Top 10 Best Industrial Bands

The Top Ten
1 Nine Inch Nails Nine Inch Nails is an American industrial rock band, founded in 1988 by Trent Reznor in Cleveland, Ohio.

One of the most talented music projects, Nine Inch Nails has evolved through the ages and had a significant influence on music history. Every album up to "The Fragile" is filled with state-of-the-art music productions, incorporating strangeness, roughness, sensibility, and experimentation, all in a catchy style. Trent was present in every step of production. However, since Trent decided to focus on arrangement and brought Atticus Ross into the production side with the album "With Teeth" (initially coming in as additional production), a slow decay has been sensed by many NIN fans. For now, in 2015, "Hesitation Marks" is really the least interesting accomplishment.

2 Rammstein Rammstein is a German Neue Deutsche Härte and Industrial Metal band consisting of Till Lindemann (vocals), Richard Kruspe (guitar), Paul Landers (guitar), Oliver Riedel (electric bass), Christoph Schneider (drums) and Christian Lorenz (keyboard), that formed in 1994 in Berlin ... read more

Rammstein will always be the best out of industrial bands. Tool has a lot of non-fans, which shouldn't be looked at as a "should be number one" opinion. To me, Tool is okay, but they have not had as many hits as Rammstein. Their music even sounds harder live, and they put on a good show every time. They never do a concert where they don't put on a show, and trust me, I have seen many YouTube videos of their concerts and participated in them as well. All the money you spend for tickets to see them is worth it. Even if you don't understand a word they say, it's easy to infer the meaning through the vocalist's reactions, and it most of the time resembles words in English. They were and still will be my favorite band in general.

I don't know why this unwanted trash "KMFDM" is on here. What kind of band name is that? Hello? Depeche Mode has more fans than you, and your name is the reason why not one of their real fans will listen to that. Oomph deserves to be at least before or after Skinny Puppy. And people, please stop arguing about what industrial is and is not. The first word in each genre must be industrial. Get over it, at least there is no Nicki Minaj here. But Rammstein will always be at the top.

3 Marilyn Manson Marilyn Manson is an American rock band from Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Formed in 1989 by frontman Marilyn Manson and Daisy Berkowitz, the group was originally named Marilyn Manson & the Spooky Kids with their theatrical performances gathering a local cult following in the early 1990s... read more

I like industrial music very much, and I actually love a lot of bands from the list, so it was hard to choose. I've chosen Marilyn Manson because, in my opinion, his music is nearly perfect (my favourite albums are Antichrist Superstar, Mechanical Animals, and Born Villain), plus he is by far the best lyricist of all time.

Marilyn Manson has created an entire world of phantasmal freaks with just three albums. Heck, all of their albums are amazing! Love them!

5 Best Manson Albums:
Holy Wood
Antichrist Superstar
Mechanical Animals
The High End of Low
Eat Me Drink Me

4 Ministry Ministry is an American industrial metal band founded by lead singer and only original member Al Jourgensen in 1981. Originally a new wave synthpop outfit, Ministry changed its style to industrial metal in the mid-1980s. In late 1990s and after that, Ministry have explored other metal genres, most notably... read more

I couldn't live without a Ministry disc in my car. No Ministry, no NIN. Tool is a great band but sure as hell doesn't belong anywhere near this list, nor does Bullet For My Valentine (why they're here is an absolute mystery). Ministry, Rammstein, NIN, Skinny Puppy, Frontline Assembly, KMFDM, Stabbing Westward, and Front 242 are my picks.

90s Ministry, Godflesh, Skrew, early Pitchshifter, Testify, and the only NIN 'Broken' EP - there you go when searching for the only true industrial metal music. Rammstein and copies equal bull for kids who like dressing up and listening to cheap marching music with no intellectual drive behind. Sadly, this 90s industrial metal has been dying, save memories when you can!

5 Rob Zombie Rob Zombie (born Robert Bartleh Cummings) is an American heavy metal musician, film director, screenwriter and film producer. His career launched in 1985 when he formed the heavy metal band White Zombie. Following their breakup, he began a successful solo career. Zombie began directing in the early... read more

Been the best for damn near thirty years and always will be. Zombie is king!

Rob is the God of Industrial. Love him always!

6 Skinny Puppy Skinny Puppy is a Canadian industrial music group, formed in Vancouver, British Columbia, in 1982. The group is widely considered to be one of the founders of the electro-industrial genre.

It's simple, really. Without Skinny Puppy, there is no Nine Inch Nails or Rammstein. Skinny Puppy's level of genius and talent in this genre of music has never been reached since, and their amazing use of controversial and sometimes disturbing performance art makes them much more interesting than a lot of the bands on this list.

