Industrial rock
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Industrial rock | |
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Stylistic origins: | Industrial, Punk rock, Hard rock, Alternative rock |
Cultural origins: | Early 1990s, United States, United Kingdom, Canada |
Typical instruments: | Electric guitar - Synthesizer - Drum machine - Drums - Sequencer - Keyboard - Sampler |
Mainstream popularity: | Small |
Fusion genres | |
Industrial metal | |
Other topics | |
Notable artists |
Industrial rock is a musical genre which is a fusion of industrial music and rock music.
Industrial rock is similar to industrial metal. By convention, all industrial metal artists may be more vaguely described as industrial rock, but not all industrial rock artists are properly described as industrial metal.
Contents |
[edit] Musical stylings
Industrial rock augments the guitar-based music and songwriting structure of rock with the electronic instruments and noisy production techniques of industrial. Though superficially abrasive and often aggressive, industrial rock is generally more listener-friendly than traditional industrial.
Typical instrumentation for industrial rock bands centers on heavily-distorted or otherwise-effected guitars and synthesizers. Bass guitars and drums may be played live, or they may be replaced by sequencers and drum machines. Many groups also make extensive use of samplers.
[edit] Origins
The term "industrial rock" most likely had its genesis in the mid-1990s as a reaction to such crossover bands being referred to as simply "industrial." The industrial rock designation called attention to the fundamental similarities with rock, as opposed to industrial. However, casual listeners still often use "industrial" to refer to the more accessible industrial rock style. A formative early influence on the genre was the Noise Rock band Big Black.
[edit] Bands at the forefront of the genre
Some of the main influences on the genre such as Rammstein, Nine Inch Nails, KMFDM, Dekline, Killing Joke, and Ministry helped formed what would come to be called Industrial Rock. KMFDM often mocks this and in the song "Intro" on the album WWIII, Sascha Konietzko jokingly refers to himself as the "Father of Industrial Rock."
[edit] Established acts: Experimented with the genre
Established bands who formed long before Industrial rock existed, have later gone on to experiment with the genres stylings; Glam rock musicians such as, David Bowie during the albums Earthling and Outside, as well as Alice Cooper during Dragontown and Brutal Planet are prime examples of this. Another example is ex-Misfits legend Glenn Danzig, who experimented with Industrial rock on his infamous album Blackacidevil. Nine Inch Nails are also highly acclaimed, especially their album The Downward Spiral, ranked 200 on Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums Of All Time.
Other examples of this are W.A.S.P. with their 1997 album Kill Fuck Die and the later/current works of Synthpop icon Gary Numan.
[edit] Decline
As the 1990s drew to a close, industrial rock's mainstream popularity waned. The genre still remains alive, however, with groups like KMFDM and PIG maintaining considerable grassroots followings. The influence of industrial rock has been acknowledged in the popularization of nu-metal.
[edit] Artists
[edit] Labels
- Cleopatra Records
- Invisible Records
- Metropolis Records
- Nothing Records
- Slipdisc Records
- Wax Trax! Records
Industrial |
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Aggrotech - Coldwave - Dark electro - Electronic body music - Industrial metal - Industrial rock - Industrial techno - Noise - Power noise |
Other electronic music genres |
Ambient | Breakbeat | Dance | Drum and bass | Electronica | Electronic art music | Hard dance | Hardcore | House | Industrial | Synthpop | Techno | Trance |