European industrial metal

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European industrial metal comprises a variety of musical styles practiced in Europe that draw on heavy metal and industrial music. In addition to its first wave of practitioners, these include Neue Deutsche Härte (new German hardness) and later Scandinavian groups. European industrial metal became increasingly popular just as its sales began to wane in North America. It is most notable in Germany, Sweden, and Norway, and has begun to hybridize with black metal.

[edit] Early innovators

Godflesh,^[1] from Great Britain, and KMFDM,^[2] from Germany, were among the first groups to practice industrial metal. French group Treponem Pal^[3] and Swiss trio The Young Gods were also significant pioneers.^[4] Pitchshifter, formed in 1989, pushed the boundaries of British industrial metal, eventually incorporating elements of drum and bass.^[5] Die Krupps, from Germany, worked in the style as well.^[6] Mick Harris, in his post-Napalm Death project, Scorn, experimented with industrial metal^[7] before working in the industrial hip hop^[8] and isolationist styles.^[9]

[edit] Subsequent developments

[edit] Neue Deutsche Härte

Rammstein, Globe Arena, Stockholm, Sweden, 18 November 2004

Neue Deutsche Härte ("new German hardness", German pronunciation: [nɔʏ̯ə dɔʏ̯tʃə hɛrtə]) is a form of German industrial metal, which combines deep, clean vocals with distorted electric guitar, drums, keyboard, synthesisers, samples, and sometimes drum machines. Oomph!, formed in 1989, was the original NDH band, establishing the rudiments of the style on their second album, Sperm. Rammstein is the style's most famous and successful practitioner. The style is especially successful in continental Europe; Rammstein have sold nearly four million records in Germany, while accumulating gold and platinum records in Sweden, Austria, Belgium, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Denmark, Norway, Poland, Finland and the Czech Republic.^{[10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20]} In addition, Oomph! achieved a gold record for their Augen Auf! single in Austria and Germany.^[21][22] Eisbrecher's debut entered at #13 on the Deutschen Alternative Top 20 Chart, while the group's second album (Antikörper) reached the #85 position on the German main chart.^[23][24] Other NDH groups include Fleischmann, ASP, Farmer Boys, Joachim Witt, L'Âme Immortelle, Letzte Instanz, Megaherz, Schweisser, Stahlhammer, Tanzwut, Think About Mutation, Üebermutter, Unheilig, and Weissglut.

[edit] Industrial black metal

Hecate in 2006

In the early years of the 21st century, groups from the black metal scene began to incorporate elements of industrial music. Mysticum, formed in 1991,^[25] were the first of these groups.^[26] Blut Aus Nord, a French black metal group, has been acclaimed for their incorporation of industrial elements.^[27] Other industrial black metal musicians include The Axis of Perdition,^[28] Aborym,^[29] and ...And Oceans.^[30] Hecate, a musician from the breakcore scene, eventually delved into industrial black metal as well.^[26] In addition, The Kovenant,^[31] Mortiis and Ulver emerged from the Norwegian black metal scene, but later chose to experiment with industrial music.^[32][33]

[edit] Scandinavian industrial metal

Deathstars, a Swedish industrial metal group, performing in October 2006

Scandinavian acts such as Deathstars, Gothminister and The Kovenant have achieved a degree of success. The sophomore Deathstars album, Termination Bliss, landed on #87 in the German Media Control Chart.^[34] They toured with gothic metal stalwarts Paradise Lost and Lacuna Coil, and were the opening act of Korn's European tour in 2007.^[35] Gothminister's debut single "Angel" entered the top 10 Deutschen Alternative Charts.^[36] The Kovenant won two Spellemann awards, the Norwegian equivalent to the Grammys.^[37][38]

[edit] Related styles

[edit] Digital hardcore

German digital hardcore, most famously practiced by Alec Empire, also draws on industrial music and heavy metal, adding drum and bass to the mix. Empire's work has been praised by Trent Reznor.^[39] He also collaborated with Justin Broadrick^[40] and remixed Rammstein.^[41] Dino Cazares, Ex-Fear Factory, collaborated with Atari Teenage Riot.^[42] Industrial metal luminaries Pigface also worked with Hanin Elias.^[43]

[edit] References