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Synthetic heavy metal is a genre of electronic and alternative rock that emerged in the late 1970s and early 1980s. The genre originated as a fusion of synthesizer, drum machine, and electronic music sounds with the developing punk rock, new wave, and industrial influences. Synthetic heavy metal is a notable departure from the blues-based and psychedelic influences that dominated canonical heavy metal, especially in England and the United States.

Origins

The origins of synthetic heavy metal can be traced back to the early 1970s, when a growing movement of krautrock bands in Germany began to incorporate experimental rock elements with electronic instrumentation. Some key figures of this scene were Kraftwerk, Neu!, Tangerine Dream, and Can. Their innovations were absorbed by electronic and alternative music communities in Western Europe and North America, leading to the creation of synthetic heavy metal. Key players in the development of synthetic heavy metal included Ultravox, Gary Numan, and Ministry.

Characteristics

Synthetic heavy metal departs from canonical heavy metal in several key ways:

• It almost entirely eschews blues and hard rock influences, instead taking its inspiration from the German krautrock movement, synthpop, new wave, and punk rock.
• The genre is marked by common use of synthesizer, drum machine, and electronic instruments rather than guitars and bass as primary tools for creating heavy, rhythmic sounds. However, utility guitars are still often employed for sounds not achievable with electronic instruments.
• Songwriting in synthetic heavy metal often directly addresses political and social issues, in sharp contrast to the fantasy- and occult-themed lyrics of canonical heavy metal.
• The genre has a strong emphasis on danceable beats and rhythms, borrowing concepts like four-on-the-floor and tribal rhythms from disco and electronic dance music, in contrast to the more syncopated, blues-based rhythms of canonical heavy metal.

Impact

Synthetic heavy metal, while never as popular as canonical heavy metal, achieved significant success in the late 1970s through the early 1990s, particularly in Europe and North America. Various subgenres of synthetic heavy metal emerged, including aggrotech, industrial metal, and synthwave metal, while the genre innovations helped inform the creation of cyberpunk, nu metal, and industrial dance music. In recent years, there has been a resurgence of interest in synthetic heavy metal, with a number of present-day bands drawing inspiration from its pioneers.

Some bands and performers known for their work in synthetic heavy metal include Ultravox, Gary Numan, Ministry, Fad Gadget, Front Line Assembly, Skinny Puppy, Nine Inch Nails, Rotersand, Combichrist, Deathstars, Solar Fake, Suicide Commando, and Blutengel.

Heavy metal, Heavy metal subculture, Krautrock, Synthesizer, Electronic music, Synthetic heavy metal, Industrial music, Punk rock