Power electronics (music genre)

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Power electronics (also known as heavy electronics) is a subgenre of noise and industrial music, characterized by static, screeching waves of feedback, analogue synthesizers, sub-bass pulses and high frequency squealing sounds.

Contents

Notable acts include Whitehouse, Ramleh, Consumer Electronics, Pharmakon and Purient.

Characteristics

Power electronics is generally atonal and features a lack of conventional melody or rhythm. To match its sonic excess, it often includes thematic and visual content that might be considered extreme, whether in lyrics, artwork, or live performance. The genre sometimes involves screamed, distorted vocals, alongside the use of analogue synthesizers, and static screeches of feedback. It has been known to invite visceral reactions from both listeners and critics. [1] Power electronics is related to the early Industrial Records scene, but later releases had more in common with noise music. [2]

Etymology

The name of the genre was coined by William Bennett of Whitehouse as part of the sleeve notes to their 1982 album Psychopathia Sexualis. Tellus Audio Cassette Magazine produced a compilation compact cassette tape called Power Electronics in 1986 that was curated by Joseph Nechvatal. [3] [4] [5] [6]

Death industrial

Death industrial (also known as dark noise) is a subgenre of power electronics characterized by a dense atmosphere, low-end drones, harsh loops and screamed and/or distorted vocals. It can be differentiated from power electronics by a slower, more atmospheric and less abrasive sound reminiscent of dark ambient. Acts described as death industrial include Brighter Death Now, Atrax Morgue and Genocide Organ.

See also

References

  1. Fight Your Own War: Power Electronics and Noise Culture, Jennifer Wallis (Editor), Headpress Books, 2016, pp. 4-5
  2. Whitehouse, Allmusic bio. Access date: March 15, 2009.
  3. Tellus #13 – Power Electronics (1986)
  4. "William Bennett Explains His Career, From the Power Electronics of Whitehouse to the Rabid African Rhythms of Cut Hands - self-titled". 2015-08-13. Retrieved 2025-09-19.
  5. "Cut Hands Has the Solution: An interview with William Bennett". Telekom Electronic Beats. 2013-08-07. Retrieved 2025-09-19.
  6. Quietus, The (2011-10-18). "More Than The Mind Can Take: An Interview With Cut Hands". The Quietus. Retrieved 2025-09-19.