What is Industrial Techno?

Industrial Techno is a genre that merges the cold, mechanical sounds of industrial music with the rhythmic patterns of techno. The result is a hard-hitting, often dystopian sound that can evoke images of vast factories, urban decay, or post-apocalyptic landscapes. Let’s dive deeper into its origins, characteristics, and notable artists and albums.

Origins and Influences:

Industrial Techno finds its roots in the post-punk and industrial music movements of the late 1970s and early 1980s. Bands from the industrial scene, like Throbbing Gristle and Einstürzende Neubauten, were known for their use of non-traditional instruments, such as scrap metal, power tools, and tape loops. This experimental ethos laid the groundwork for a fusion with techno, especially as electronic music production became more accessible and diverse.

Characteristics:

• Sound: Industrial Techno is characterized by its aggressive beats, distorted sounds, and a general atmosphere of mechanical coldness. It’s darker and harder than conventional techno.
• Rhythm: The genre maintains techno’s repetitive rhythmic structures but often infuses them with industrial’s abrasive and harsh tones.
• Instruments and Production: Synthesizers, drum machines, and samplers are common tools. Sounds of machinery, metallic clangs, and distorted vocals can often be heard, paying homage to its industrial roots.
• Atmosphere: The soundscapes are frequently cold, alienating, and dystopian, evoking images of urban decay, machinery, and sometimes political or societal commentary.

Notable Artists and Essential Albums:

• Surgeon: An influential figure in the UK techno scene, Surgeon’s sound has always had an industrial edge. His album “Basictonalvocabulary” is a great starting point.
• Ancient Methods: With a hard-hitting and relentless style, Ancient Methods is renowned for tracks that blend techno’s rhythm with the abrasive qualities of industrial music.
• Adam X: Operating also under the alias ADMX-71, Adam X has been a significant figure in both the American techno and industrial scenes. His work, especially albums like “State of Limbo,” often fuses both worlds.
• British Murder Boys (Surgeon & Regis): This collaborative project further explores the realms of industrial techno, with tracks full of distorted kicks and bleak atmospheres.
• Orphx: A Canadian duo known for their fusion of rhythmic noise and techno elements, with releases that span both genres.
• Perc: A modern flagbearer of the industrial techno sound, Perc’s “The Power and the Glory” offers a blend of politically charged samples, distorted rhythms, and aggressive soundscapes.
• SHXCXCHCXSH: Their abstract and sometimes hard-to-pronounce track names parallel their sound—abstract, dense, and full of texture.

Influence and Legacy:

Industrial Techno has enjoyed a resurgence in the 2010s, especially within the European underground club scene. Clubs like Berghain in Berlin have become temples of this hard, industrial sound, resonating with a new generation of club-goers and ravers.

The genre also serves as a bridge, bringing fans from the rock and industrial scenes into the electronic music sphere and vice versa. This fusion has allowed for creative exchanges and innovative sounds that push the boundaries of what dance music can be.

Industrial Techno is a powerful genre that brings together the relentless drive of techno with the raw, mechanical sounds of industrial music. Its dark and aggressive tone offers a unique experience that sets it apart in the world of electronic music.