How would you rank the NIN knockoff bands of the 90’s?

Question

Might as well continue last week’s theme regarding industrial music. It got me thinking about all these great bands, most of who are no longer together. I chose these five because they were the ones that got discovered right after Pretty Hate Machine came out. Here’s how I’d rank them.

Machines of Loving Grace – Three incredible albums then done. Remind me to list this band the next time one of those group reunion questions come up.
Gravity Kills – Never were able to sustain success after their hit first album. Then again, this is no surprise since TVT Records, the ones that managed to destroy WaxTrax!, signed them.
Stabbing Westward – Probably had the most name recognition.
Course of Empire – Flew under the radar but had one of the angriest songs I’ve ever heard, Infested! Also had their career derailed by TVT.
Filter – After their first album, they drifted away from their Trent-ness and veered into Dawson’s Creek territory with that awful song, Take a Picture.

Dani G - It was like Richard Patrick was taken over by some alien pod. You would like COE for certain.

amancalledj – GLU is a very worthy addition. I know the version of Infested you’re talking about, I think that was the Darwin Goodman remix.

Sookie - Your GED for industrial music has just been mailed, congrats. Good call on MOLG. Imagine if every band we grew up with had an acronym for a name!

Answer 1

Stabbing Westward would be at the top of the NIN-knockoff list for me. They were clearly NIN wanna-bes, but they were very good at what they did. Songs like "Throw", "Shame" and "Waking Up Beside You" have so much emotion that they still give me chills. I also really liked Christopher Hall's 4 song EP by his new band The Dreaming. It's sounds like old SW, but they recently put out a newer EP that sounds more emo.

Filter - Their debut album was both creepy and excellent. All the songs sounded the same but most of them stood strong on their own. Their next 2 albums were very radio friendly, but I still enjoyed them. After 4 years, I was expecting something a bit different on the 2nd album.

Gravity Kills - A good band that I got into before their debut had even been released. That first album was very solid, the 2nd album was ok but sounded like left-overs from the debut. I bought the final album and barely listened to it, I guess by that point I had lost interest.

Course Of Empire - Unlike the previously mentioned bands, I didn't discover these guys through radio or late-night MTV. I found their album while I was working at a CD store, the cover alone lead me to believe they'd be like KMFDM. I put it on and liked it instantly.

Machines Of Loving Grace - I never did buy any albums from these guys but I always wanted to, as I was very impressed with their song on "The Crow" soundtrack.

What about God Lives Underwater? The only thing I ever bought was their self-titled EP but I really enjoyed it.

Answer 2

I wasn't big into Machines of Loving Grace, I was young and more interested in Stabbing Westward, cause Chris was pretty, hey I said I was young! I thought Stabbing Westward was one of the best knock off bands, they were pretty great for like 2 and 1/2 albums. Anything over one for a lot of those knock-offs was pretty phenomenal.

Filter, had a great bit of promise, but then they really screwed it up... Richard should have went and hung out with Trent before he started writing each album, seriously, so that he could be reminded of what he needed to do.

Gravity Kills, the movie Se7en put them on the map for me... I heard them on the soundtrack, and bought the album, fortunately it was one of those Columbia House things so I wasn't out too much money. I listened to the album, but mostly only 3 songs, and 3 songs does not make a career... especially when you are trying to follow in the footsteps of NIN. The album after that was abysmal, so they lost me as fast as they won me.

I would chalk up some of Fear Factory's fame to the knock-off time period... They were definitely industrial on those first few albums, but it all went south after the Cars cover... They changed their formula and it just wasn't that great.

Answer 3

In the 90's I was pretty devoted to NIN but I did give some of the above mentioned bands a try...

Stabbing Westward - while they were fairly mainstream (almost like the Goo Goo Dolls of industrial music) I couldn't resist their charms what with all the songs about bad relationships...since I was very familiar with that at the time.
Gravity Kills - A friend of mine who hated Stabbing Westward strongly suggested I check this band out. I was very pleased with what I heard but unfortunately they didn't hold my attention too long - back to Nine Inch Nails I go.
Machines of Loving Grace - I absolutely love the track they had on the soundtrack for The Crow but that the extent of my interest in them.

Honestly, I can't stand Filter and I don't believe I've ever heard Course of Empire.

I did get into Pitchshifter in the late 90's but they had the staying power of Gravity Kills for me - Hello Trent? It's me again.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sGcdcVblZ-8

Answer 4

I love the Machines of Loving Grace album Concentration. Excellent. What happened to those guys? I wasn't too keen on any of those other bands though (an OK single or two). I'd add God Lives Underwater possibly. Their album Life in the So-Called Space Age is pretty good.

I do remember Course of Empire. I liked the song "Infested." There was an awesome remix that used to play with a bunch of horns.

Answer 5

No they are not. They only lasted 10 years! Granted, they certainly helped revolutionise what music is and what it means to people (amongst others it has to be said!). The title of the best band ever can only go to one group - The Rolling Stones. They were doing the same as the Beatles at the time, ie inventing a new type of music and taking the world by storm, the most notable difference that they are still going today - they've been going for nearly 50 (yes, fifty!) years!! The Beatles were great, but I'm sorry, the Stones piss on them!

Answer 6

I couldnt stand any of them especially Gravity Kills they sucked,some stabbing westward was ok,I only liked some Manson and he was Trent's puppet for the longest time,Orgy had sort of an industrial sound and liked some of that but NIN was of their own mold,Pretty Hate Machine was something else in my opinion and nothing can mimic it no matter how hard they try,the original will always sound the best,Course Of Empire was pretty good but I never got to really give them a good listen but what I heard was'nt bad,god I hated that song Picture too,some Filter was ok but I never wanted to own any of it especially that album,Pretty Hate Machine was a great album and none of these will be able to compare to it

Answer 7

Alright, I just took my crash course in NIN copycat bands and I decided that I like Machines of Loving Grace the best. Stabbing Westward was OK too.

If God Lives Underwater had made the list, they would have gotten my vote.

Answer 8

I definitely agree with your ranking for the most part........I have never heard any of Course of Empire's material, so I can't make a judgment on that. Machines of Loving Grace is awesome definitely becoming one of my favorite industrial bands (seeing that I discovered them about 2 weeks ago).

bwhahahahaha........Filter........ Dawson's Creek ........I'm dying over here......