Coil, for being the link between Throbbing Gristle, Psychic TV, mid 80s crap, and a complete reinvention in the 90s towards electronica, glitch.

Current 93 bitches!

At last, someone talking sense. Well, kind of.

Finally got to see them live a couple of weeks ago, after about 10 years of being a Current 93 obsessive. An unbelievable experience, the sheer quality and power of the music live is awe inspiring.

Gutted I missed Jandek though, who played a day later, that would have earned me uber-geek cred.

I am becoming a Current 93 obsessive myself.
Here are the runners up in no order at all:
Einsturzende Neubauten
Coil
Throbbing Gristle
Death in June
Skinny Puppy
Chrome

Agree with Pops, about Einstürzende Neubauten.


The next 4 in order would be

Skinny Puppy
Current 93
Coil
Throbbing Gristle

A lot of groups on that poll aren't even Industrial.

So which of the proper industrial artists is your favorite than?

Honestly, if it's an experimental musician working with electronics, creating somewhat dark, atmospheric, disturbing music, and having at least some sort of vague connection with the post-punk movement, I think Industrial's as applicable as any label you might choose...

I chose Throbbing Gristle to be the best.

However, your description, "an experimental musician working with electronics, creating somewhat dark, atmospheric, disturbing music, and having at least some sort of vague connection with the post-punk movement", can apply to Goth, non-industrial experimental, or even a genre unto itself.

I consider groups like Skinny Puppy, Haujobb, etc., not to be "Industrial", but "Industrial Dance", a genre far-removed from TG, NON, Monte Cazzaza, early Controlled Bleeding, etc.

Sorry, I'm a purist!

It'd be hard to classify Skinny Puppy purely as "Industrial Dance" though, wouldn't it? Sure, Bites is almost EBM, but you couldn't see many people dancing to "Cleanse, Fold and Manipulate" or "Too Dark Park", their sound was way too muddy (in a good way) and layered to be 'dance'.

Good to see someone else who knows their stuff about industrial hanging around the boards

Good choice, although I'd be interested in hearing your definition of Industrial, as you haven't provided one in response to mine yet.

In general, I don't pretend to be an expert on "industrial", and am only a rabid fan of a good handful of artists associated with the style -- and not to offend anyone, but I find the whole sub-label to be rediculous, really. Considering its many offshoots and excursions into popular music, I think the term has lost most of its original meaning, if indeed there was one to begin with. As far as I care to think about it, it's just experimental rock music that followed the logical path layed out by early Kraut-Rock bands.

But of course, this is just my thinking and I very well could be full of shit.