kidneythieves

The intersection of industrial metal and female-driven rock can be interesting. Such a crossroad is inhabited by Kidneythieves. Primarily a duo consisting of Free Dominguez' vocals and Bruce Somers' engineering talents, the band's uncommon sound earned them some soundtrack notice with only two albums of original music produced. Dominguez' voice may lack the purity and range of some (Evanescence' Amy Lee for example), but the fierce emotion imparted in her lyrics is unrivaled.

"Zerospace" off of the 2002 album of the same name: (mostly work safe)


Kidneythieves first album, Trickster, was released in 1998. Despite its remaster/re-release as Trickstereprocess in 2004, it remains a difficult album to find. Zerospace, released in 2002 by Warner Bros., is readily available (as is its complimentary remix EP Phi in the Sky). As of mid-2008, there has been news of Somers and Dominguez working on a new album. The track "Dark Horse" is available in streaming form at the band's MySpace. The album Fake Western Vista is NOT by this band, but by a different The Kidneythieves.

Eisbrecher

Following in wake of KMFDM's more electronic forays rather than Rammstein's rougher and more popularized sound, fellow German band Eisbrecher has been quietly producing solid albums for the past five years. While less political and less angry than the aforementioned, Eisbrecher is far from a "happy" band. Their music mixes industrial, metal and dance aspects in varying ratios with dark-aspected lyrics...in German, of course.



Eisbrecher recently released their third album Sünde. Unfortunately, unlike their two previous albums, it was not picked up for US distribution. All of their albums are available in CD form through Amazon.com, though Sünde bears the price of an import. It and their second album, Antikörper, are available as MP3 downloads.

Update: 1/12/09 - IsoTank Music announced that Sünde would be released on CD in the US on March 10th.

Machines of Loving Grace

Perhaps the most underrated band of 90s, Machines of Loving Grace released three albums and the single "Golgotha Tenement Blues" from The Crow soundtrack. While MTV Music doesn't have videos by many larger bands, they do have a few for Machines of Loving Grace. Below is "Butterfly Wings" off the 1993 album Concentration.

Machines of Loving Grace |MTV Music

While I could not find Concentration available for easy purchase, Amazon.com has Machines of Loving Grace and Gilt available for DRM-free MP3 download for a modest price.