SP's electronic industrial, along with Neubauten, is what I consider the best Industrial music. Then there's, of course, Throbbing Gristle etc., but they were never a favorite. Merzbow is experimental noise but, in my book, would count as more industrial than most on this list, and Merzbow can be amazing (listen to Bariken)! Nurse with Wound is another favorite - check out Thunder Perfect Mind!

7 Static X Static-X formed in Los Angeles in 1994. The band had many lineup changes, but the main vocalist and guitarist throughout has been frontman Wayne Static. Other well-known members of Static-X include Tony Campos (bassist), Ken Jay (drummer), and Koichi Fukuda (guitarist). The final lineup of Static-X... read more

Static X has taken influence from bands such as Ministry and Prong and has blended in a fuse of Korn influence. However, this doesn't automatically make Static X Nu Metal. Their amazing catchy riffs (WDT) and their belly blasting guitar solos (Cannibal) are sure to knock Marilyn Manson's socks off.

So, laugh out loud, Rammstein fans! Classic Industrial all the way!

Static-X, have you ever heard their music? God, their music should be up there next with Nine Inch Nails. They are very good with many songs. The best album in my eyes is "Beneath... Between... Beyond..."

8 Godflesh Godflesh are an English industrial metal band from Birmingham, England. The group formed in 1982 under the title Fall of Because, but did not release any complete music until 1988 when Justin Broadrick and G. C. Green renamed the band and decided to use a drum machine for percussion.

Agreed. Godflesh should be in the top 3. The fact that they aren't in the top ten is just indicative.

They are really good and they deserve better. Should be top 5 or higher.

This list is so bad that it even includes non-industrial bands. First should be Turmion Kätilöt, second - Godflesh.

9 Fear Factory Fear Factory is an American industrial metal band that was formed in 1989. During the band's career, it has released nine full-length albums and has evolved through a succession of styles, including industrial metal, death metal, groove metal, and thrash metal.

I'm baffled on how these guys are so far down. They are heavy and dark, yes, but industrially, they've got the core down and know what they are doing. Great music, great band, deserves more recognition.

These guys should be number 1. They've been around for 25+ years and have been pumping out countless gems throughout the years. They're still at it and as good as ever, even with the lineup changes and controversies.

How is the band sitting at 36? Maybe a bit too dark and heavy, not sure. But one hell of a band, seen them live twice and wasn't disappointed either time.

10 Mushroomhead Mushroomhead is an American nu metal band from Cleveland, Ohio. Formed in 1993 in the Cleveland Warehouse District, the band is known for their avant-garde sound which includes influence from heavy metal, art rock and electro-industrial and their imagery which features masks and costumes as well as... read more

The best industrial band of all time should rank way higher. Mushroomhead has dominated the underground for many years and deserves much better. They work very hard on what they do and are very good live. They don't just have the looks, they have the sound to back it up.

The best. They are the most creative, using rap, metal, industrial, and techno to create a sound that is all their own.

Mushroomhead is easily the best industrial band, both thematically and sound-wise.

The Contenders
11 KMFDM KMFDM is an industrial band led by German multi-instrumentalist Sascha Konietzko, who founded the group in 1984 as a performance art project.

One must distinguish between early KMFDM and recent KMFDM. Prior to their temporary breakup, KMFDM truly stood apart from other industrial groups in their complete disregard for accepted musical norms (i.e., What Do You Know, Deutschland), and their desire to genuinely embrace the spirit of industrial rock and counterculture. Not many bands, certainly not any ranked above KMFDM on this list, had the guts to do that, as shown by their overwhelming dependence on pop-like music.

Other bands may be catchy, accessible, and easy to listen to, but KMFDM and Coil ought to be at the top of this list. Anyone who thinks otherwise is simply a fan of pop-industrial.

12 Oomph! Oomph! is a German industrial metal band formed in Wolfsburg, Germany in 1989. The band is considered the pioneers of the German Neue Deutsche Härte movement.

As others have said, Oomph! deserves to be higher up on the list as they have actually inspired a lot of bands on this list, including Rammstein! They may not be as well known as some of the other bands here, but they definitely deserve more recognition. My life wouldn't be the same without Oomph!

They're original. They're the first Industrial metal band. They created the NDH. They're Oomph! and many people should know them. Oomph! sounds completely different on each album and that's why they're so awesome. The best German NDH / Industrial metal band from my point of view.

13 Sybreed

That is, in my opinion, what Industrial Metal is all about!

Brilliant band from Switzerland. The whole Antares album is amazing.

Probably the most underrated band ever...

14 Filter Filter is an American alternative rock band formed in 1993 in Cleveland, Ohio by singer Richard Patrick and guitarist/programmer Brian Liesegang.

