FRONT LINE ASSEMBLY - FLAvour of the Weak
Songs: 8  Time:  61:12
I don’t know about you, but I can’t think of a better way to end the year than with a new FLA album.  Although it’s been out for a month now on Off Beat, Metropolis has just recently released it for US consumption.  Let’s start by saying that this is just an extraordinary work from Bill Leeb and new member Chris Peterson.  Chris Peterson isn’t a stranger to the FLA sound since he has worked in the past with Bill Leeb on projects such as Intermix, Synaesthesia, Will (with Rhys Fulber), as well as live shows.  I believe that Bill Leeb’s experimenting with other sounds is present once again and he has been able to incorporate it to perfection in the FLA sound, still to be his most ‘in your face’ project out of all.  There seems to be a lot more rhythm these days in his work which makes the concept of Flavour Of the Weak more unique from past releases.  Corruption is the perfect instrumental intro for the album, full of sound FX, addictive basslines and awesome break beats and drum & bass changes.  Sado-Masochism follows nicely with amazing effects and sound manipulation, something that stands out in this album, besides the rhythm changes.  Auto-Erotic later follows, this one having and outstanding hip hop type beat with amazing analogue sounds and Bill Leeb rap-like the vocals.  Another outstanding thing is his use of vocals on this album with various new effects and at times going back to his roots.  Every song is a masterpiece in itself and addictive as the next.  Although 8 songs, each are lengthy which makes the songs the more interesting, especially since they contain a lot of changes.  They do provide us with an untitled track at the end of Predator, the last song of the album.  We get to hear FLA like never before.  The experimentation that is present is what makes such artists unique; taking something that is familiar like industrial and incorporating other electronic elements. This is what makes FLA innovators.  Bill Leeb has once again left me with pure amazement; he has once again been able to redefine the electronic sound of Front Line Assembly.  I have had it for about a month now, and it is still on the player and I think it will be for a while.  Each listening is as interesting as the next.  Maybe it’s because I’m a big fan, but I would have to say that for me it’s one of the best releases of this year!!!  Flavour of the Weak leaves you at the end wanting more.  We shall sit and wait for what’s next!
 
reviewed by R. Abarca
OFF BEAT RECORDS                 Front Line Assembly is:
Horster Strasse 27                          Bill Leeb / Chris Peterson
45897 Gelsenkirchen-Buer
Germany
e-mail: offbeat@t-online.de
OFF BEAT homepage:
http://www.offbeatassault.com