List of established artists who have experimented with industrial rock
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Alternative Rock Danzig
Although Blackacidevil (1996) is frequently referred as Danzig's "Industrial" album, Glenn's infatuation with the genre streches back further: he listened to Foetus since his Samhain days. Early Industrial Metal was favored as well; in an interview for Seconds, Danzig sang high praises for Godflesh's Streetcleaner (1989). It was "one of my favorite records", he told the magazine. He took Godflesh aboard his 4p (1994) tour and later on invited Justin Broadrick to join his band (Broadrick declined the offer).
Actual industrial sounds can be vaguely seen in the Thrall: Demonsweatlive EP (1993), on the over-distorted guitar solo of "The Violet Fire" and the hidden song after various short, silent tracks, a trick probably taken from NIN's Broken (1992). Danzig's liking for the genre went further on his next release, 4p. Danzig's fourth long play is littered with "Industrial" sound signatures: backmasked instruments ("Cantspeak"), "treated" vocals and distorted percussion ("Until You Call On the Dark"), and samples (sitars in "Bringer of Death", whiplashes in "Sadistikal"). Danzig 4 has also another variation of the "hidden song" trick (track #66, "Invocation"). Despite being an accomplished record, 4ps "industrialisms" provoked mixed reactions among fans. "If they want 'Mother pt. 2', forget it" said Danzig.
Undeterred by criticisms - fan and press alike - Glenn Danzig dived head-first in electronica and Industrial on Blackacidevil. He explained Danzig's new direction on a Hollywood Records bio:
"I wanted to do something that nobody else was really doing. So I took an element of industrial that I liked here, and an element of techno there, then mixed it with what I normally do. I took the best elements of that stuff. They're powerful when used properly. Then, I'd still experiment with different directions--which I wanted to do anyway--and then watch what happend when I mixed it together."
Despite his obvious enthusiasm, Glenn rejected the "Industrial" label put on his mid-1990s releases:
"...I hate is this "Industrial" tag. Every time people hear treated vocals, they're like, "It's Industrial," but The Beatles treated vocals! Does that mean "Come Together" is Industrial? I don't know what people mean by "Industrial". To me, it's Throbbing Gristle and Neubauten".
Lemonheads
Justin Broadrick remixed "Style" for a 12" promo of the song, released in 1993.
Red Hot Chili Peppers
Ministry did two "Give It Away" remixes, included on this song's (1991) single. The remix titles were: "" and "".
Jim "Foetus" Thrilwell did three remixes each for the Red Hot Chili Peppers' cover versions of "Higher Ground" (Stevie Wonder) and "If You Want Me to Stay" (Sly Stone). These remixes were included on the various formats of the same-titled single released in 1992.
The Smashing Pumpkins
Although technically not an Industrial Rock album, Adores (1998) production was greatly assisted by Bon Harris (ex-Nitzer Ebb).
== Glam Metal / "Cock-Rock" Bands ==
Taime Downe, lead singer of sleaze rock band Faster Pussycat, formed an industrial rock band called the Newlydeads in the late 90's as well.
Shotgun Messiah, which started out as a glam metal band, changed their entire sound to industrial rock after losing all but two members.
Grindcore & Death Metal
Since its early days Grindcore was infused with Industrial Music's influence. The genre's own name came from a Swans listening experience. According to ex-Napalm Death drummer Mick Harris, "Grind" was the only word that could describe The Swans's Filth LP. Throbbing Gristle, Killing Joke and Whitehouse were also an influence, filtered through Justin Broadrick's unique guitar playing. Broadrick left Napalm Death after the From Enslavement to Obliteration (1986) demo and went on to form Godflesh. Mick Harris exited in 1991 to form Scorn with Bullen.
Even after Broadrick's and Harris's exit, Napalm Death continued to dabble in Industrial Music. Their intro to their Harmony Corruption (1990) tour was very similar to Coil's more ambient-directed work. No mystery here; Coil are cited as an influence on one of the interviews featured on the band's Live Corruption (1990) video. Godflesh is also an inspiration for the band; the last track of Utopia Banished (1992), "Contemptuous", is allegedly inspired by Justin Broadrick's group. Napalm Death also did live renditions of "Avalanche Master Song"; a taped performance of their cover version is included the second disc of Noise for Music's Sake (2003)
Finally, Napalm Death members could also be spotted in various occasions sporting Industrial group T-shirts: Shane Embury wearing Young Gods Ts; Mick Harris wearing Ministry Ts; and the late Jesse Pintado wearing Skinny Puppy Ts. Mitch Harris also had NIN stickers plastered over his guitar.
