Gothtober-The Top 50 Industrial Albums -10-1

 After perusing other industrial lists released earlier this year  it became apparent , this this had to be done. Industrial music should create an adversarial sonic force that is transgressive, confrontational with the , the message being that we  are fucked, the system is corrupt and now we living in a post apocalyptic nightmare.  I made sure my list reflected this. Certain  artists are darlings of the critics, because the cool kids are supposed to like them. Some of these might make artful challenging cool sounding music that   lacks aggression or just isn’t industrial . So lets set things straight here. 

I saved this for October, despite the fact Industrial and goth are not the same thing, It is almost like comparing science fiction to horror, at times they share the same elements and cross over, industrial should be more aggressive. In making this list aggression was at the forefront when deciding what was or was not industrial music. The name itself suggests the machine-like gears of a factory pounding, which in fact are staple sounds found in the earlier works of the genre.  

I gave myself a few guidelines first off only one album by each artist, though side projects stand separate in this regard. The other guideline being to consider not what album  sold the most, or was supposed to be the most influential , but think of the albums that have the best songs that have stood the test of time and find me returning to the album again and again? After all that is what makes good music. So with that here is the 10 top ten of my Top 50 Industrial albums list.

10-HEALTH- "Death Magic" 

If any band to emerge post 2000 should have their names uttered alongside the icons of the genre it's these guys. This was the last album to feature founding guitarist Jupiter Keyes, though they have done an impressive job of carrying on without them, it is hard to surpass this level of bleakness.

   

 9- Pigface-Notes From the Underground- 1994

This collective never put out a bad album, that fact Michael Gira is on this one certainly gives it the edge, but there is also slappers like "Fuck It Up" . 

 

 8-My Life With the Thrill Kill Kult- "I See Good Spirits...and I See Bad Spirits" 1988

When it comes to the early days of industrial , this album was ahead of it's time in the dark psychedelics it brought to the dance floor.

   

7-KMFDM-"Angst" 1993

7 albums deep in their career KMFDM was doing it again, but this time they achieved perfection. So bow down and worship a true creation.  

6-Swans -'Holy Money" 1986

Another case where it might not be their best album, but it's their best industrial album, which also happens to be better than what most industrial bands did in the years to follow. The three albums before this were more raw and crushing , but this album had a better balance of those elements mixed with more atmosphere and melody.

   

5-Frontline assembly -"Millennium"1994 

Another case where it's album number 7 and  thanks to the guitars everything clicks into place and captures lightning in the studio./ Great songs driven by mean grooves .

 

 4-Skinny Puppy-"Too Dark Park" 

This is where limiting it to one album per artist got hard. I had to comb their their entire catalogue and see where are they just creating collages of creepy noise and where did they actually write songs, which is why this album beat out "Last Rights"  and squeaked past 'the Process", it was tough spread sheets came into play for this decision. 

 

 3-Killing Joke - 'Pandemonium"1994

 This is an interesting album as these guys are bad that had already influenced industrial music then on this album they showed up to demonstrate to the bands making big bucks on the genre at the time how it was supposed to be done, bringing apocalyptic beats, and powerful vocals with them.

   

2-Nine Inch Nails -"the Downward Spiral" 

If we were talking album sales and most mainstream appeal then this album would be number one, it did garner all of that for more than just marketing , as it's a wonderfully constructed album, and has songs that have stood the test of time making it more worthy of respect despite all the time you have seen a bunch of drunk girls giggling over the fact they are singing "Closer" at karaoke.  

 1-Ministry -"Psalm 69" 1992

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This did not garner the kind of mainstream exposure as Nine Inch Nails , nor was it intended to. This is the most apocalyptic and transgressive album on the list, but it packs the kind of punch that was equal to mopst metal albums at the time. The fact it has the smae kind of balls and aggression that most metal hits with is impressive and why it belongs in the top spot. Ends for the end of the world stand the test of time, as the end of time gets closer.

 

Gothtober-The Top 50 Industrial Albums -20-11

After reading other industrial lists by other publications it became apparent , this this had to be done. Industrial music should create an adversarial sonic force that is transgressive, confrontational with the , the message being that we  are fucked, the system is corrupt and now we living in a post apocalyptic nightmare.  I made sure my list reflected this. Certain  artists are darlings of the critics, because the cool kids are supposed to like them. Some of these might make artful challenging cool sounding music that   lacks aggression or just isn’t industrial . So lets set things straight here. 

I saved this for October, despite the fact Industrial and goth are not the same thing, It is almost like comparing science fiction to horror, at times they share the same elements and cross over, industrial should be more aggressive. In making this list aggression was at the forefront when deciding what was or was not industrial music. The name itself suggests the machine-like gears of a factory pounding, which in fact are staple sounds found in the earlier works of the genre.  

