Photo Credit: Kitty Munster Photography
In the past few years, it has become increasingly clear that a revival of industrial music is on its way. With impressive releases and reunions from key founding groups (ex: Godflesh, Fear Factory, KMFDM) along with a growth in new bands of the genre (ex: Author & Punisher, 3Teeth, Davey Suicide), I believe industrial rock/metal is back and healthier than ever. In hopes of finding a better understanding of this revival and new wave of the genre, I spoke to two important acts of the underground scene.
You can view our interview with members of the New York-based group Justin Symbol and the Southern Californian act Our Frankenstein as they discuss their perspective on the genre's status, evolution, and their own involvement and progress within the scene. Comment below your thoughts on the industrial metal revival and what bands you think may be a part of it. You can also view more about the two groups we interviewed by clicking Justin Symbol and Our Frankenstein.
There has been a lot of talk of an industrial music revival. What are your thoughts on the validity of that statement and which bands are leading said revival?
Our Frankenstein: I’d like to think that industrial metal is coming around again. As for the lead of it right now, I think the little guys like ourselves and the bands we’ve been touring with are significant in a revival. I do want to still say Uncle Al from Ministry, Rob Zombie, and Manson are still up there doing their thing. The newer generation of industrial though would be Motionless in White and Youth Code. They have gotten a big name with the whole industrial thing especially with younger kids nowadays.
Justin Symbol: I would say the leaders of industrial rock/metal will always be the one’s who invented it, who is Ministry. They have always been the pioneers of fusion between industrial and metal music. I fucking love Ministry and if anyone can bring back the genre, it’s them. Al Jourgensen just did a new side project and it’s a great return to form. Also, other bands like Combichrist and Rammstein have been big for awhile, but are having a revival. There’s a lot of hot, new bands coming out too. I have to say I’ve really been impressed by Our Frankenstein. Even bands like Motionless in White have those elements of electronics in them. I would say the genre has had a resurgence for sure.
Are there any acts from the 80’s or 90’s industrial scene that you’d like to see make a comeback or push back into the spotlight?
Justin Symbol: A lot of them have actually. PIG is coming back. Godflesh is one of my biggest influences and pioneers of the genre that recently reunited and put out new music. And honestly, I hear a lot of industrial in modern hip-hop like Death Grips or even like Kanye West.
Our Frankenstein: I really want to see Skinny Puppy make a comeback. I mean, they’re still making records somewhat recently, but they were one of the main creators of the genre and are forgotten about a lot to this generation when compared up to mainstream acts like Rob Zombie. I’d like to have Bile make a bigger comeback too. Even though they were starting off before I was born, they were really ahead of their time.
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Official Music Video for Our Frankenstein's "From The Grave" single
I would consider you guys part of the current underground industrial scene. What other bands within the industrial underground scene are worth mentioning?
Our Frankenstein: A band we’ve been touring with recently is called The Culling, who used to be called Ginger V. And Ginger is an artist who I looked up to since I was in high school. He works really hard on his craft and I think is very deserving of whatever stature awaits him. There’s also Ironhand and Sarcophagic from New Jersey. They’re reviving that old Psyclon Nine sound. And Promidal, which sounds like an industrial Cradle of Filth.
Industrial music in the past commonly had either religion-based or politically driven lyrical content. Do you see these themes in current industrial bands and do you believe they are vital to the genre?
Our Frankenstein: We personally incorporate a lot of those topics like contrasting politics, religion, as well as the media in our lyrics. I try to stray away from the conventional messages of Christianity and the “I hate God” kind of stuff. I feel like a lot of artists use religion as a staple in being edgy or sounding dark or different. It’s become almost a trend. Back in the 90’s when Manson did that, it was freaky and it worked. But all the anti-religion t-shirts has just become so conventional and normal. The idea of shock value and controversy in music is lacking because everybody hears it constantly in the news and media. When a band uses those tactics nowadays, it just won’t phase anybody.
Justin Symbol: I think post-punk in general has a very dystopian quality to it. A lot of the times, punk has a political agenda, where industrial usually tends to be more nihilistic. Not necessarily talking about left or right wing, but rather pointing out the flaws, ugliness, and fakeness of our society. So, I think religion and politics is intrinsic to the genre in a way, but of course, there are always exceptions to that rule.
