Fairly recently I was introduced to a new genre quite unlike any other I had experimented with, one that is flexible enough to cater to numerous niches that a listener may look for in the music. That genre is industrial. Although the industrial genre may usually be associated with heavily pierced individuals, I would like to think that this would not be basis for dismissal, for it has some qualities that really outshine its reputation. Industrial falls somewhere between electronic and rock.

The different variations within the genre are more of a continuum instead of a hierarchy, which give those entering the genre as performers the ability to very specifically tune their sound to cater to as narrow or broad of an audience as they desire.

Different bands can fall closer to either side of the spectrum, but all appear to share some basic similarities that allow them to fall within the industrial genre. The “pure” industrial sound is characterized by use of synthesizers and guitars and relies heavily on distortion of voices and instruments used. More commonly cited industrial bands include Nine Inch Nails, Zeromancer and Rammstein, all of which rely equally on synths and guitars.

The more electronic side of industrial falls into a somewhat “sister” category known as “electro industrial” or “electro body music” (EBM), which I assure you is not as lame as the name suggests.

EBM is a very style-specific genre with a recognizable sound that sets it apart from regular electronic. EBM also happens to be the side of industrial that I enjoy most. EBM is different in that it uses guitars less frequently. Some EBM bands do not employ guitars at all. Instead, they focus more on synths, vocals, sampling and keyboards. This means that EBM is more “danceable” — it sounds more like trance or techno (depending on the band) — than rock. Skinny Puppy is cited as one of the pioneers of EBM in that the band relies heavily on synths and distorted, somewhat white noise-sounding vocals. Current EBM bands include Tactical Sekt and Suicide Commando, who make use of high beats-per-minute and heavy bass. Both of these bands also feature heavily distorted and raspy vocals mixed with white noise, which makes finding lyrics for their songs a nearly impossible task.

Heavier EBM bands begin to enter the realm of “terror EBM,” also known as “aggrotech.” Popular aggrotech bands such as Grendel and Combichrist tend to feature socially pessimistic and somewhat intimidating lyrics played up by none other than obscure movie quotes. Grendel’s “Zombienation V.2k5” samples quotes from Dawn of the Dead. And one of Grendel’s remixes entitled “One. Eight. Zero,” heavily references Full Metal Jacket. Similarly, Combichrist references the film Equilibrium in “Without Emotions.” Combichrist’s “This is My Rifle” also uses quotes from Full Metal Jacket.

EBM and aggrotech are only two of tens of different variations within the industrial genre.In short, industrial is flexible genre that I believe covers a wide and varied spectrum between rock and electronic.

Industrial and the genre variations within it allow the listener to experience varied combinations between the rock and electronic components that make up industrial.

It was definitely interesting to explore a genre that is defined by variation and has so much to offer the listener.