I gave myself a few guidelines first off only one album by each artist, though side projects stand separate in this regard. The other guideline being to consider not what album  sold the most, or was supposed to be the most influential , but think of the albums that have the best songs that have stood the test of time and find me returning to the album again and again? After all that is what makes good music. So with that lets continue deeper down our list of the Top 50 Industrial Albums.. 

20-Electric Hellfire Club - "Kiss the Goat" 1995

The band's second album, found them fully realizing their Satanic glory in the most gloriously infernal way possible by writing some damn catchy songs. Everything thing fell perfectly into place for them with this album.

   

19-Front 242 - "06:21:03:11 Up Evil" 

I am sure you were expecting "Tyranny For You" . That might be the band's biggest selling album, popularity does not equate with quality. Sure, it's ok, but it is not as dark or compelling as this album, which is why I am writing this list and you are just shutting up and reading it. 

 

 18-Author & Punisher -"Women & Children" 2013

He has some really great album's that followed this, but many of them expanded above and beyond industrial music, which is why I picked this album, since it has melody rather than the grittier earlier works that were the sounds of his machines crushing it.

    

17-Death in June-"the Guilty Have No Pride" 1983

Before you roll your eyes , this album was made in 1983, what were you making in 1983 aside from poop in your pants? My second favorite album by this band, but the more industrial than my favorite album by these guys. Granted they influenced more than half of the bands on this list

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16-the Young Gods - "TV Sky" 1992 

It is highly unlikely that you are going to hear these guys at goth night unless you live in Switzerland. It is unlikely they self identified as industrial until after touring with Ministry. They bring more to the table than the militant stomp of metallic guitar that you can still dance to, they are stellar songwriters who embrace the ideals of industrial without knowing that is what they are doing. 

   

14-Static X- "Wisconsin Death Trip" 1999

Lumped in with nu-metal, I had to give this album a few listens to remember if it belongs here. It does and it's probably more industrial than your favorite album, just based off the syncopation of the riffs  alone.

   

13 Godflesh- "Selfless" 1994

Here is another band where they have an album( Streetcleaner)  that is reviewed with such reverence that the fan base can not open their mind to objectivity , that sure it was an important album for it's time, but it was a few years later the band grew into their skin and began writing music with more atmosphere and melody, which is the case with the balance created here. 

 

 12-Gary Numan- "Sacrifice" 1994

Somewhere there is a girl hash tagging here self as goth and She thinks the song "Cars" is all there to be said when it comes to Gary Numan. Sure his work in the 80s certainly influenced industrial music, but it was not until this album that he really embraced the genre. A case of this might not be Numan's best album, but it is his best industrial album. 

 

 11- White Zombie -"Astro-Creep 2000" 1995

Rather than attempt to replicate the success of their previous album, the band added a layer of electronics over their spooky metal grooves and created something even better. 

     

Gothtober-The Top 50 Industrial Albums : 30- 21

After reading other industrial lists by other publications it became apparent , this this had to be done. Industrial music should create an adversarial sonic force that is transgressive, confrontational with the , the message being that we  are fucked, the system is corrupt and now we living in a post apocalyptic nightmare.  I made sure my list reflected this. Certain  artists are darlings of the critics, because the cool kids are supposed to like them. Some of these might make artful challenging cool sounding music that   lacks aggression or just isn’t industrial . So lets set things straight here. 

I saved this for October, despite the fact Industrial and goth are not the same thing, It is almost like comparing science fiction to horror, at times they share the same elements and cross over, industrial should be more aggressive. In making this list aggression was at the forefront when deciding what was or was not industrial music. The name itself suggests the machine-like gears of a factory pounding, which in fact are staple sounds found in the earlier works of the genre.  

I gave myself a few guidelines first off only one album by each artist, though side projects stand separate in this regard. The other guideline being to consider not what album  sold the most, or was supposed to be the most influential , but think of the albums that have the best songs that have stood the test of time and find me returning to the album again and again? After all that is what makes good music. So with that lets continue deeper down our list of the Top 50 Industrial Albums.. 

30-Velvet Acid Christ -"Fun With Knives" 1999

This album found Bryan Erickson reaching the most effective balance of aggressive synths, and industrial beats while still writing dance anthems without tipping the scales in the direction of pop, while glazing it all in creepy atmosphere.

     

29-Current 93-"Dawn" 1997

Let's face it industrial music is not the bulk of what this project creates, but this album takes the weird and coats the most industrial sounds they are known to summon. Abrasive scrapes of metal capture the jarring elements industrial should have. 

