SYNTH ROCK

'Synth rock' is a descriptive phrase applied to the work of a variety of musical artists. Principally, these artists share in the use of intentionally artificial sounds, produced through synthesizers, samplers and drum machines. The term "Synth rock" also serves as a musical genre classification, but synth rock music can also be categorized under different genres. Synth Rock closely resembles and is related to Synth Pop.

Contents

1970s

1980s

1990s

2000s

Bands

See also

1970s

By the late 1960s, the synthesizer, originally a very large and complex instrument, had become streamlined enough that it was easy to transport. Several progressive rock groups began using the synthesizer expressly for the unique range of sounds available from the instrument. These artists included Yes and Emerson, Lake and Palmer and their keyboardists, Rick Wakeman and Keith Emerson, respectively.
The Germany-based Krautrock scene also developed an affinity for synthesizers during the 70s, and many of the artists went on to become pioneers of purely electronic music. While many, such as Kraftwerk, did not hang on to their rock background, others, such as Tangerine Dream, did. Their version of synth-rock contrasts to the sort played by the largely English progressive rock groups in that it is principally electronic with rock influences rather than vice versa. While it was the rock-based form that had a larger influence on the development of synth rock during the next decade, electronic guitar remains a staple in 70s-inspired electronic music of the "Berlin School" variety.

1980s

The growth of a variety of "underground" music scenes and the increasing availability and ease-of-use of synthesizers and other electronic musical instruments led to many more bands conspicuously using synthesizers. Some acts used electronic instruments almost exclusively. Many musicians were described as synth rock artists and many other genres had prominent artists that used synthesizers.
'Bands':

★ A Flock of Seagulls

★ Cabaret Voltaire

★ Depeche Mode

★ Duran Duran

★ Devo

★ Men Without Hats

★ New Order

★ Gary Numan

★ Shriekback

★ Ultravox
'Genres'

★ New Wave

★ Synth pop

★ Industrial music

★ Goth Rock

★ Dance-punk

1990s

In the 1990s, synth rock drew its style from combinations of '80s New Wave, '80s/'90s industrial music, glam rock, gothic rock and heavy metal.
The overall sound has also been termed "Death pop," "Shock pop," "Cyber glam," "Techno goth," "Undercore," "Wave metal" and "Cyber-punk," by various people.
The music is marked by intricate guitar processing, as well as the use of guitar synthesis (which may also get heavily processed) alongside standard keyboard synthesis. Further, many synth rock bands prefer to use electronic percussion over normal percussion. Although many synth rock artists will cite industrial bands (such as Skinny Puppy) as influences, this influence tends to be limited to the use of sound effects.
Visually, synth rock tends to borrow heavily from its New Wave heritage, as well as its Glam and Goth heritages, and at times will soak this in futurism. The overall look has its similarities to the Futurepop-driven Cybergoth subculture. Synth rockers have been known to wear heavy, glamorous makeup regardless of gender (Orgy being particularly notorious for this), yet they can also have a slicker, more subtle look (such as The Anix).
A common setup for a synth rock band involves a drummer using an electronic kit, a bassist (with numerous sound effects available, or possibly a bass guitar synthesizer), a guitarist (with a very large quantity of effects to choose from), a MIDI-guitarist (using a guitar as a synth controller, for example using a Roland G-Synth or a Starr Labs Z-Tar) and a keyboard synthesist. Usually, the guitarist or MIDI guitarist will handle vocals.

2000s

In 2007, many bands currently described as "Synth-rock" are heavily or primarily influenced by New Wave music.

Bands

★ Action Action ★ Action Heroes ★ Aerodrone ★ The Anix ★ Angels and Airwaves ★ Apoptygma Berzerk ★ Athena's Demise ★ The Automatic ★ Aurasis ★ The Birthday Massacre ★ BLAZER ★ Boy Kill Boy ★ The Bravery ★ The Brothers Martin ★ The Bureau ★ Burt ★ Cansei de Ser Sexy ★ Celldweller ★ Cherry2000 ★ Chromeo ★ Club Decease ★ Crack ov dawn ★ cUM

★ Daft Punk ★ Dead Inside the Chrysalis ★ Deadstar Assembly ★ Deadsy ★ Death from Above 1979 ★ Ejectorseat ★ Enter Shikari ★ Flirting Through Violence ★ Good Charlotte ★ Hotels ★ Julien-K ★ Kasabian ★ Kill Hannah ★ The Killers ★ Kubrick ★ Linkin Park ★ Lycosia ★ Mute Math ★ The Network ★ Nine Inch Nails ★ Orgy ★ Paradise Lost

★ Philler ★ Polysics ★ Porn ★ The Process Void ★ Project Pitchfork ★ Red this ever ★ Rockbot ★ Rome to Paris ★ The Run ★ Sexydeath ★ Silverbullit ★ The Sounds ★ Splean ★ Theswimmingpools ★ Theatre of Tragedy ★ Trans Am ★ Vanity Beach ★ Wired All Wrong ★ Y Front ★ Young Love ★ Zeromancer

See also

★ Electronic music

★ Can

★ Neu

★ Tangerine Dream

★ Kraftwerk

★ Deadsy

★ Orgy

★ Vanity Beach