Electronic rock bands often incorporate religious and sexually provocative imagery in their magazines and album covers. This genre originated in the West so Christian symbols are most common. Bands like Nine Inch Nails and Depeche Mode have been photographed in sexually suggestive poses. The artists in this genre also present a dark aesthetic through their black clothing and use of "frownies" to appear gloomy. Key instruments of electronic rock include theremins, which produce a wavering sound, and samplers which create drum beats by sampling outside noises. One of the earliest electronic songs was the Doctor Who theme, which used a ring modulator also used to create the Dalek voices. The genre has evolved from simple bass and hook beginnings to

1. By Louis Corbett
ELECTRONIC
ROCK

2. In electro-rock magazines, cover models (who are
usually part of bands that specialise in this genre)
are seen wearing religious paraphernalia, such as
crucifix necklaces or earrings. Since this genre
originates in the west, the main focus for its
religious material is Christianity.
In electro-rock magazines, and also in album cover
material for bands like Depeche Mode and Nine
Inch Nails, band members are seen in sexually
provocative positions. For example, in a particular
issue of Rolling Stone, Nine Inch Nails front man
Trent Reznor is seen wearing a sleeveless shirt and
crouching down whilst looking lustfully into the
camera. In an even more provocative
photo shoot, Depeche
Mode songwriter Martin
Gore is seen shirtless,
wearing nipple rings bound
together by chains, and
other bondage gear.
THE ESSENCE OF ELECTRONIC ROCK…
Sex Religion

3. PRESENTATION OF THE ARTISTS
With themes of religion and the more morbid parts of the human psyche come themes of death and darkness.
This is reflected in the very appearance of the artists who specialise in the genre; they usually wear black leather
or other dark clothing, and wear frownies, which are small pieces of plastic that you place on your forehead to
make yourself frown. These are normally worn during concert or during photo shoots. A prime example of an
electro-rock musician wearing frownies is Andy Fletcher:
This persona and appearance is often reflected in
electro-rock magazines through their primarily dark
Colour pallet, including dark, gloomy text.

4. INSTRUMENTS HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=75V4CLJZME4
Electronic music is clearly recognisable from the instruments which are used: theremins and samplers are
staples of the genre.
Theremins: these instruments create a high pitched, wavy kind of sound (i.e: the recognisable and iconic
‘oooooowwweeeeiiiiooooouuuuuu’ of the Doctor Who theme tune).
Samplers: samplers are not so much instruments as they are tools for creating sounds. Often, electronic
musicians will ‘sample’ noises from the outside world, i.e: bashing metal objects with rocks, in order to create
their drum lines. This creates the heavy, industrial drum sound that is so key to the electro-rock music genre.

5. PURE ELECTRONIC MUSIC AND ITS
CONNECTIONS TO DOCTOR WHO
Of course, electronic rock started with the advent of electronic music. Rock music had existed long before, and
once electronic methods of creating and recording music came about, it was only a question of combining the
two. Really, the first electronic piece of music recorded was the theme tune for Doctor Who. It was recorded on a
four-track in 1963, and was the general public’s first experience of the genre.
Here’s a funny connection: a device called a ring-modulator, the very same one which is used to create the iconic
electronic voice of the Daleks, is what is used to create the distorted effect on electric guitars that we hear in
many electro-rock pieces.

6. EVOLUTION OF THE GENRE
Electro-rock began as a fairly simple and obscure art form. At the genesis of electronic music, only two
instruments were involved: bass and hook. Now, electro-rock includes guitar music, elements of classical
instruments (i.e: strings) and a vast array of artificially generated sounds leading to an awesome and powerful
sound. Electro-rock is now heavy, emotionally driven and capable of moving a person to anger, joy, sadness,
tears, sadness, laughter, sadness and depression. Yes, it’s true that the subject matter of this genre is usually
quite gloomy, but who likes happy music anyways? That’s what pop is for, and we all know how annoying pop
can be.
Artists who helped shape the current identity of electronic rock music include Gary Numan, Depeche mode, Nine
Inch Nails, Kraftwerk, Motor and many others. Oftentimes, the music produced by these excellent artists cannot
be crammed into one category, leading to many different labels such as alternative, synth, synthrock, synthpop,
electronic dance and new wave. Clearly, this genre of music has flourished under the modern atmosphere, and
it’s a damn good thing that it has.