Meatplow's Old School Industrial A To Z: A
A project i've been working on, trying to get a comprehensive A to Z list of every industrial related artist that released an album before 1993 happening. This year has been chosen because it is roughly where the roots of industrial and the myriad of post-industrial offshoots which characterised the 80's were truly beginning to be severed in favour of a largely industrial-metal and EBM dominated scene, much of which is of no interest to me. There is a lot of arguable inclusions to be had, and the list is probably missing stuff. If so let me know. |
| 1 |  | A Split Second
From The Inside
From The Inside - 5/5. Absolutely adore this release, it's a new wave flavoured EBM group with a killer tongue in cheek sense of humour and eclecticism. Other notable releases: Neurobeat, Kiss of Fury |
| 2 |  | Absolute Body Control
Absolute Body Control
Absolute Body Control 4/5. Belgian minimal synth done the way Belgian minimal synth should be done. Gloomy, infectious repetition, and features the greatest Brian Eno cover of all time (Baby's On Fire). Other notable releases: Numbers, Figures |
| 3 |  | Acid Horse
No Name, No Slogan
No Name, No Slogan 4/5. Another Al Jourgensen side project, this time featuring the members of Cabaret Voltaire. Features two interpretations of the same track, the first a more modern industrial cut (Al's) the latter more close to the spirit of the first wave with it's primitive drum machines (CV's). Other notable releases: this was their only recording |
| 4 |  | Advanced Art
Product
Advanced Art - Product 3.5/5. Rather typical EBM, kind of unremarkable but otherwise, good. Other notable releases: Scar 12" |
| 5 |  | Ain Soph
Kshatriya
Kshatriya - 4/5. Italian group that started in the realms of industrial/dark ambient but later moved on to more folk territories. Often compared to Current 93, but at times nothing like them. Other notable releases: I, Ars Regia, Ain Soph |
| 6 |  | Alien Sex Fiend
Open Head Surgery
Open Head Surgery - 4/5. Post-punk/death rock group with a horror aesthetic that grew more into an industrial sound over time. All their releases were raw and very unrefined, but I immediately warmed up to Open Head Surgery which in 1992 felt like it was still stuck very much in the best part of the 80's. Other notable releases - Who's Been Sleeping in My Brain?, Acid Bath, Maximum Security, It - The Album, Here Cum Germs |
| 7 |  | Allegory Chapel Ltd
Assaults on the Human Body
Assaults on the Human Body -3.5/5. Old school noise in the vein of Nurse With Wound. Other notable releases: Trip, Demimonde Voices |
| 8 |  | Amnesia
Hysteria
Hysteria - 3.5/5. Another obscure 80's EBM snoozefest, but the few nuggets on here make it a worthwhile listen for fans of the genre. Other notable releases: None |
| 9 |  | Amor Fati
Body W/O Organs
Body W/O Organs - 3/5. A lo-fi clusterfuck of scattered arrangements that are kind of messy and painful to listen to. Much of this stuff got around the tape trading circuit back in the day. Other notable releases: None i've heard |
| 10 |  | And One
Anguish
Anguish - 3.5/5. Kind of getting sick of EBM by this point, but this really isn't a bad group from the early material. Just kind of boring. Other notable releases: flourished in the late 90's |
| 11 |  | Annie Anxiety
Jackamo
Jackamo - 4/5. AKA Annie Anxiety Bandez AKA Little Annie. This is refreshing, post-punk/industrial led by a sassy, charismatic female who has worked with an impressive list of collaborators but has never really been noticed. Probably my favourite out of this crop of artists. Other notable releases: Barbed Wire Halo, Soul Possession |
| 12 |  | Apoptygma Berzerk
Soli Deo Gloria
Soli Deo Gloria 3.5/5. The earliest albums by EBM artists that didn't really find fame until the late 90's tend to be pretty worthless, still I can't help but feel this is not a bad album. Just another average one I can't really flaw that much. Other notable releases: flourished in the late 90's |
| 13 |  | Archon Satani
Mind of Flesh and Bones
Mind of Flesh and Bones 4/5. More old school noise/power electronics, group released a few decent obscure cassette releases. Other notable releases: Virgin Birth (Born Again), Memento Mori, Beyond All Thee Sickness |
| 14 |  | Armageddon Dildos
That's Armageddon
That's Armageddon 4/5. Now, this is what 80's EBM should be, fun, militant, ridiculous. A lot better than some of the other stuff i've come across I tell you. Other notable releases: Homicidal Dolls |
| 15 |  | Artefakto
Des-Construccion
Des-Construccion - 3.5/5. Not bad, yet another EBM release but there is something about this one I feel is a cut above the others. Not enough to not lump it with a similar rating, but still. Other notable releases: None |
| 16 |  | Atrax Morgue
In Search of Death
In Search of Death 3.5/5. Early noise/dark ambient from a disturbed crossdresser who ended up killing himself. Other notable releases: Black Slaughter, flourished in the late 90's |
| 17 |  | Attrition
Smiling, At The Hypogonder Club
Smiling, At The Hypogonder Club 4/5. Started life as a dark ambient group that would later become known for pioneering in darkwave/EBM territories. This album was transitional to that note. Other notable releases: Death House, Onslaught |
| 18 |  | Autopsia
Death Is the Mother of Beauty
A yugoslavian audio-visual art project, which released a number of industrial/dark ambient/neoclassical recordings over the years. Most are short soundbites of what is meant to accompany a larger performance, but for what they are these releases make for some fascinating material. Other notable releases: Palladium, Oscularum Infame |
| 19 | | Aavikon Kone ja Moottori
Karavaani
Not an album at all, but some first wave obscurity which can be found on a number of compilations and deserves to be mentioned anyway. Listen to it here - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U05QekJsz5s |
|
