FRONT LINE ASSEMBLY - Implode
Songs: 10  Time:  65:22
 
As prolific as ever, Bill Leeb and Chris Peterson return to the helm of FLA to produce their latest effort, Implode.  The title of this record is a direct statement of its sound: after their not-too-well-liked-but-still-awesome heights on Flavour..., FLA utilize their new style while re-embracing the sounds and techniques of their previous hits.  The result is quite honestly one helluva good disc.  The disc kicks off with Retribution.  With its typical Leeb baseline and breakbeat collage that breaks into a hard chorus, this song makes the listener take heed.  What this and the rest of the songs feature that Flavour... unfortunately lacked is a basic beat behind the breaks, giving them more oomph and power.  Bill's lyrics are in most every track now, and are quite possibly the best they've ever been.  Fatalist, the second single, sounds almost akin to a toned down Numb, with its sinister programming, paranoid vocals and driving beat, it quickly became my favorite track.  Guitar in the vein of that which appeared on Hard Wired touches here and there, like on Prophecy, the first single to be released.  Dark and ominous, this slower, mid-paced song flutters about prophesizing the end of the world, with some Delerium type strings and chorus samples.  Perhaps the most different and wonderful songs is Falling, being almost an industrial ballad with a chorus you'll be humming for days.  The strings in this album are simply amazing, even in their simplicity.  Each song has a standout point to it, such as the beautiful instrumentals Synthetic Forms and Silent Ceremony, the short but VERY dark hip-hop influenced Don't Trust Anyone, and the Massive Attack induced Unknown Dreams, which, true to name sounds very light and dreamy.  Darkness, aggressiveness, beauty, power, and emotion have all been worked into this disc in typical FLA fashion, making it a must have for every FLA fan alive.
 
reviewed by D. Sudia
METROPOLIS RECORDS                     Front Line Assembly is:
P.O. Box 54307                                            Bill Leeb / Chris Peterson
Philadelphia, PA 19105
e-mail: metropol@voicenet.com
METROPOLIS homepage:
 http://www.metropolis-records.com

1)  Retribution            2)  Fatalist            3)  Prophecy
4)  Synthetic Forms        5)  Falling             6)  Don't Trust Anyone
7)  Unknown Dreams         8)  Torched             9)  Machine Slave
10) Silent Ceremony