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Official Music Video for "Digital Penetration" off Justin Symbol's debut LP 'VΩIDHEAD'
How do you think as a whole, industrial music has changed or evolved since the 80’s or 90’s to now?
Our Frankenstein: There’s a lot of new industrial bands that are doing their own experimental thing. I feel the reason that industrial died is because a lot of the artists were copying off each other and all started developing the same sound. But these new industrial artists, they’re trying to incorporate other genres like hip-hop and old school metal. From a musician’s standpoint, I think we just have more strings on our instruments now. It’s getting a lot heavier, but it’s getting really played out with drop A and B tuning. Don’t get me wrong, I like it, but I love nothing better than six strings.
Justin Symbol: Well, I think it’s important to question what is “industrial.” To me, I would define that term as electronic-based music with a punk or rock n’ roll attitude. The early industrial bands were playing with synthesizers, but they weren’t playing it melodically like Kraftwerk. They were playing it a more abrasive way. So, I think that has transcended to the point where even the most mainstream songs on the radio have elements in them that originated from that idea. Of course, a lot of people that are playing it now don’t know where it came from. The idea of incorporating weird sound design has become very much universal. And I think that all these traits have become really big in music, even though the average person may not know what the term industrial refers to.
What musical styles besides industrial do you use as inspiration?
Our Frankenstein: Especially in the beginning we used a lot of synth-pop as well as early metal, deathcore, djent, and even classical music like choirs, strings, organ, harpsichord, and an accordion. I’ve also always had a thing for country music. Old country music to be specific, a lot of it is storytelling and I’ve always been big on that aspect of music. Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, and John Denver inspired me. We also grew up listening to blues and hard rock, so we have those kind of guitar solos into industrial music to add a different kind of vibe.
Justin Symbol: Dance, rock, nu metal, and grunge. I think our new music really reflects a lot of genres of rock. We’ve been listening to a lot of grunge during the tour. I’m a big fan of Sonic Youth and noise rock. I would say the new album is more guitar-based and Black Sabbath influenced. David Bowie continues to be a huge influence, even his last album Blackstar.
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Official Music Video for Justin Symbol's "Control" Featuring Ex-Marilyn Manson guitarist Daisy Berkowitz
Can you talk a little about your upcoming releases?
Justin Symbol: So, VΩIDHEAD was our last album and GΩDHEAD is our upcoming one. We are more than halfway done with the writing. It’s gonna be a much more overtly melodic and musical record than I ever dared to do as an artist in the past. Thematically, VΩIDHEAD was all about dehumanization and connecting digitally instead of organically. The Voidhead character was representative of my own personal feelings and experiences as well as more larger or broader issues. GΩDHEAD is also that way. It is in some ways autobiographical, but more so about society as a whole and where our country and culture is headed. Musically speaking, VΩIDHEAD was purposefully very cold and mechanical. GΩDHEAD is the polar opposite. It is very human and everything is played live on the record.
Our Frankenstein: We are working on our debut record, The Sovereign of Violence, which should be out around this Winter. A lot of that album is about things I’ve encountered around the Hollywood scene. It’s a story about a character who’s pursuing happiness for the wrong reasons. Eventually in the end, he destroys himself and is forced to start over. We’re trying to keep it as vague as possible for now.
Is there a message your band is hoping to convey with your music?
Our Frankenstein: There’s not necessarily a specific message to our music. A lot of bands these days are pushing the “believe in yourself” or “just be yourself” message. Obviously those things are important, but I think it’s also more important to push your boundaries because ultimately you may not know what you’re actually into or capable of doing until you've tried. I’ve had people come up to me and say they could never play an instrument. If you don’t actually try, you’ll never know where you could be.
Any further upcoming plans you’d like to announce or speak about?
Justin Symbol: The plan right now is for the GΩDHEAD LP to come out in early 2017. And we'll have a national tour during late September and October this year. We’re also shooting a new music video out in Joshua Tree too, so that should be coming soon.
Our Frankenstein: The only thing we have that we can talk about right now is we’ll be playing at Chain Reaction in Anaheim, CA in October opening for the return of I Am Ghost. We’re doing that with Moxie and the Influence, who is a killer all girl band, and Farewell, My Love. I’m really excited for that and that show is definitely going to sell out.
