I'll admit, I didn't even really give Killing Joke a proper listen until I heard Fear Factory's cover of "Millenium" on the lackluster 2005 album Transgression.
I thought enough of Fear Factory's cover to check out the English post-punk band (who had a mix of punk, prog and industrial sounds) and picked up a copy of 1994's Pandemonium.
While my other article was more of a critique on the style, this post is more an exploration of industrial metal and a look at some of the bands within that area.
I think far too often, we metalheads bash other music without giving it a fair chance. If it seems trendy or cool (which industrial metal has been on and off) sometimes the diehard crowd tends to stay away. But enough of that. Now it's onto the robotic riffs of industrial metal!
Unfamiliar with the genre?
Chugging machinelike riffs are a common element in all sorts of metal, so why not seal the deal with unison drums and loops and samples? That is basically industrial metal in a nutshell. Most obviously dudes like Rob Zombie popularized the genre (as seen in the White Zombie video below for "More Human Than Human".
Zombie's music demonstrates the pulsating groove that is typical in the scene. It is funky music that is almost danceable (which is why Zombie is a common strip club favorite I guess?) and is a good example of a commercial industrial sound.
However, there is one band that arguably did more for industrial metal than any other and that is the almighty Ministry.
While the overtly political rantings of Al Jourgensen can be a bit much at times, he writes cool music that is the definition of industrial metal. And the band is still making relevant music to this day.
Pulsating rhythms and loops galore make Ministry an industrial metal fans dream.
In the same vein of Ministry there is the metal/rock outfit Helmet, who while not always being classified as industrial metal, definitely show some influence of the style is more traditional format.
This music is not only catchy, but that main riff and drum beat just pound into your head. For some the repetitiveness can be a turnoff, but for others, it adds to the style. Sure you might not always be in the mood for this stuff, but you can't say it has no merit.
Next up is Fear Factory who moved the genre forward, by combining more of the sounds of extreme metal with industrial sounds.
Perhaps the coolest thing about this band is that they actually did sound like one big machine at times, as seen in the the recent track "Metallic Division" below (Mechanize kicks all kinds of ass by the way).
Max Cavalera fans should take notice of the frontman's dabbling in industrial metal with the excellent Nailbomb. The band proved that while the song is heavily industrial on the album (Point Blank), this sound can be pulled off well in the live setting, which even adds to the groove of it all.
And while I could keep looking for solid examples of industrial metal, why not close things out with some Prong? One of the greatest groove/industrial bands of all time!
No matter what you think about industrial music, it mixes well with the metal and there is plenty of greatness to be found if you just sit back and open your mind.
Not only did Fear Factory put out a Mechanize today, featuring the crushing combo of Gene Hoglan and Dino Cazares (both literally and sonically), but Overkill and Arsis put out great records too!
The new Fear Factory might just be the best thing since Demanufacture (which is still a revolutionary CD to this day).
Overkill'sIronbound is a total metal classic that should be picked up by all true metalheads. Bands don't make albums like this anymore! It's brilliant! (Although, there are a few production flaws with my digital copy at least, hopefully they'll fix come clipping / static issues).
And I haven't spent too much time with the new Arsis CD, Starve for the Devil yet, but from what I've heard it combines '80s metal and death metal into a satisfying mix.
If there was a reason to motivate you to visit your local record shop / online retailer, this should be it! These are three solid releases and you can't really go wrong with any of them.
Watch the new Overkill video for "We Are the Night" below (or just stream the entire album HERE).
Apparently, any legal problems the current Fear Factory lineup was having with the name got cleared up because the band has signed to Candlelight Records and set a release date of February 9, 2010 for the new album Mechanized.
I actually loved the work the latter day members did on Archetype, but the guys the created Demanufacture playing alongside Gene Hoglan on drums? Goddamn!
Let's hope it's not a huge disappointment.
UPDATE: New song "Powershifter" is now available for streaming. Don't know if the band put this online themselves, if not, then it might not last long, so check it out fast!
The song has impressive drumming from Gene Hoglan's end of the deal and it's good to hear Burton sounding a bit more aggressive again. Dino definitely has some tight rhythms, but I hope he mixes it up a little more on the album, so things don't get too repetitive.
I can now say I officially look forward to hearing new shit from this lineup of Fear Factory.