I discovered Filter years ago and haven't heard anything similar to their style since then. Richard Patrick is a god at songwriting. Every single song so far just blew me away! Especially the first two albums, Short Bus and Title of Record, will make you love this band!

Filter is another band that should be on here. Richard Patrick from NIN quit and formed Filter, which is an Industrial Alternative band. It should be on here and has been influential since the 90s.

Filter still is second to Skinny Puppy, which means they're the second goddamn best band!

15 White Zombie White Zombie was an American heavy metal band that formed in 1985. Based in New York City, White Zombie was originally a noise rock band, and was known for its later heavy metal-oriented sound.
16 Depeche Mode Depeche Mode are an English electronic and synth-pop band formed in 1980 in Basildon, Essex. The group's original line-up consisted of Dave Gahan, Martin Gore, Andy Fletcher, and Vince Clarke.

Of course, they are industrial! You are concentrating on harder rock, but DM were pioneers of this sound back in the 80s. With Violator, they have one of the best albums ever. So much narrow margin needs comments on here and music snobbery.

17 Gravity Kills

Gravity Kills is the only industrial band besides Tool and Ministry I can really get into, so I might not be qualified to say that they're the best one ever. Even so, the songs "Drown," "Alive," and "Guilty" had a very profound effect on me when I was a little kid, not least because two of them were in Test Drive Offroad 2, and I played the heck out of that game. Gravity Kills indeed kills it.

Gravity Kills is one hell of a band with a raw sound, and they rock it hard by pouring their blood, sweat, and tears into their music! Perversion was an incredible experimental album with provocative themes, growling guitar, and badass keyboards. Superstarved was an amazing ride as well. Gravity Kills needed to come back to the scene yesterday! *Ladyaslan

18 Combichrist

As much as I LOVE Rammstein, Combichrist has somewhat surpassed them in the favorite industrial bands category. But I still love Rammstein and always will! Even though I haven't seen them live yet, just from watching concert footage, I can tell just how awesome Combichrist is! Their music is just epic. No other industrial band gets my blood pumping like Combichrist does!

Absolutely, the most underrated industrial band I have ever heard. Their music is an 'audio energy pill!' It's difficult to run or workout to this music without feeling so 'amped,' that I could either run a 5-minute mile or end up in the emergency room!

19 Velvet Acid Christ

I love industrial music. I like it dark and electronic. I like noise and static.

A lot of these bands have influenced the industrial scene. Whether or not they can be defined by a genre label is not for me to say. I will say that I consider most, if not all, of these bands industrial. Some more so than others.

I found Velvet Acid Christ to be the band I relate to the most. The music is consistently richly layered with a dark, electronic sound, whilst continuing to vary and grow with each release.

20 Celldweller Celldweller is a Detroit, Michigan-based electronic rock project by multi-musician Klayton. Klayton creates a hybrid fusion of digital and organic elements: designed soundscapes that take cues from electronic genres like drum and bass, electro, and dubstep, woven together with aggressive rock/metal... read more

Oh... All you sad people who have never heard of Celldweller. I feel very sorry for you. As someone who has taken "Industrial" to a whole new level that nobody ever got close to, Celldweller should be right up there with Nine Inch Nails and Marilyn Manson. Oh, and what is Bullet for My Valentine doing on this list?

Just a truly great band. I mean, this is a list of truly amazing bands, but I have to vote for Celldweller over these huge bands in just some small attempt to get at least one person to look them up. They're truly a great band, and Klayton is a terrific vocalist with some great lyrics worth anyone's time to listen to them. I cannot recommend this band enough.

21 Powerman 5000

An all-round amazing band. Great lyrics, great sound, great art, great energy. I love the sci-fi theme too. Definitely one of my all-time favorites.

Fantastic band. Definitely top ten for me.

22 Swans Swans are an American experimental rock band formed in 1982 by singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Michael Gira.

Swans aren't specifically an industrial band, but if you look into their output in the 80s with albums like Filth, Cop, Greed, and Holy Money, you can definitely hear those industrial sounds that would later be cited as an influence by bands like Tool, Godflesh, Earth, Sunn O))), and Neurosis. Incredibly influential and definitely deserves a higher rating.

23 Deadsy
24 The Birthday Massacre The Birthday Massacre is a Canadian dark wave and synth rock band currently consisting of Chibi (vocals), Rainbow (guitar), Falcore (guitar), Owen (keyboard), Rhim (drums) and Nate Manor (bass), that formed in 1999 (even though the 2016 demo collection "Imagica" dates some tracks back at 1998). Originally... read more

Talented group from Toronto. Chibi has a beautiful and ethereal voice, but I wouldn't consider TBM industrial. Excellent they are, industrial they are not. They're goth if you want an easy label to describe them with.

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