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.