perna 1995a, page 69. Godflesh, and KMFDM.Di Perna 1995a, page 69. The "one-man-band" Nine Inch Nails helped it gain a mass audience.
Industrial metal's popularity led to some criticism from other artists associated with the industrial scene. Subsequently, it is most well-known in various European permutations. Industrial metal groups have produced many acclaimed music videos.
History
Early innovators
in concert, 2005]]
Though electric guitars had been used by industrial artists since the early days of the genre,Di Perna 1995a, page 69. archetypal industrial groups such as Throbbing Gristle displayed a strong anti-rock stance.Paytress 1995, pages 92 & 94 British post-punk band Killing Joke pioneered the crossing over between styles,Chantler 2002, page 54. and was an influence on major industrial metal bands such as Ministry, Godflesh, Malhavoc, Skinny Puppy and Nine Inch Nails. Another pioneer industrial rock group, Big Black, also impacted some later groups.
By the late 1980s industrial and heavy metal began to fuse into a common genre,Di Perna 1995a, page 69. with Godflesh's self-titled EP and Ministry's The Land of Rape and Honey at the forefront. Godflesh was founded by former Napalm Death guitarist Justin Broadrick. Drawing from a wide array of influences — power electronics forefathers Whitehouse,Kaye 1992, page 16. noise rock band Swans, ambient music creator Brian Eno and fellow Birmingham hard rockers Black SabbathPettigrew 1991, page 22.—the Godflesh sound was once described as "Pornography-era Cure on Quaaludes".Thompson 1994, page 44. Though not a top-seller,Mudrian 2004, page 186. Godflesh nonetheless became an influential act, their name mentioned by Korn,Yates 2001, pages 19. Metallica,Alexander 1995, page 52. Danzig, Faith No More,Mörat 1990, page 14. and Fear Factory.Yates 2001, pages 19.
Ministry emerged from the scene surrounding Wax Trax! Records, a Chicago label dedicated to industrial music.Blush 2001, page 223. Ministry's initial foray into guitar rock happened during a recording session of The Land of Rape and Honey on Southern Studios, in London.Gill 1996, page 88. The band's frontman, the Cuban-born Al Jourgensen, explained this transition:
Jourgensen seemed particularly fond of thrash metal. After the release of Land, he recruited guitarist Mike Scaccia from Texas thrashers Rigor Mortis.Whitney Z. Gomes, Mike Scaccia bio, Allmusic. »SCACCIA&sql=11:gpfixqqgldke~T1 Access date: February 22, 2009. On one occasion, Jourgensen told the press that Sepultura was his favorite band.Barcinski 1992, page 27. He also expressed the desire to produce a Metallica album.Gitter 1990, page 77. Jourgensen's interest in dance-oriented electronic music did not entirely fade, however; he also formed the side-project Revolting Cocks, a more electronic body music-inflected collaboration with Richard 23 of Front 242.
German band KMFDM are another seminal industrial metal group. Although not a metal fan, KMFDM leader Sascha Konietzko's "infatuation with ripping off metal licks" stemmed from his experiments with of E-mu's Emax sampler in late 1986. He told Guitar World that,
A Swiss trio, The Young Gods, brushed with the style on their second album, L'Eau Rouge (1989). Prior to its release, singer Franz Treichler declared:
festival]]
Pigface, formed by Martin Atkins and including Ministry drummer Bill Rieflin, emerged as an industrial metal collective of sorts, participating with many figures from the noise rock and industrial worlds.Greg Prato & Stephen Thomas Erlewine, Pigface bio, Allmusic. »http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:39ftxqw5ldte~T1 Access date: September 8, 2008. Nine Inch Nails, the "one-man-band" formed by Trent Reznor, brought the genre to mainstream audiences with albums such as the Grammy-winning Broken and the best-selling The Downward Spiral, accompanied by their groundbreaking performance at Woodstock '94. The rivethead subculture also developed at this time, along with the so-called "coldwave" subgenre, which encompassed Chemlab, 16 Volt, and Acumen Nation.Ilker Yücel, interview with Jared Louche, ReGen Magazine, January 20, 2008. »http://www.regenmag.com/Interviews-214-Chemlab.html Access date: December 28, 2008. Some electro-industrial groups adopted industrial metal techniques in this period, including Skinny Puppy (on the Jourgensen-produced Rabies), and Front Line Assembly.
