Blush Response - Ego Death (2025)

When I reviewed Blush Response previous album Sprawl in 2024 I wrote : "quality dark and industrial techno, but the most memorable part of the album is the couple of songs with vocals (from Marc Heal), showing that Blush Response could totally, with equal success, turn into an industrial metal band (reminding a bit NIN or Author & Punisher)". Seems I wasn't the only one to think that, since the new album Ego Death has vocals in every track. And the result is a noisy and abrasive combination of industrial metal, breakcore and EBM. A deadly mutation!

 

The BC page. 

 

Ghost Dubs - Damaged (2024)

Ghost Dubs is German producer Michael Fiedler and Damaged is his first album as Ghost Dubs, released by Kevin martin label PRESSURE. Of course you can expect quality industrial dub, and this is what you'll get, but expect something less heavy and dark than The Bug, something more in an ambient/drone vein. A nice hazy atmosphere, with subtly noisy and ominous tones. Good stuff.

The BC page.

 

 

Blush Response - Sprawl (2024)

I've been slightly disappointed by the music Blush Response (producer Joey Blush) released last year. So Sprawl is a good (semi) surprise. Still quality dark and industrial techno, but the most memorable part of the album is the couple of songs with vocals (from Marc Heal), showing that Blush Response could totally, with equal success, turn into an industrial metal band (reminding a bit NIN or Author & Punisher). Good stuff.

The BC page.

 

Ying Yang Audio - Inner Nature (EP 2023)

This Inner Nature EP isn't Ying Yang Audio latest release, but I prefer this one over the Sustained Clarity album released this one, which is more ambient and minimalistic, while on Inner Nature the mix of industrial techno and dark ambient feels a bit darker and heavier. Good stuff.

The BC page.

 

STATIQBLOOM - Kain (2024)

This new STATIQBLOOM (Fade Kainer) album, called Kain, is a fine piece of dark-electro/industrial/EBM. Often heavy and hard-hitting, but not without subtleties in its sound, it will satisfy anyone into dark electro/industrial music.

The BC page.

 

Fausten - Mercenary (2022)

Fausten is Julian Caraz and Derek Szeto, and what they do toghether is what we could call industrial bass music (with elements of illbient, dark industrial, dubstep, etc.). They are back with a second release called Mercenary, nearly ten years after their first album, and they prove they still have it.And closing with a Fret (Mick Harris) remix can't be wrong either... Recommended for anyone into dark and heavy industrial/electronic music.

The BC page.

 

Alleged Witches - Work After Machinery (2021)

Work After Machinery by Alleged Witches is an interesting and finely crafted dark ambient/noise/industrial album. I especially like the nice ritualistic voodoo tribal merged with a dark futuristic sound atmosphere of the album. Good stuff.

The BC page.

 

SSHGRR - st (2023)

Looking for some new industrial/dark techno? Or curious about what the hell industrial/dark techno could be? SSHGRR self-titled release (on the Spanish Banshee Records label) will be a good pick. 3 tracks plus 2 good remixes, a healthy dose of quality techno of the heavy, menacing and noisy kind.

Good stuff!

The BC page.

 

Aelk Minsur - Ground Redux (2023)

I don't know much about American producer Aelk Minsur, but I like his subtle dark ambient / industrial tech / rhythmic noise music, on display in his latest album Gound Redux. Good stuff.

The BC page.

 

JK Flesh - New Religions Old Rules (2022)

Justin K Broderick isn't just Godflesh and Jesu (well, that already would be a lot... but...) his also an active producer in industrial techno music. New Religions Old Rules is his foruth release of the yaer as JK Flesh and my favorite one with the split with Gnod (reviewed that one HERE). Abrasive and dark pulsating indus tech. Recommended stuff.

The BC page.

Fret - Because of the Weak (2022)

Because of the Weak is the new Fret album from Mick Harris, and weak it is definitely not! It delivers ten tracks of super heavy, dark and abrasive industrial techno, with trademark Mick Harris bass heavy dubs, a touch of jungle and some noise textures. If or when you feel Scorn is too peaceful, the more aggressive Fret will satisfy you. Another awesome release from Mick Harris.

The BC page.

 

Weever - Jour de Lamentation (EP 2021)

Released last year by French producer Weever on his label Vives, this EP called Jour de Lamentation is an excellent piece of industrial techno, with dark ambient / death industrial atmosphere complementing the techno beats and industrial sound. Fine for headphone listening, probably even better in a live / warehouse / abandonned factory context (especially the powerful final track). Recommended !

