12 Industrial Greats

12 INDUSTRIAL GREATS

Well, well, well. Another semester has come and gone. Big deal. It wasn’t such a bad semester, though. I had a couple of good chucks here and there. It wasn’t too boring. The only thing I hated about this semester was all the damn term papers I had to do. (As a matter of fact, i should be writing my Anthropology term paper right now. It’s due tomorrow. Ah, fuck it!) It seems that teachers don’t realize, or care, that we have to do term papers for every class, not just theirs! So, that said, onward with humble column. 

Being that this is the last issue of the semester, I’ve decided to list 12 records which I feel are among the best in this little sphere called “Earth”. I list them for my own personal satisfaction, not to try to convince anyone to go out and listen to them or anything. I’m just voicing my opinion. If you don’t like it… Kiss Off! PS, these are not in any particular order.

1) Pretty Hate Machine - Nine Inch Nails- The best debut album ever! It is sheer perfection. And to think it was written, recorded and produced by one man: Trent Reznor. He also played all the instruments. What a god! Best tracks: “That’s What I Get” and “Terrible Lie”.

2) Confessions Of A Knife - My Life With The Thrill Kill Kult- Thanks to Jean Guzzi, I have a new favorite band. These guys (and gals) have redefined industrial dance music by juxtaposing hot dance grooves with macabre pseudo-Satanist lyrics and samples. Best tracks: “Kooler Than Jesus” and “A Daisy Chain For Satan”. A new album is due out this summer and they’ll be playing City Gardens in July.

3) Naive - KMFDM- K.M.F.D.M., whose name is rumored to stand for Kill Mother Fucking Depeche Mode, but in reality is an acronym for a German phrase which roughly translates to “No pity for the majority”, has finally hit the big time with their latest recording. This album has spawned a #1 dance hit which was on the Billboard charts for six weeks. The song is the 12 inch single for “Naive” (remixed by Thrill Kill Kult), which is more of a pop song than they have ever made. Best tracks: “Die Now-Live Later” and “Liebeslied”.  This past tour is supposed to be their last, according to leader Sasha Konietzko, because he got pissed that they were forced to perform before their supposed opening act, Pigface. Let’s wait and see…

4) ViVi Sect VI - Skinny Puppy- This is Skinny Puppy’s undisputed masterpiece. Every song is perfect, along with its running anti vivisection theme. Best tracks: “VX Gas Attack” and “Testure”. 

5) Land Of Rape And Honey - Ministry- Another strongly themed album, this one deals with the Vietnam War as seen through the eyes of a shellshocked veteran. It is an important album in that it marks Ministry’s switch from dance music to hard-edged pseudo-metal. Best tracks: “Stigmata” and “Flashback”. Look for a new single and album in the summer.

6) Gashed Senses And Crossfire - Frontline Assembly- The last true collaboration between Bill Leeb and Michael Balch, it is their finest and tightest album. The cover itself is worth the price! Best tracks: “Digital Tension Dementia” and “Shutdown”. 

7) Front By Front - Front 242- I’m speechless when it comes to this album. It was the first I ever heard from them, thanks to Denise and Suzi. It’s great music for a walk into oblivion. Best tracks: “Headhunter” and “Until Death (Us Do Part)”. 

8) Beers, Steers and Queers - Revolting Cocks- Any album with that title and an industrial remake of Olivia Newton-John’s “Physical” can’t be all that bad. As a matter of fact, it is excellent! This is an all-star collaboration. Best tracks: “Stainless Steel Providers” and “Get Down”. 

9) 99% - Meat Beat Manifesto- Their major label debut! The best Acid House/ Industrial album to be churned out in hours. Some may say the album is too “House Music” for their taste, but I think it’s just fine. Best tracks: “Dogstar Man/Helter Skelter” and “Psyche Out”.

10) Gub - Pigface- Anyone who read my last review knows why I love this album. By the way, the last line of that review should have read “And I still have the rope burns to prove it” not “tape burns”. Best tracks: “Suck” and “Tapeworm”. PS. These guys are great live!

The next two aren’t really albums, but 12 inch singles. They are sort of one hit wonders who put out an experimental single and then are never heard from again.  I hope they release full albums some day. I’d buy!

11) “The Bog” - BiGod20- The most atmospheric industrial song I’ve ever heard without it being slow. The vocals sound mysteriously like the lead singer of Front 242. Hmm… I wonder if… Nah! Sample lyric: “I’ll take you down there. I’ll take you. Back into the bog, Back into the bog.”

12) “Hallucination Generation” - Gruesome Twosome- My favorite song! Everything about this song is amazing. It is scary. It is atmospheric. It is danceable. If I ever go into music, this is the kind I’d love to make. Sample lyric: “When you stink to the bones, there’s a connection. You don’t need doctors to tell you you’re screwed. Your dead head needs resurrection and your feet try to shuffle you through. Shake it, Baby. Break it, Baby…”

Well, those are them: my faves. I hope everyone enjoys their summer. I won’t. I will be stuck in summer session Biology 1000 sect 01. I’ll probably be forced to perform a few vivisections of something. Help me!

Congratulations to all who graduate this year. You lucky bastards! Everyone else: see you next fall at The Factory.