Pretty Hate Machine is my favorite NIN album. I love the way it combines the darker side of synth-pop with touches of the industrial rock sound that NIN perfected on their later albums. A big part of the appeal is how well-composed and song-oriented it is. I’ve tried finding similar music, but most other industrial music from that era tends seems to favor metal riffs, hard EDM beats, and/or experimental soundscapes over the things I love about Pretty Hate Machine. Maybe I’m looking in the wrong place, since what I’m after is arguably closer to Violator than The Downward Spiral, let alone Ministry. Any recommendations are appreciated.
Give Sister Machine Gun a whirl. Chicago pop-industrial. I don't know if this their biggest song, it just popped up first in YouTube. But they had some minor hit back in the day that was pretty good.
You might like vnv nation, more darker synths.... VNV Nation - Epicentre - YouTube Honour 2003 - YouTube
pride and fall turn the lights on (ginger snap5 remix) Pride And Fall - Turn The Lights On (Ginger Snap5 Remix) - YouTube i wither Pride And Fall - I Wither [best audio] - YouTube the violence in me Pride And Fall - The Violence In Me [Official Music Video] - YouTube
project pitchfork timekiller Timekiller (restored version) - Project Pitchfork - HD version 2011 - official - YouTube
And One's Joke Jay put out a pretty good double album a couple years ago. A tad rougher/organic than his parent's synth-pop styling's.
Try the solo albums by oHgr from Skinny Puppy. His main band is weird and abrasive, but Welt and Sunnypsyop are downright accessible and dancey. You already mentioned Depeche Mode of course, but if you don't already know them, listen to Ultra and Songs of Faith and Devotion. You can feel them pushing in a harder-edged direction on those albums.
I second the recommendation for Songs of Faith and Devotion. I like Ultra as well, but feel like only the first song really fits with what the OP is looking for.
I was just thinking, an album close to violator with almost every track brilliant. electronic : electronic some distant memory Electronic - Some Distant Memory - YouTube getting away with it Electronic - Getting Away With It (1989 Official Music Video) [HD Upgrade] - YouTube the patience of a saint Electronic - A Patience of a Saint - YouTube
More vnv nation, I would say they are my favourite behind depeche mode. wait from the new album VNV Nation - Wait (single edit) - YouTube further Further - YouTube all our sins VNV Nation - All Our Sins (Samsara) - YouTube
Trent Reznor cited Black Celebration specifically as a major influence on Pretty Hate Machine. Music for the Masses also mines a similar vein, though is slightly slicker thanks to David Bascombe's production.
Oh, wow! The whole “TV Sky” album is terrific and I loved the concert I saw in a really small club on the…. was it called “Live Sky Tour”? They always were a great live act but those 1992 shows were foking explosive!