            

28-Evil Mothers - I Love Fur " 1996

Curse Mackey gets wacky.  Sure, he was in Pigface, who hasn't been, but I think this is his best work.

 

27-Genitorturers -"120 Days of Genitorture" 1993

The debut from Tampa's freak show, hits hard. It is a shame their live show overshadowed their music at the time, as they captured the feel of industrial in a very organic manner with little help from electronics on this album aside from the plentiful samples.

   

26-Rammstein-" Mutter" 2001

Yeah I know this one does not have "Du Hast" on it, but the band's third album is actually their best, which is why more singles were released off this album than any other Rammstein album, as every song is an anthem worthy of standing on it's own.

 

25-Foetus - "Gash" 

This might have been the projects biggest album, but these guys never entered the mainstream consciousness the say way other bands at this time did, however this album stood the test of time, better than most of their peers. The wide range of other forms of music this works into the over the top attack of sound they kicks up is timeless. 

                                              

24-Street Sects - "the Kicking Mule" 2018

They sacrificed little of their abrasive edge when tightening their song writing into this more melodic batch of songs that is not just a temper tantrum for the sake of unleashing anger, but what still stands as their best work. 

22-LARD- "the Last Temptation of Reid" 1990

Industrial evolved out of the punk scene so it only made sense for Jello to team up with Al for this project. It features the outstanding drumming of the late Jeff Ward, that nails these songs home. 

 

 21-Revolting Cocks-"Linger Ficken Good" 1993

If you have not dropped acid to this album, then I am not sure what you have really done with your life. 

Gothtober-The Top 50 Industrial Albums : 40 - 31

This had to be done. Having read other lists from other publications that just were not getting it, I had to step up and set the record straight. What Industrial music should be about is to create an adversarial sonic force  that is transgressive, confrontational , the message should be we are fucked, the system is corrupt and now we living in a post apocalyptic nightmare. o I made sure my list reflected this. Certain   artists are darlings of the critics, because the cool kids are supposed to like them, but are making artful challenging music that might sound cool, but lacks aggression or just isn’t industrial . 

I saved this for October, despite the fact Industrial and goth are not the same thing, It is almost like comparing science fiction to horror, at times they share the same elements and cross over, industrial should be more aggressive. In making this list aggression was at the forefront when deciding what was or was not industrial music. The name itself suggests the machine-like gears of a factory pounding, which in fact are staple sounds found in the earlier works of the genre.  

I gave myself a few guidelines first off only one album by each artist, though side projects stand separate in this regard. The other guideline being to consider not what album  sold the most, or was supposed to be the most influential , but think of the albums that have the best songs that have stood the test of time and find me returning to the album again and again? After all that is what makes good music. So with that lets continue deeper down our list of the Top 50 Industrial Albums.. 

40-Bestial Mouths - "Resurrectedinblack " 2020

The first modern band on the list, this album was created under the full creative control of  front woman Lynette Cerezo. This project has slowly grown darker with each released and this album found it shedding the post-punk influence in favor of the machine like crunch of industrial as more electronic elements worked their way in. 

39-X Marks the Pedwalk-"the Killing Had Begun"1994

The German project's third album is also the first to feature vocals from Andre's wife Stephanie. This added another layer to their already varied tapestry fast paced anxious grooves for paranoid musings.

   

38-3Teeth - "Metawar" 2019

When it comes to newer acts , this band gets it right by not being bound to not emulating a specific artist, but drawing inspiration from an entire era of music. The nail the brand of aggression acts like Frontline Assembly brought down from the heavens. The vocals are dynamic rather than a robotic scream.

   

37- Leaether strip-" Science for the Satanic Citizen" 1990

I would think few would be surprised this is my favorite album by these guys. The excel at using sonic darkness to create a seething violence lurking in alley ways at night rather than just being in your face.

   

36-Chem Lab- "Eastside Militia"1996

The second album by the band finds more electronic elements picking up the slack for a less metallic guitar attack than what was delivered on their previous, this allows the songs to breathe, and made for catchier songs that I return to more often . 

 

 35- Psyclon 9-"Order of the Shadow Act 1"  2013 

Five albums into things they find the perfect blend of metal and industrial. The production of this album gives things a massive scale., The blackened screams of Nero echo out like a tortured soul falling into the hell the world had collapsed into. 

34- Negativeland-"Escape from Noise" 1987

San Francisco's purveyors of weird took a swing at popular music as a reflection of society it self and uses noise, ambiance and atmosphere in a manner that brings the smoke in a manner with as much malice as a wall of guitars. The staccato synth attack gets the point across more than most full on rock bands did in 1987, as they hit you with relentless samples.