British band Pitchshifter, formed in 1989 by brothers Jon and Mark Clayden, also started as a industrial metal band, with a Godflesh-like sound.»http://www.musicmight.com/artist/united+kingdom/nottinghamshire/nottingham/pitchshifter The band later included elements of drum and bass.
Industrial metal blossomed in the early 1990s, particularly in North America,Wiederhorn, 1994, page 64. where it would eventually sell close to 35 million units. It first became a commercial force in 1992 when Nine Inch Nails' Broken and Ministry's went platinum in America, though the latter took three years to reach that status. Both groups were nominated for the Best Metal Performance in the 1992 Grammy Awards, with Nine Inch Nails winning. Two years later, Nine Inch Nails released The Downward Spiral, which debuted on #2, and would eventually go quadruple-platinum. This record is considered by Allmusic as "one of the bleakest multi-platinum albums ever."
Following Nine Inch Nails' success, Marilyn Manson, led by a protegé of Reznor's,Staff. (2000-05-10) »Manson, Reznor mend fences MTV. Retrieved 2009-03-1. came to prominence.Stephen Thomas Erlewine, Antichrist Superstar review, Allmusic. »http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:gxfrxqlhldse Access date: March 1, 2009. The group's live performance and its trangressive appeal was often more commented on than their music.Jason Ankeny, Marilyn Manson bio, Allmusic. »http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:dxfwxqr5ld6e~T1 Access date: March 1, 2009.
Industrial metal reached its commercial zenith in the latter half of the 1990s - according to the RIAA databases, its top-selling artists sold around 17.5 million units combined.Groups such as Fear Factory, Filter, Marilyn Manson, Ministry, Nine Inch Nails, Orgy, Rammstein, Stabbing Westward, Static-X and White Zombie, plus Rob Zombie's solo career. Records by major industrial metal artists routinely debuted on the top spots of the Billboard 200 chart: Rob Zombie's Hellbilly Deluxe (#5), Marilyn Manson's Mechanical Animals (#1), and Nine Inch Nails' The Fragile (#1). A number of industrial metal albums performed well on Billboard's Heatseekers chart: Filter's Short Bus (#3), Stabbing Westward's Wither Blister Burn + Peel (#1), Rammstein's Sehnsucht (#2), Orgy's Candyass (#1), and Static-X's Wisconsin Death Trip (#1). Around that time Trent Reznor, the movement's most well-known person, was chosen by Time as one of the most influential Americans of 1997. Its popularity was such that established glam metal groups, including Guns N' Roses and Mötley Crüe, began to dabble in the style.New GNR.com[http://www.newgnr.com/band/finck.html] Access date: August 4, 2008.Dave De Sylvia, Generation Swine review, »http://www.sputnikmusic.com/album.php?albumid=2790 Access date: August 4, 2008. Figures from the hip hop scene also began to seek out collaborations with and remixes from industrial metal musicians.Nin Chan, Rap Reviews, January 25, 2005[http://www.rapreviews.com/archive/BTTL_badblood.html] Access date: July 22, 2008Dave Maher, Pitchforkmedia news, February 16, 2007 »http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/news/41220-el-p-reveals-lp-tracklist-single-with-trent-reznor Access date: July 22, 2008
When industrial metal climbed the charts of the late 1990s, its sudden popularity was met with negative reactions from the early innovators of industrial music. Peter Christopherson told The Wire that he no longer felt any kinship with the industrial scene: "this is not me, this is not what I'm about". Brian Williams of Lustmord, a prominent early industrial musician,John Bush, Lustmord, Allmusic bio. »http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:a9frxq85ld6e~T1 Access date: February 21, 2009. declared that "Ministry just doesn't interest »him" and "»has no time for all this rock and roll shit they're doing now." Fergunson 1993, page 55. Skinny Puppy were unimpressed by The Downward Spiral, Archived at »Litany. with cEvin Key attributing NIN's success to "a bit of hype", Archived at »Litany. and Nivek Ogre going further, dismissing Nine Inch Nails as "cock rock", Bright 1996, page 39. although admitting an appreciation for Ministry's Psalm 69. Gill & Rotondi 1996, page 78.
