It’s a return to old school industrial this week as I make the call for “Rivetheads Unite”. These are tried and true songs defining what I call club industrial. I always thought of Neubauten and Throbbing Gristle as real industrial, and these bands made more sense in a club. You won’t find yourself falling asleep to these cuts. A few of these songs were quite controversial in their time and I will try to address those controversies.
because someone should remember it, and I’m tired of being alone…
Power To The Playlist No. 9: RivetHeads Unite!
- Vigilante – Front Line Assembly Millenium
There was such a stink raised on the interwebz when this came out it was stupid. The fact that they dared to use Steve Vai’s [1] guitarist was above and beyond, but they also had the unmitigated gall to put rap on an industrial album! I was just annoyed they chose to start the song with the beginning of Falling Down. Just played the first minute of Falling Down, with nothing else. Feel like they could have maybe played a note, or a noise, or something.
- Blunt Force Trauma – Chemlab Suture
This is not what I usually put after the previous song, but I wanted to try something new. Chemlab is a weird thing for me, I had some issue with them at the time, but now I just hear second string club industrial. I will say that you should not listen to this in traffic, though it’s not as bad as other songs.
- Down (Lords Of Acid Power Remix) – Gravity Kills Manipulated
There are two remixes on this album by the LOA camp. the first one is pure jungle goodness. It’s very good, but then this comes on and you go “wow” Slowing down the drums was a brilliant idea. This is also what I usually put after Vigilante. But to be fair, Gravity Kills still sucks.
- You Had Enough (Ripped Up) – Evil Mothers I Love Fur
The Evil Mothers are one of the greatest bands ever. Their music is amazing, and Martin Atkins did a faboo job of remixing this song. They are playing Chicago in September and I am sorry I will miss them.
- Fear – The Final Cut Consumed
I wonder if the invisible crowd just descended upon the Final Cut in the studio? I was surprised that they did not have the second, and aguably much much much better, album on Spotify. But, this song was not terrible. I love it when Chris Connelly just talks over the music like he owns it. That is good.
- Headhunter V1.0 – Front 242 FRONT BY FRONT
I saw a video of this that was done in video and had some remote controlled helicopter in it. My favorite part of this song, aside from the total lack of standard instruments is the tom roll on the left channel and then the right channel. That amuses me every time.
- The Bog – BiGod 20 Steel Works!
Listen to the lyrics and explain to me how this song will ever survive in the light of day. If you listen to the Duck Hunt song and do not laugh you are not human.
- CrabLouse – Lords Of Acid Private Parts
This another song I remember raising a stink. The belgians are using heavy metal guitars! What the hell is going on? I think it just sounded like an amazing time in the studio. like everyone was just having a whole lot of fun singing a dire warning about pubic crabs.
In Conclusion
What have we learned today?
Not a whole lot. But I have very much enjoyed listening to this playlist and driving around. Take that, industrial.
- Steve Vai had already ruined Public Image Ltd., This was unacceptable at the time.
