industrial?

Industrial Music was originally used to describe the sound-art of bands such as Einsturzende Neubauten, Coil, and Throbbing Gristle. It is an anti-music, characterised by non-musical sounds (scratching metal, smashing glass, amplified steel springs and the like) and use of noise. Bands like Leechwoman still go in this direction. EBM stands for Electronic Body Music, and is used to describe the synthesized, heavily sampled, dancefloor-oriented music of bands such as Front 242 and Funker Vogt. EBM tends to be much more rhythmic and musical than early Industrial. EBM is big in Germany, and is sometimes called "German Industrial." 'Industrial Rock' bands such as Ministry and Nine Inch Nails (also described as 'coldwave') incorporate aspects of EBM and Industrial along with a 'rockier' guitar driven sound. Industrial Rock has flourished in the mainstream music scene, and has developed its own following. These days, it all comes under the umbrella term of Industrial. Industrial music today may or may not use samplers, drum machines, sequencers, heavily distorted guitars (though guitars tend to be a UK thing) and/or vocals to a varying degree of distortion, and is generally intended for the dancefloor. Industrial bands are often influenced by Techno, Trance, Goth, Synthpop, Hard House, Breakbeat, among others. It should not be confused with Goth, Metal, or Dance music. Industrial music is very big in Europe, especially Germany. It has not gained such a large following in America. Bands to look out for include Front 242 (Belgium), Apoptygma Berzerk (Sweden), Covenant, Haujobb, Nitzer Ebb (Germany) Front Line Assembly, Skinny Puppy (Canada), or Cubanate and VNV Nation from the UK." [ written by remorse ] Industrial lives in that uncomfortable space between dance and 'eavy metal - it tends to incorporate aspects of both. Frequent ingredients are heavily distorted guitars, combined with programmed drums and assorted samples. Fans (and others) can "discuss" for weeks whether specific bands are industrial or not. However, the general consensus seems to be that Ministry, Nine Inch Nails and Cubanate would be good examples. Other bands, such as Front 242 are "German Industrial", which is often less guitar-driven, and more synthesised, and probably fits neatly within EBM. [ written by DanceFloorLandMine ]