Industrial music is one of the genres that I have an affinity for. There is something really cool about bands in this genre that can make something so rhythmically intricate and dark. Bands like Nine Inch Nails and Ministry have made industrial music a household name. I’d like to introduce you to Fact Pattern. This industrial doom metal band from Los Angeles is making quite a name for themselves. This three piece band led by singer/guitarist Ian Flux along with drummer Rannen Bozzio and bassist Jack Lowd are bringing back that classic industrial sound but are injecting a bit of a doom metal vibe to their music. Their 2017 EP Structures is full of doom churning melody with a balanced backbone of industrial, giving it the grit it needs. Fast forward to today and Fact Pattern have released “My Guard Down,” the first single from their upcoming album. Fact Pattern are more than just your run of the mill industrial or doom band. They add lush landscapes of sounds to really set the mood. The melodic nature of the songs also make their style something that is accessible but not in a way that it’s watered down. Do yourself a favor and check out Fact Pattern. You won’t be disappointed!
Over the last few years, as I’ve mentioned before, there is a resurgence of the post-punk sound. Some bands have been able to do it really well like GLAARE and The Black Mare. Those bands and a few others have not only taken that sound to new heights but, have added something else to that sound to make it their own. Which brings me to the band of the week, HIDE. This Chicago based duo led by visual artist/vocalist Heather Gabel and percussionist Seth Sher, has taken elements of post-punk and added a huge industrial twist to their music. HIDE’s debut full length CASTRATION ANXIETY is eerie and dark yet it’s full of the traditional sense of what an industrial band should be. In particular the song “Wildfire” (which is my favorite off the album) is much more than a thunderous industrial song. Lyrically it delves much deeper into psychological ideals. The album as a whole is quite a listen. There is a lot going on that will make you want to dance a little but also smash a wall with a sledgehammer. You can tell listening to HIDE, that in order to fully get what they are all about, you need to see them live. And from their live videos online, that is absolutely true.
Industrial music is one of my favorite genres. There is something about the darkness, and mechanical feelings that it emits, that really intrigues me. When done right, industrial music a la Nine Inch Nails, Godflesh, (old) Ministry, etc, grabs you and sucks you in to the deepest parts of darkness. I’d like to take a moment and focus on an up and coming band out of Birmingham, England, KHOST. This two piece is explosive dissonance has really made something special. Their sound has a Godflesh type feel to it without copying what they did. They are an inspired duo, making music that hits you like a box of nails all sharp side down but, in a good way. The impact of the heaviness is astounding and their use of dynamics and space, really adds another dimension to their music. Their latest album Governance, is the next step for a band on the verge of taking the industrial scene by storm.
Concept albums are very unique and at times take a long time to fully understand. Listening to select songs doesn’t give you the full effect. And a lot of the time the story that accompanies the album is very convoluted. Though there are many cases when the above statements don’t apply. Pink Floyd, The Who and more recently Mastodon and Nine Inch Nails have been able to create epic concept albums that can stand on their own or as separate entities. In 2007, Nine Inch Nails released Year Zero.
“The Year Zero story takes place in the United States in the year 2022. The United States has suffered several major terrorist attacks, and in response the government has seized absolute control on the country and reverted to a Christian fundamentalist theocracy. The government maintains control of the populace through institutions such as the Bureau Of Morality as well as increased surveillance and the secret drugging of tap water with a mild sedative. In response to the increasing oppression of the government, several corporate, government, and subversive websites were transported back in time to the present by a group of scientists working clandestinely against the authoritarian government. The websites-from-the-future were sent to the year 2007 to warn the American people of the impending dystopian future and to prevent it from ever forming in the first place.”
So with that all mind one would think that this is just a mess, but in fact it’s the complete opposite. Trent never misses a step with creating this apocalyptic epic. This album was also the next step in Trent’s revitalized state of mind and musical odyssey. There are a lot of uses of noise, static, and strange yet amazing distortion. Certain songs stand out amongst the album as a whole such as “The Beginning Of The End,” “Survivalism,” “In This Twilight,” “The Great Destroyer,” and “My Violent Heart.” Furthermore there was something else about this album, was that it opened up the visual aspect even more than before. Since Trent has described Year Zero as a soundtrack to a movie that doesn’t even exist, it’s not hard to let your imagination take you off on quite a little trip.
Year Zero is not The Downward Spiral or The Fragile, but it is one of the most artistic and well thought out releases that Nine Inch Nails have ever released. One other strange thing about this album, was that touring for this album was not very prevalent. The people at Interscope records really dropped the ball on handling the marketing and promotion for this album, hence why it never got the due it deserved. So give yourself some time and delve back into Year Zero and see for yourself what you might have missed.
