Ice

Ice is a seminal collaborative project between two titans of the UK industrial and electronic underground: Justin Broadrick (Godflesh, Jesu) and Kevin Martin (The Bug, King Midas Sound). Formed in 1989, the project serves as a crucial bridge between the harsh industrial metal of the early 90s and the 'illbient' or experimental hip-hop movements of the late 90s.

Their debut, 'Under the Skin' (1993), was a direct descendant of the Godflesh sound, characterized by punishing drum machines and dissonant guitars. However, their 1998 masterpiece 'Bad Blood' signaled a radical shift toward dub-inflected hip-hop, incorporating guest spots from El-P and Blixa Bargeld. This era of the band is critically regarded as a foundational text for the 'dark hop' aesthetic, influencing the trajectory of labels like Warp and Ninja Tune. The project is defined by its use of extreme low-end frequencies, claustrophobic production, and a cynical, urban-dystopian worldview. While the project has been largely dormant since the late 90s, its DNA persists in the modern UK bass scene and the more aggressive fringes of experimental electronic music.