chemlab

The band

As said by the wonderful editors at Wikipedia;

Chemlab is an American industrial rock band formed in Washington D.C. in 1989 by Dylan Thomas More, Joe Frank, and Jared Louche (then known as Hendrickson). Influenced by the pioneers of the industrial genre, such as Throbbing Gristle, Chemlab mixed experimental sounds with rock and metal within an electronic framework. They released their first EP 10 Ton Pressure (1990), parted ways with Frank and moved to New York City, their base for the duration of their career. Chemlab released their debut album Burn Out at the Hydrogen Bar in 1993 and toured with acts such as White Zombie, KMFDM, Nine Inch Nails, 16volt, and GWAR.

Thoughts

A long while ago, I first discovered Chemlab (and industrial and post-industrial music) through, believe it or not, a Roblox group..! Both the name and icon of it interested me, and thinking that it was a clothing group, I clicked on it. Just to find out that it was a fan group for a band a few searches later.

I listened to the first few tracks of East Side Militia at that time, but I didn't get into the band and music until late April/early May 2025, which is also when I started getting into the industrial and post-industrial genres as a whole. Ever since then, though, I think I've become a pretty big fan of Chemlab!! ^_^

Not sure how to describe it, but I live for Chemlab's sound. I love the vocals, the musical layering, and how pleasantly noisy/crunchy/whatever-the-fuck-you-call-it every song is. Not to mention their cover art has a pretty distinct style too. It's great. You agree with that statement. I'm sure of it.

EPs

10 Ton Pressure (1990)

Cover art of 10 Ton Pressure.
EP
Released: 1990
Genre: Industrial
Label: Fifth Colvmn
Producers: Hilary Bercovici, Joe Frank, Jared Louche, Dylan Thomas Moore

Tracklist

  1. Filament
  2. suture
  3. I Still Bleed
  4. Blunt Force Trauma
  5. Black Radio (In the Neon Blur)
  6. suture

Magnetic Film Records (1994)

Cover art of Magnetic Film Records.
EP
Released: October 11, 1994
Studio: Chicago Trax Recording Studio
Genre: Industrial rock
Label: Fifth Colvmn/Metal Blade
Producers: Hilary Bercovici, Joe Frank, Jared Louche, Dylan Thomas Moore

Tracklist

  1. Chemical Halo (Bruised Regeneration)
  2. 21st Century (Rough Sex Demo)
  3. Chemical Halo (Drag-Strip Download)
  4. Codine, Glue and You"(Scorched Remix)
  5. Filament/Suture
  6. I Still Bleed
  7. Blunt Force Trauma
  8. Black Radio (In the Neon Blur)/Suture

The Machine Age (2003)

Cover art of The Machine Age.
EP
Released: 2003
Genre: Industrial, industrial rock
Label: Underground, Inc./Underground Incorporated Records

Tracklist

  1. Monkey God
  2. Suture
  3. Binary Nation (Renegade Mix)
  4. Exile On Mainline (NYC Mobile Unit Demo)
  5. Suture
  6. Electric Molecular (NYC Mobile Unit Demo)

Albums

Burn Out at Tte Hydrogen Bar (1993)

Cover art of Burn Out at the Hydrogen Bar.
Studio Album
Released: March 22, 1993
Studio: Chicago Trax Recording Studio
Genre: Industrial rock, industrial metal
Label: Fifth Colvmn/Metal Blade
Producers: Jeff "Critter" Newell, Jared Louche, Dylan Thomas Moore

Tracklist

  1. suture
  2. Codeine, Glue and You
  3. Suicide Jag
  4. suture
  5. Rivet Head
  6. Derailer
  7. suture
  8. Summer of Hate
  9. suture

Rating: 9/10

I like how First Suture basically rips into my eardrums. It jumpscared me the first time I listened to the album, and now it's just a fun little surprise I hear everytime I replay it. It's all in good fun to me. :) (And it is good fun!)

So many of the songs here are great!! I can't seem to pick a favorite.. I'm mainly stuck between Chemical Halo and Suicide Jag! They're both satisfying to listen to and catchy!! I can't be pitting two bad bitches against each other!!!

Not a lot of people seem to talk about nor hype up this album and it really is such a shame. Well, either that or I have to hang around more cool people... O(-(

East Side Militia (1996)

Cover art of East Side Militia.
Studio Album
Released: October 8, 1996
Studio: Chicago Trax Recording Studio
Genre: Industrial rock, electronica
Label: Fifth Colvmn/Metal Blade
Producers: Jeff "Critter" Newell, Jared Louche, Dylan Thomas Moore

Tracklist

  1. Exile on Mainline
  2. Jesus Christ Porno Star
  3. Vera Blue (96/69)
  4. Pyromance
  5. Lo-Grade Fever
  6. Electric Molecular
  7. Latex
  8. Pink
  9. Exiled ("Suck On This" Mix)

Rating: 10/10

A contender for my favorite album of all time!! :D

I consider this album to be my proper introduction to post-industrial, since it served as basically a gateway into me discovering other bands and communities that like industrial music, so it means quite a lot to me.

