Industrial metal blends a range of influences from heavy metal to electro-industrial and noise music, while typically remaining within standard rock conventions and song structures. Since its beginnings, the genre has been controversial among both fans of other industrial genres and metal fans alike; those who favor other styles of industrial music have denounced it as a "watered-down version of 'true' industrial music," and many fans of other metal genres object to the widespread use of synthesizers and electronic instruments. Despite this controversy, the industrial metal scene has spawned numerous platinum-selling artists and bands with millions of albums being sold worldwide and influenced artists from across the entire musical spectrum.
Musically, industrial metal combines heavy metal guitar riffs with synthesizer leads and production techniques commonly used for other genres of industrial music. Consequently, the music equipment used by industrial metal bands typically includes both hardware and software synthesizers in addition to electric guitars and guitar effects processors. Drums are often acoustic, electronic or a mixture of both. Somewhat uncommon in industrial music, it is usually performed live with a full band, following the standard "rock band lineup," including a lead singer, guitarist, bassist, drummer and keyboardist.
Combining guitar melodies with industrial elements was a big departure from the anti-rock sentiments of most early industrial acts of the 1980s. Bands who embraced this approach included Nine Inch Nails, Fear Factory, Ministry and KMFDM. This more accessible sound soon found a large following in North America among fans of other guitar-oriented music.
Though industrial metal enjoyed a degree of mainstream success throughout the late 1990s, this would eventual fade by the turn of the century. A number of the genre's leading bands broke up or were dropped by major labels around this time. Today it has a considerably smaller audience, based mostly in the United States and Europe. Nonetheless, bands such as Nine Inch Nails remain popular today and continue to play sold-out shows around the world.
Taylor is a contributor at Alternative-Electronics.com, the most comprehensive resource online for the music equipment used in alternative electronic music. Read more about industrial metal bands.
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