The BC page.

 

Ancient Methods - The Jericho Records (2018)

Ancient Methods (from Berlin) is one of the most reliable dealer of industrial techno. The Jericho Records is their latest LP (released in 2018), and an immersive listening experience, the beat-driven hard-hitting element going hand in hand with the dark futuristic atmosphere. And featurings like producers Orphx, Regis and Prurient and vocalist King Dude cannot harm for sure. Excellent stuff, and a good entry point if you want to discover industrial techno.

 

The BC page. 

 

JK Flesh vs Gnod (EP 2021)

JK Flesh is the name Justin Broadrick use for his techno releases, Gnod is a English psych/noise rock band. Last year they joined fores for a four track EP (called JK Flesh vs Gnod) where they both cover two tracks from the other. So we get two JK Flesh tracks being given a psych/kraut treatment and two Gnod traks being given an industrial treatment, resulting in something as good as what they do on their own, but different, making an interesting and enjoyable release.

Favourite industrial music in 2021

Here's a list of what I liked the more in industrial music in 2020 (both electronic industrial and industrial metal). Click to go to the review. And feel free to say what you feel is missing in a comment.

 

Electro/industrial

 

8 Hour animal - Resigner

 

Andrew Nolan - Black Creek

 

Bergegas Mati - This is Going to Hurt

 

Droit Divin - Les Nouveaux Moralistes

 

G36 vs JKFlesh - Disintegration Dubs

 

Nun Gun - Mondo Decay

 

Pessimist - All Hope Lost

 

RNXRX - Impreciso

 

Scorn - The Only Place

 

The Bug - Fire

Torn Relics - Burning Injustice

 

 

Industrial metal

Drumcorps - Better Days

 

Ministry - Moral Hygiene

 

Youth Code & King Yosef - A Skeleton Key in the Doors of Depression

 

8 Hour Animal - Resigner (2021)

Sentient Ruin is a label best known for its extreme metal releases, but they also deal good industrial music, like this first album from the one-man project 8 Hour Animal, called Resigner. A very strong piece of power electronics/rhythmic noise, punishing, but not in the "test your patience way", thanks to its diversity of beats. Among the best recent industrial music.

The BC page.

 

Cut Unconscious - Antipositional (2021)

As a chess player I've been first attracted by the cover art and the title. And it turned out I like the music as well. Cut Unconscious is M. Komarov making industrial music. It can be more power electronics, like in the split with Talk Show, or more industrial techno/rhythmic noise like on this four tracks called Antipositional. Good driving beats over industrial noise. Maybe not really groundbreaking, but well done and enjoyable. The other stuff on Damien Records are also interesting, there's The Rita, Sissy Spacek, Gnawed, among others good industrial or powerviolence bands.

The Bandcamp page.

 

Yura Yura - Substance Noire (2020)

Substance Noire is the third album from French producer from Dijon Yura Yura, all have been released by the good industrial/tech label Hands, and indeed he's been doing well from the start, but Substance Noire is its best so far. Substance Noire takes you in a dark journey into powerful industrial techno and rhythmic noise territories, with also dark ambient elements, and if you're into this kind of stuff there's absolutely no reason you wouldn't enjoy it as I do. And if it's not your usual kind of listen it would do an excellent introduction to the more industrial and dark side of techno (or the more techno/rhythmic side of industrial/noise?). Recommended.

The BC page.

 

Torn Relics - Burning Injustice (2021)

Torn Relics have a new album out, this time released by the excellent label Instruments of Discipline, a good match. The album's called Burning Injustice. First half of the album is in line with their previous work (I reviewed HERE their previous album), mostly some classy dark ambient with violin and percussions and a few subtle techno beats. Then they bring some new elements, the most spectacular being the synthwave with vocals track "Disguise", an excellent song and a good surprise, then for the second half of the album  their sound is getting harder going in an industrial techno direction, good as well, done with their usual sophistication and good taste. So it's a successful second album (and third release), keeping strong their basics while adding new elements to make their music even more interesting. Recommended stuff.

The BC page.

 

Blush Response - Reconstitution (2021)

Reconstitution is the new album from Berlin based Cuban/American producer Blush Response (Joey Blush). Another feast of industrial techno with a noise element, sometimes more ambient, sometimes more hard hitting and beats driven, always dark and heavy. Recommended.

The BC page.