Known as the first band to use synthetic percussion in a punk rock context, Metal Urbain used heavily distorted guitars, aggressive vocals, a synthesizer, and a drum machine to create some of the most original music of the punk era. Formed in Paris in 1977, this quartet had a unique approach that called into question the very nature of rock & roll itself. Despite their lack of usual rock instrumentation, they aligned themselves with the punk rock scene symbolized by the Sex Pistols, rather than the anti-rock camp of Throbbing Gristle. The elimination of a conventional rhythm section (i.e., acoustic drums and bass) helped to illuminate the possibilities for experimentation within the rock aesthetic and paved the way for further exploration throughout the post-punk era.