My favorite song on here has to be Latex!! I'm a huge fan of the screaming, almost strained and exhausted vocals, and how the instrumental doesn't overpower it nor is overpowered by it.

Other than the wonderful songs, I also just really like the guy on the cover art. I like them and their helmet-covering-half-of-their-face swag...

This album's cover art as a whole is also what I based this shrine's layout on!

Suture (2001)

Cover art of Suture.
Compilation Album
Released: January 23, 2001
Studio: Chicago Trax Recording Studio, Floating Rib Studios
Genre: Industrial rock
Label: Invisible
Producers: Hilary Bercovici, Jeff "Critter" Newell, Jared Louche, Dylan Thomas Moore

Tracklist

  1. Chemical Halo (Bruised Regeneration Mix)
  2. 21st Century (Rough Sex Demo)
  3. Chemical Halo (Drag-Strip Download)
  4. Codeine, Glue and You (Scorched Remix)
  5. Filament
  6. I Still Bleed
  7. Blunt Force Trauma
  8. Black Radio (In the Neon Blur)
  9. Electric Molecular (Death Before Taxes Mix)
  10. Electric Molecular (Instrumental No Taxes Mix)
  11. Electric Molecular (Malignant Mix)
  12. Exile on Mainline (Extended Dance)
  13. Exile on Mainline (Radio)
  14. Jesus Christ Porno Star (Lick-a-Licious Mix)
  15. Static Haze (Lost Suture)

Rating: 8.5/10

I saw a TF2 rendition of the cover art somewhere, once. Good to know that at least one other TF2 fan likes Chemlab as much as I do.

Oxidizer (2004)

Cover Oxidizer.
Studio Album
Released: January 27, 2004
Studio: CrackNation Studios, Fortress Studios
Genre: Industrial rock
Label: Underground Inc.e
Producers: Julian Beeston, Jamie Duffy, Jared Louche, Jason Novak

Tracklist

  1. Pinksuture
  2. Monkey God
  3. White Room Black Eye
  4. suture
  5. Black Snake Voodoo Hiss
  6. Atomic Automatic
  7. Force Quit
  8. Sue
  9. Scornocopia
  10. Megahurts
  11. Binary Nation
  12. Queen of Despair (Ode to the Diode)
  13. suture

Rating: 8/10

If you saw me describe this as my second favorite album once... No it isn't. Not anymore. I was ignorant. BOATHB FTW.

Definitely the most danceable album out of the rest, since it leans more into rock rather than industrial. It has a pretty refined sound to it too.

Out of all the songs here.. I definitely like Black Snake Voodoo Hiss the most.

Rock Whore vs. Dance Floor (2006)

Cover art of Rock Whore vs. Dance Floor.
Remix Album
Released: March 14, 2006
Genre: Industrial rock
Label: Invisible/Underground, Inc.

Tracklist

  1. Monkey God (Monkey Scratch Remix)
  2. Atomic Automatic (Our Glitch Mode Squad Is Dangerous Mix)
  3. Black Snake (Gun Remix)
  4. Scornocopia (Glitchstar Mix)
  5. Binary Nation (Renegade Mix)
  6. White Room (Cash for Oil Remix)
  7. Scornocopia (Scorpio Remix)
  8. Megahurtz (Caliopenis vs. Cocktopus Remix)
  9. Binary Nation (16 Volt Max-Out)
  10. Queen of Despair (Lay Back and Rock Mix)
  11. Megahurtz (mindFIELD Aurora Mix)
  12. Force Quit (Lickthevelvetpouch)
  13. Scornocopia (London Sin-phony Orgasmus Mix)
  14. Binary Nation (Demento Mix)
  15. White Room (Haloblackattack Remix)
  16. Black Snake (TenderBender Mix)
  17. The Moon (Suture Remix)

Tape Decay (2019)

Cover art of Tape Decay.
Compilation Album
Released: September 18, 2019
Genre: Industrial rock
Label: Armalyte Industries

Tracklist

  1. Chemical Halo
  2. Neurozone
  3. Black Station
  4. I Still Bleed
  5. Exile on Mainline (Renegade Mix)
  6. Electric Molecular
  7. Doom Head
  8. Skin Job
  9. Burnout on the East Side
  10. Throw It All Out

Extra Content

Fan creations

A stamp with the album cover of Burn Out at the Hydrogen Bar, on it. A stamp with the album cover of Oxidizer, on it. A stamp with the album cover of East Side Militia, on it.