The Top Electronic Body Music Artists

From early pioneers like Kraftwerk to contemporary artists like Skrillex, these are the musicians who have shaped the sound of Electronic Body Music.

What is Electronic Body Music?

Electronic body music, sometimes called industrial dance, EBM, or industrial techno, is a type of electronic music that combines elements of industrial music and synth-pop with a strong danceable beat. This type of music first gained popularity in the 1980s, and has since seen a resurgence in popularity.

There are many different artists who make electronic body music, but some of the most popular include Front 242, Nitzer Ebb, and Kraftwerk. These artists have been at the forefront of the genre, and have influenced many other artists who have come after them. If you’re a fan of electronic body music, or just want to check out some of the best artists in the genre, be sure to check out our list of the top electronic body music artists.

The Beginnings of Electronic Body Music

The first electronic body music artist to ever exist was Kraftwerk, a German band formed in the 1970s. They created a new genre of music that combined aspects of art rock, avant-garde, and electronic music. Kraftwerk’s music was highly influential to many subsequent electronic body music artists.

Kraftwerk

Kraftwerk is a German electronic music band formed in 1970 in Düsseldorf. The group was founded by members Ralf Hütter and Florian Schneider, who were later joined by Wolfgang Flür and Karl Bartos. The band was one of the first to popularize the genre of electronic body music (EBM).

Kraftwerk’s music is characterized by a distinctive robotic sound, with heavy use of synthesizers, drum machines, and vocoders. The band’s iconic status was further cemented with their influential album, The Man-Machine, which was released in 1978. The album contained the now-famous track “The Robots”, which is often cited as a key influence on the development of EBM.

Since their formation, Kraftwerk has released a total of ten studio albums, with their most recent being 2013’s Tour de France Soundtracks. The band has also been credited with inspiring a number of subsequent artists, including Afrika Bambaataa, New Order, Daft Punk, and Franz Ferdinand.

D.A.F.

D.A.F. was a leading German electronic body music (EBM) group from the 1980s. They were one of the first groups to combine elements of Krautrock, punk rock, and electronic music, and their sound was a major influence on subsequent EBM and industrial bands. D.A.F. was formed in 1978 by Gabriel “Gabi” Delgado-López and Robert Görl, who had both been members of the influential punk band Kraftwerk. They released their debut album, Die Kleinen und die Bösen (The Small and the Evil), in 1981, followed by Gold und Liebe (Gold and Love) in 1982. These two albums established D.A.F.’s signature sound, which combined Delgado-López’s half-spoken/half-sung vocals with Görl’s minimalist but propulsive drumming and synthesizer melodies.

D.A.F.’s popularity peaked in the mid-1980s with the release of their fourth album, 1st Step to Heaven (1984), which included the hits “Der Mussolini” and “Alle Gegen Alle.” They disbanded in 1988 but reunited for a series of live performances in 2005-06. D.A.F.’s music has been highly influential on subsequent EBM and industrial bands, including Front 242, Nitzer Ebb, Laibach, Skinny Puppy, Front Line Assembly, Combichrist, Suicide Commando, and VNV Nation.

Nitzer Ebb

Nitzer Ebb is a British electro-industrial band formed in 1982 by Douglas McCarthy and David Gooday. The band’s name comes from the German pseudo-scientific author Nikola Tesla, who wrote a treatise called Nitzsche Kraft und Stoff.

The band was inspired by industrial pioneers such as Throbbing Gristle, Kraftwerk, and Cabaret Voltaire. Nitzer Ebb’s music was characterized by its use of samples, drum machines, and synthesizers to create a dense, powerful sound. The band’s live shows were known for their intensity, with McCarthy often spraying the audience with water or blood.

Nitzer Ebb released their debut album That Total Age in 1987, followed by Industrial Complex in 1989. The album Showtime, released in 1991, featured the singles ” Hearts of Darkness” and “Control I’m Here”. The album Belief followed in 1992.

