1990: "Spasmolytic", Skinny Puppy

Rightfully heralded as one of the elite, most influential (electro-) industrial bands of the 80s, Skinny Puppy had long since planted their flag by the dawn of the 90s, establishing themselves as a difficult cult act with no hint of grooming themselves for mainstream success. Too Dark Park turned out to be every bit as murky and inaccessible as their previous records, but it was hard to deny by this point that their songwriting skills had improved immensely since the early minimalism of "The Choke" and "Deep Down Trauma Hounds".

Skinny Puppy - helmed by Nivek Ogre {a.k.a. ohGr) and cEvin Key - extended their agitprop aesthetic into their stage show as well, screening confrontational footage consisting of Iraq war footage and Budd Dwyer's on air suicide amongst other discomforting visuals. The music video for "Spasmolytic" was directed by obscure exploitation auteur Jim Van Bebber, who at that point was known almost solely for the hysterically violent 1988 gang war film Deadbeat at Dawn. Van Bebber and Skinny Puppy... an inspired pairing.