   

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33- Laibach- "Jesus Christsuperstars"1996

One of the bands where it became hard to just pick one after I dug in and began revisiting their catalog, so after a few listens I was reminded that this album is their best due to their attack on Christianity, blasphemy should be included in my requirements of what industrial music should be. 

 

 32-Pop Will Eat Itself-"dos dedos mis amigos" 

A criminally underrated band, that wrote some incredible music, this album should have gotten them more notice given that it came out during the peak of industrial music, but regardless of that this is a classic that holds up everything I bump it.

   

31- Youth Code-"Commitment to Complications" 2016

I am still waiting on these kids to bring it like they did on this album, which was produced by Rhys Fulber of Frontline Assembly. They got the aggression right, and the rest of it all fell into place.  

Gothtober - The Top 50 Industrial Albums : 50 - 41

After reading other industrial lists by other publications it became apparent , this had to be done. Industrial music should create an adversarial sonic force that is transgressive, confrontational with the , the message being that we are fucked, the system is corrupt and  we are living in a post apocalyptic nightmare.  I made sure my list reflected this. Certain  artists are darlings of the critics, because the cool kids are supposed to like them. Some of these might make artful challenging cool sounding music that   lacks aggression or just isn’t industrial . So lets set things straight . 

I saved this for October, despite the fact Industrial and goth are not the same thing, It is almost like comparing science fiction to horror, at times they share the same elements and cross over, industrial should be more aggressive. In making this list aggression was at the forefront when deciding what was or was not industrial music. The name itself suggests the machine-like gears of a factory pounding, which in fact are staple sounds found in the earlier works of the genre.  

I gave myself a few guidelines first off only one album by each artist, though side projects stand separate in this regard. The other guideline being to consider not what album  sold the most, or was supposed to be the most influential , but think of the albums that have the best songs that have stood the test of time and find me returning to the album again and again? After all that is what makes good music. Let's get started into the Top 50 Industrial Albums.. 

50-Coil - Unnatural History II- 1991 

The third album by the London based atmospheric project, feels darker. Born again pagan John Balance, began flirting with rock sounds a little more on this album which earns it this more honorable mention. They are one of these musical entities that are admired by fans of Industrial music, so the consensus is they must be industrial music, when the truth is this album is about as close as they come  to it.

    

49-Funker Vogt-"We Came to Kill"  - 1997

This German act is one of the trail blazers when it comes to the sub-genre of more electro based Industrial called aggro-tech. The distorted vocals create a stark narrative over beats that should get the dance floor moving at any "Goth Nite" worth a pound of guano.

   

48-Haujob- "Solutions for a Small Planet" 1996

Another German band, this one drew equal inspiration from both Science Fiction and Skinny Puppy. The textured atmosphere and the swirling mass of electronic layers, does not just focus on creating sounds, but this album has well written songs. 

 

 47-Suicide Commando - "Construct Destruct" 1998

The Belgian boys brought it is a much darker manner for their third album . The music these guys created in 1998 feels like it should be the soundtrack to a dystopian future coming sooner than later. 

46- Nitzer Ebb - "That Total Age" 1987

These guys were a decade ahead of most industrial acts. Their debut album set the stage for what was to come and feels like the band's most urgent and impassioned songs.

   

45-Die Warzu- "Disco Rigido"  1989 

This Chicago duo brought a funkier vibe to the stark machinations of industrial. Their vocals were not limited to Drill Sargent barks , with more soulful embellishments to make the groove of their work more interesting .

   

44-Wumpscut- Bunker Gate Seven- 1995

Inspired by the 1985 short film "the Bunker of the Last Gun Shots" this album oozes with the perfect balance of abrasive corrosion filled aggression and bleak moods.

   

43 -Meat Beat Manifesto- "Subliminal Sandwich" 

Normally I preach to write songs first and worry about sounds second, since when sounds are put before songs the songs suffer, this project flipped it on it's head with this album and fucked around with sounds to find out they could drone them into catchy songs thanks to the dope beats delivered here.

   

42 Spahn  Ranch - "the Coiled One" -1995

Sadly the second album from this Los Angeles based band would also be the last to feature founding member Rob Morton. It opened the door to fuse dark wave dance floor anthems with the pulse of industrial menace. 

                    

41-Razed in Black - 'Damaged" 2003

This album has the Jacksonville based band at the peak of their creative abilities. The beats have an aggressive drive, and the vocals serve a purpose rather than just becoming an obligatory texture, though they are mixed in a way sometimes makes them work more like another instrument.