Industrial metal suffered a critical backlash at the turn of the millennium. In an April 2000 review for the Chicago Sun Times, Jim DeRogatis dismissed Nine Inch Nails' new music as a "generic brand of industrial thrash" and accused Ministry of repeating an act that "was old by 1992". Archived at »The NIN Hotline. Although The Fragile reached the top spot of the Billboard 200 and went on to earn double platinum status, DeRogatis considered it a "flop" nonetheless. Archived at »The NIN Hotline.
Around this time, veteran industrial metal artists (Ministry,Pettigrew 1996, page 46. Godflesh, Martin 2004, page 25. and White Zombie Di Perna 1995b, page 35.) began to repudiate the industrial label. Sales remained high throughout 2000-2005; at least 10 million records were sold during that time frame. Many groups began to take influence from hip hop and electronic music, in addition to industrial metal. As a result, acts like Powerman 5000 are often described as industrial metal as well as nu metal.""Powerman 5000 can be called a lot of things ... industrial metal ... with a bit of hip-hop, a touch of funk and an awful lot of energy...." Michael Mehle, Rocky Mountain News (Denver), March 18, 2000, p. 3D; April 25, 1997, p. 20D.
Industrial thrash and death metal
Industrial metal's popularity led a number of successful thrash metal groups, including Megadeth, Sepultura, and Anthrax, to request remixes by "industrial" artists.Arnopp 1993a, page 41. Some musicians emerging from the death metal scene, such as Fear Factory, Nailbomb, and Meathook Seed, also began to experiment with industrial. Fear Factory, from Los Angeles, were initially influenced by the Earache roster (namely Godflesh, Napalm Death and Bolt Thrower). Sepultura singer Max Cavalera's Nailbomb, a collaboration with Alex Newport, also practiced a combination of extreme metal and industrial production techniques.Jeff Maki, Live-Metal.net, 2007 »http://www.live-metal.net/revisited_nailbomb.html Access date: July 22, 2008. A lesser-known example of industrial death metal is Meathook Seed, made up of members of Napalm Death and the Florida death metal group Obituary. An industrial music fan, Obituary guitarist Trevor Peres suggested drum machines for The End Complete,Arnopp 1993b, page 44. Obituary's most successful album. The other band members' refusal led him to form Meathook Seed.Arnopp 1993b, page 44.
Industrial black metal
In the early years of the 21st century, groups from the black metal scene began to incorporate elements of industrial music. Mysticum, formed in 1991,Marty Rytkonen, Mysticum interview, Worm Gear #8, »http://www.fmp666.com/moonlight/mysticum2.html Access date: January 11, 2009. were the first of these groups.Roel F., Interview with Treachery, Lords of Metal issue 87, December 2008. »http://www.lordsofmetal.nl/showinterview.php?id=2438&lang=en Access date: December 3, 2008. Blut Aus Nord, a French black metal group, has been acclaimed for their incorporation of industrial elements.Chris Dick, "Blut Aus Nord", Decibel, December 2006. »http://www.decibelmagazine.com/upfront/dec2006/blutausnord.aspx Access date: July 22, 2008. Other industrial black metal musicians include The Axis of Perdition,Matt Mooring, Deleted Scenes from the Transition Hospital review, Metalreview.com, 3/28/2005. »http://www.metalreview.com/Reviews/1561/The-Axis-Of-Perdition-Deleted-Scenes-From-The-Transition-Hospital.aspx Access date: January 4, 2009. Aborym,Gothtronic. »http://www.gothtronic.com/?page=23&band=777 Access date: January 4, 2009. and ...And Oceans.Globaldomination, September 26, 2007. »http://www.globaldomination.se/reviews/and-oceans-amgod Access date: January 4, 2009. In addition, The Kovenant,Antti J. Ravelin, Nexus Polaris review, Allmusic. »http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:hxfqxqwjldae Access date: January 11, 2009. Mortiis and Ulver emerged from the Norwegian black metal scene, but later chose to experiment with industrial music.Stefanos Zachariadis, Blood Inside review, Metal Invader, May 3, 2005. »http://www.metal-invader.com/db/reviews-1914.html Access date: January 9, 2009.Mark Hensch, Some Kind of Heroin review, Thrashpit. »http://www.rocknworld.com/thrashpit/reviews/07/Mortiis-SomeKindofHeroinMH.shtml Access date: January 9, 2009.
