Founded in New York in 1991 by DJ and producer Lenny Dee, Industrial Strength Records began in a Brooklyn basement. Its debut 12-inch paired Mescalinum United’s “We Have Arrived” with The Mover’s “Frontal Sickness”; both names were aliases used by Marc Acardipane. The label focuses chiefly on hardcore techno and other hard electronic styles, with some drum and bass along the way. Dee started the imprint to give hard electronic music room to grow and find an audience. Its associated imprints include Industrial Strength Limited, IST, Bastard Loud Records and Industrial Movement.
Its roster has included Disciples of Annihilation, Unexist and The Horrorist. Sei2ure’s “Organ Grinder” appeared in 2011, followed by Gancher & Ruin’s “OBEY” in 2021. Industrial Strength Records issued the compilation 30 Years of Industrial Strength in 2023.
