What's the best to learn how to make sounds used in dark, electro, industrial type music?

Before I start, the sounds I'm referring to are from artists such as Velvet Acid Christ, Wumpscut, God Module, ect. I can provide examples if needed.

I've been messing around with Ableton for sometime, and I'm having fun just experimenting with different instruments, effects, samples and so on. But I'm starting to wonder how I can get the desired type of sounds for the music I'd like to try and create.

There's 3 different approaches I've been seeing.

1. Learning about synthesis (I've started watching Nick's Tutorial on Operator)

2. Learning how to use different effects to change the sound of the instruments supplied with Ableton.

3. Looking into VSTs that are geared towards certain sounds. A friend of mine has suggested Gladiator.

VSTs seem nice, but just loading up a preset wouldn't really help me learn anything. Plus there's the issue of having money to afford them. I have been messing around with Synth1, which is nice.

I know it's a good idea to learn about everything, effects, synthesis, and anything else I can get my hands on, but I guess I'm trying to find a good starting point to get the desired sounds I'm looking for, and then expand on that.

Thanks for any help you can give me