Film and video
Several industrial metal groups produced eye-catching videos. These included Godflesh's collaboration with Andres Serrano,Jay W. Babcock, "In Godflesh We Trust", RIP Magazine, December 2006. »http://www.godflesh.com/articles/article5.html Access date: January 4, 2009. Aidan Hughes's graphics for KMFDM,Aidan Hughes, Interview by Liberation Iannillo, Trigger Magazine, August 5, 2005. »http://www.triggermagazine.com/archives/2005/08/aidan_hughes.html Access date: January 4, 2009. Nine Inch Nails' work with Mark Romanek,Ed Gonzalez, Slant Magazine, September 5, 2005. »http://www.slantmagazine.com/dvd/dvd_review.asp?ID=746 Access date: January 4, 2009. Rob Zombie's visual work for White Zombie (for which he received the MTV Video Music Award for Best Hard Rock Video),Stephen Jorgl, "Rob Zombie on Making Films and Records", Audiohead.net, 2006. »http://www.audiohead.net/interviews/robzombie/ Access date: January 4, 2009. and Marilyn Manson's output with Richard KernKurt B. Reighley, Marilyn Manson, chapter 6, Macmillan, 1998, p. 73. and Floria Sigismondi.Mark Dillon, "Gothic Goddess", American Cinematographer, August 1998, p. 60-70. »http://www.floriasigismondi.com/reviews/review00.html Access date: January 4, 2009. NIN later collaborated with Bill Viola for live accompaniment.Bill Viola artist biography. »http://www.billviola.com/biograph.htm Access date: January 4, 2009. Trent Reznor also produced the soundtracks for the films Natural Born Killers and Lost Highway, and served as "musical consultant" for Man on Fire.David Browne, "'Killer' Riffs," Entertainment Weekly, September 23, 1994. [http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,303796,00.html] Access date: January 10, 2009."Death to Hootie!: Trent Reznor Makes a Case for Danger," Rolling Stone, March 6, 1997. Rob Zombie has directed three films. As of 2009, Marilyn Manson is in the process of directing .Wax, Alyse. Marilyn Manson Freaks Us Out at the Scream Awards, FEARnet, 20 October 2008 at »FEARnet.com. Last accessed 22 October 2008. Other films that have included prominent contributions from industrial metal artists include The Crow, Johnny Mnemonic, Spawn, The Matrix, and A.I. Artificial Intelligence.Charles Aaron, Entertainment Weekly, April 1, 1994. [http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,301635,00.html] Access date: January 10, 2009.Collins, 2005, page 166.Marc Weingarten, Entertainment Weekly, May 7, 1999. [http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,273304,00.html] Access date: January 9, 2009.David Basham, MTV News, April 19, 2001. »http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1442976/20010419/ministry.jhtml Access date: January 9, 2009.
Controversy
Its emphasis on transgressive themes has made a few industrial metal groups vulnerable to attack from American social conservatives. For example, Sen. Bob Dole, then head of the Republican Party, sharply criticized Time Warner after a meeting between Michael J. Fuchs (head of the Warner Music Group), William Bennett, and C. Delores Tucker, at which Tucker and Bennett demanded that Fuchs read lyrics from NIN's "Big Man with a Gun".Larry Leibstein with Thomas Rosenstiel, "The Right Takes a Media Giant to Political Task," Newsweek (June 12, 1995), p. 30. A year later, Bennett, Tucker, and Joseph Lieberman launched a similar campaign against MCA Records for their distribution of Marilyn Manson's music.»Manson the blame of suicide 11/6/97 Many of his concerts were cancelled by authorities after this uproar.Paula O' Keefe, "The History of Marilyn Manson, 1997 Update Part 2 of 2", at »Spookhouse.net Access date: January 10, 2009. In addition, Dennis Cooper cited Ministry's video for "Just One Fix", which featured footage of William S. Burroughs, as an early example of heroin chic.Dennis Cooper, "Junkie See, Junkie Do." All Ears, Soft Skull Press, 1999, p. 61. Some initial reports claimed that Columbine High School shooters Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold were Marilyn Manson fans.Cullen, Dave. »Inside the Columbine High investigation. Salon News, September 23, 1999. In fact, they preferred KMFDM and Rammstein. Asa Coon, another school shooter, was a Manson fan.»School Shooting
Manson published a detailed response to the controversy following the Columbine shootings in an article published in Rolling Stone. It concluded:
,Sasha Konietzko reported that KMFDM was "sick and appalled" by the shootings, issuing a statement the following day saying: