I stepped outside the proverbial box Friday night, catching a show that I might not normally—a local industrial rock act named Subnatural. I'd never heard of them (not a surprise since it's not a genre I keep up with,) but many had as they were selected 5th Best Industrial Rock Band in the 2006 Austin Music Awards.  Plus, the lead singer mentioned the impending Battle of the Bands rock-off they were taking part in a couple days later; turns out they won.

Scheduled as the evening's middle band, the short-lived set (approximately 45 minutes) impressed me—shocking considering I'm a regular listener of the more subdued musical variety, particularly in the singer-songwriter vein. Subnatural proved to be a heavy rock act, but not the kind with scary, deep-throated screaming and rambunctious, unfocused instrumentation. And bonus points (at least in my book) for no blood and guts.

The group's sound encompasses the raw energy of the industrial genre—dynamic rifts, powerful percussion, and keys that add a tangible element to the entire show. Emotional lyrics and an overall easygoing albeit energetic stage presence help explain Subnatural's devout following.

Download some of their songs - personal favorite is "The Rift" - but be aware that their live show sounds best and is a hell of a lot more fun.