industrial
what it is
Industrial music is a style of experimental music that draws on transgressive and provocative themes. The term was coined in the mid-1970s with the founding of Industrial Records by the band Throbbing Gristle, and the creation of the slogan "industrial music for industrial people". In general, the style is harsh and challenging.
✦ start here: albums
✦ who's making it, level by level
level 1 · mainstream
the pop everyone knows
level 2 · the door
big names with a sharper edge
level 3 · one step out
cult favorites and indie darlings
level 4 · further
art pop, hyperpop, and the underground
level 5 · all the way
deep experimental
✦ make industrial a playlist
turn these 39 artists into something you can press play on.
✦ nearby genres
questions
What is industrial?
Industrial music is a style of experimental music that draws on transgressive and provocative themes. The term was coined in the mid-1970s with the founding of Industrial Records by the band Throbbing Gristle, and the creation of the slogan "industrial music for industrial people". In general, the style is harsh and challenging.
What are good industrial albums to start with?
Try Symbols by KMFDM, Frankenstein Girls Will Seem Strangely Sexy by Mindless Self Indulgence, Bites by Skinny Puppy, and Year Zero by Nine Inch Nails.
Who are some women making industrial?
musicisforgirls.com/genres/industrial/girls lists women, non-binary artists, and bands with women making industrial, from mainstream to underground.
genre notes from last.fm listeners · artists and albums from last.fm, updated 2026-10-20