In 1995, the band signed to Mute Records and released the album Big Hit. The album failed to sell as well as previous releases, and Nitzer Ebb dissolved shortly afterwards. McCarthy and Gooday have since reformed the band and released the albums Getting Closer (2010) and Industrial Discipline (2011).

The Second Wave of Electronic Body Music

Front 242

Front 242 is a Belgian electronic body music band that formed in 1981. The band’s name comes from a story in which two men happen upon a human skull Front 242 – The Skull in a field; one of the men finds the skull interesting and wishes to take it with him, while the other objects, saying “I wouldn’t want to carry that around with me, it’d be like carrying around a burden.”

The band is considered by many to be pioneers of the electronic body music genre. Front 242’s first release was the 1982 EP No Comment, followed by their debut album, Geography, in 1983. The band has released thirteen studio albums, two live albums, and numerous singles and compilations.

Front 242 has had a large influence on subsequent electronic music artists, and their style has been described as “machine-like precision combined with relentless energy.”

Laibach

Laibach is a Slovenian avant-garde music group associated with the industrial music and martial arts subcultures. The group was formed in the city of Trbovlje in 1980 and has since gone on to release a large body of work, including fourteen studio albums, numerous soundtracks, and collaborations with other artists.

Their musical style is a mix of different genres, including rock, pop, electronica, and classical music. They are known for their use of appropriated pop culture references and samples in their work. Laibach has been described as “one of the most important bands to emerge from the post-industrial music scene.”

The group’s name is taken from the German name for the city of Ljubljana (the capital of Slovenia), which was used during the period when Slovenia was part of the Yugoslavian federation.

Front Line Assembly

Front Line Assembly is a Canadian electro-industrial band formed in 1986 by Greg Reely, Rhys Fulber, and Bill Leeb. Based in Vancouver, Front Line Assembly is one of the earliest and most prolific internationally successful industrial music groups. They have released thirteen studio albums and three live albums, seeing widespread commercial success both in North America and abroad. Throughout their career, the band has maintained a balance between mechanized elements of electronic body music and songs with a more pop-influenced sound.

The New Wave of Electronic Body Music

In the early 2010s, a new wave of Electronic Body Music (EBM) artists began to emerge. These artists were influenced by the classic EBM sound of the 1980s, but they also incorporated a variety of other styles into their music. This new wave of EBM artists includes a wide range of artists from different countries and genres.

Combichrist

Founded in 2003 by Norwegian-American musician Andy LaPlegua, Combichrist is a leading figure in the electronic body music (EBM) genre. The band’s signature sound combines elements of industrial, electro and techno to create a powerful and danceable sound that has won them a loyal following around the world.

Combichrist’s albums have topped the charts in both the US and Europe, and the band has toured extensively throughout North America, Europe and Asia. In addition to their work as a band, Combichrist has also composed music for video games and films, including the popular game “Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City”.

If you’re looking for an introduction to the exciting world of EBM, Combichrist is a great place to start.

VNV Nation

VNV Nation is a German-British electronic music duo formed in 1990. The group consists of founders Ronan Harris and Mark Jackson. Their music has been described as “futurepop” and combines elements of synth-pop, trance and industrial.

The duo’s debut album, Progress, was released in 1995 and peaked at number two on the German Albums Chart.Their second album, Empires, was released in 1999 and reached number one on the chart. The follow-up albums Magnum Opus (2002) and Futureperfect (2002) were also both successful, reaching the top five.

In 2008, the band released their fifth studio album Judgement, which charted at number one in Germany and number nine in the United States. The album was followed by a world tour. The band’s most recent studio album, Resonance: Volume 1, was released in 2016.

VNV Nation has headlined numerous festivals including M’era Luna and Wave-Gotik-Treffen. The duo has also toured with acts such as Depeche Mode, Front 242 and Nine Inch Nails.

Assemblage 23

Assemblage 23 is a Seattle-based electronic body music group that was founded in 1989 by Tom Shear. The group has released eight studio albums and numerous singles and compilations. Assemblage 23’s music style can be described as a blend of futurepop, synthpop, and electro-industrial with dark, personal lyrics.