EBM is electronic body music. As the name suggests, it is characterised by electronic music. It is usually quite aggressive and consists of chants reminiscent of military drill. In the jargon, this is called "shouting". In reality, it feels like being shouted at. Mostly, however, the "singing" is electronically distorted and blends into the danceable rhythm. The forefathers of the genre are bands like Front242 and Nitzer Ebb, who still perform at festivals today. The original fan base consisted of skinheads, punks and hooligans. The mood at concerts was as aggressive as the music itself. Maybe that's why the EBM representatives mainly gathered a male audience around them.
In the course of time, other bands helped themselves to the sounds and mixed them with more tolerable tones. Depeche Mode, for example. EBM music also influenced other styles of music such as techno or goa-trance music and industrial rock. Today, EBM bands like Spetsnaz and Front Line Assembly cater to EBM fans. Visually, bands and audiences are reminiscent of military outfits with combat boots and uniforms, or at least camouflage colours and military trousers. Female fans are still rare. But they still dance excessively to the music. After all, it already challenges the body by name.