Obituary guitar player Trevor Peres is a self-confessed Industrial Music fan, liking from Skinny Puppy and Front 242 to Industrial Rock / Metal favorites Godflesh, KMFDM, Ministry and the Nine Inch Nails. He even tried to use drum machines in The End Complete (1992), but the other members refused participating in such experimentation. So, as an outlet, he formed the Meathook Seed side-project. The band's first album, Embedded (1993), featured fellow Obituary drummer Donald Tardy and two members from Napalm Death, namely Shane Embury and Mick Harris.
After their most successful album to date, Covenant (1993), Morbid Angel asked Laibach to do a couple of remixes for them.
In response to the gold-certified Spawn (1997) soundtrack, Earache Records released Hellspawn: Extreme Metal Meets Extreme Techno (1998), which featured remixed tracks from Morbid Angel, Godflesh and Misery Loves Co.
Hip-Hop Ice Cube
Marz
Croatian rapper Zlatko Hukic, a.k.a. Marz, has deep ties with Chicago's Industrial Metal scene. He worked as an engineer in Ministry's Filth Pig (1996), and later on played guitar in Dark Side of the Spoon (1999). He left the band to pursue his own project, Marz, which featured Ministry accolytes Rey Washam and Louis Svitek. His debut, Lung Fu Mo She (1999), was released by E-Magine Records.
In 2002 Marz signed with Elementree, a label run by Korn members. However, before he had the chance to release Gorilla Pimpin' (2003), the label folded. His current album is Against All Odds (2006).
Trent Reznor did a remix for , a Neptunes side-project. The track in question was "Lapdance", renamed "Lapdance (Nine Inch Nails Remix)". Said Pharrell Williams of Nine Inch Nails frontman: "It was a pleasure meeting Trent, and I was very excited to know our music reached the likes of someone of his stature".
Puff Daddy
Trent Reznor did a remix for "Victory", which was released as a B-side for this song's 1998 single. Sean Combs also released a rock remix of "It's All about the Benjamins", a version that featured the vocal talents of Rob Zombie. This version had its own music video, directed by Spike Jonze, which was nominated for "Best Video Of The Year" on MTV Video Music Awards in 1998.
Techno Animal
Techno Animal flirted with Hip-Hop on their 2001 release, Brotherhood of the Bomb.
Thrash Metal
Thrash Metal's infatuation with Industrial Music probably started with Prong's Whose Fist Is This Anyway? (1991), which featured some critically acclaimed remixes by Jim "Foetus" Thirlwell. Following this EP's success a barrage of remixes unsued, of which some of the most accomplished were:
*Die Krupps's A Tribute to Metallica EP (1992). *Trent Reznor (of Nine Inch Nails) remixing Megadeth. The results are available on 1992's Symphony of Destruction single; *Justin Broadrick (of Godflesh) remixing two Vulgar Display of Power (1992) tracks. These remixes are available on Pantera's Walk: Biomechanical EP (1993). *Al Jourgensen (of Ministry) remixing Anthrax. The remixes are available on 1993's Black Lodge single. * And the Walk: Cervical (1993) remixes done by J. G. Thirlwell. Also worthy of note are three unreleased remixes made for Megadeth, all of them for the same song, "Angry Again", originally featured on the Last Action Hero (1993) soundtrack.
By 1993-1994, several Thrash albums were displaying an undeniable Industrial Rock sound-print. Sepultura's Chaos A.D., Anthrax's Sound of White Noise, Machine Head's Burn My Eyes and Prong's Cleansing were some of those. Around that same time Nailbomb was formed, a side-project hailed by Sepultura's own Max Cavalera and Fudge Tunnel's Alex Newport.
Other Established Rock Artists
U2
U2's Achtung Baby (1991) is widely known as the album that the Irish band successfully reinvented themselves. Part of this internal sonic revolution came from The Edge's enthusiasm with Nitzer Ebb, Nine Inch Nails, KMFDM and Front 242.
David Bowie
Outside was Bowie's mid-1990s forray into Industrial Rock, allegedly inspired by The Young Gods. Bowie went on to tour with NIN in America. His next outing (Earthling, 1997) shed most of Outsides industrial leanings in favor of an electronica direction. Nonetheless it featured a collaboration with Trent Reznor: a remix of "I'm Afraid of Americans", a track originally featured on the Showgirls (1995) movie. Although not a hit, Reznor's V1.0 remix (and the companion clip) paid off; "I'm Afraid of Americans" was nominated for Best Male Video category on 1998's MTV's Music Video Awards. David Bowie later on wrote NIN's entry on Rolling Stones "The Immortals: The 100 Greatest Artists of All Time" issue. NIN ranked #94 on that list.
Alice Cooper during Dragontown and Brutal Planet are examples of industrial elements being incorporated into in an established hard-rock act. So too are the mid 90's work and present work of Synthpop icon Gary Numan. KMFDM did a remix for their Ausländer (1993) single.
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