Front Line Assembly

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Formed in 1986 in Vancouver, Canada by Viennese emigre Bill Leeb, Front Line Assembly have been one of the most successful and influential bands working in the electro‑industrial field over the last decade, along with fellow Canucks Skinny Puppy. Augmented first by Michael Balch and later, more significantly, by Rhys Fulber, the bands innovative mixture of industrial rhythms, electronics and guitars, together with stunningly hi‑tech and futuristic videos, forged a sound that many bands in the electronic world are only just starting to pick up on. MONUMENT takes a peek at Front Line Assembly’s most productive period (from 1989 to 1993), and is edited together by band producer and most important co‑collaborator Greg Reely to include several exclusive remixes.

F.L.A. first became a major force on the burgeoning hardcore techno/EBM music scene with the release of 1989's Gashed Senses and Crossfire.  This record was a sparse and menacing album that spawned the club hits ‘Digital Tension Dementia’ and ‘No Limit’ (both included here) which proceeded to rule dancefloors everywhere. Initially the bands distinctively European disposition led them to become more successful in Europe than in their homeland and left journalists falling over themselves to acclaim the band’s Sonic Cathedral sound.

However, nothing could prepare the unsuspecting listener for what was to follow ‑the uncompromising and visceral Caustic Grip.  Following Balch’s departure Rhys Fulber became a full time member of the band.  Dense and imposing, the unholy triumvirate of singles taken from this period - ‘Iceolate’, ‘Provision’ and ‘Virus’, pushed aggressive Euro-friendly industrial techno to the forefront. They are the musical equivalent of being hit over the head with a billy club.

1991's Tactical Neural Implant saw  a move away from the harsh sonic battery of Caustic Grip to more melodic song structures and hummable choruses, while retaining its predecessor’s dark and aggressive qualities. By this time Front Line’s cybernetic vision was in full throttle, reflected in the singles taken from the album.  The anthemic ‘Mindphaser’, perhaps FLA’s biggest hit, was released in March 1992 and won several awards for its amazing Manga influenced video.  As a follow up, The Blade was heavily remixed and appears here in a Pro‑Gress mix by renowned Manchester producer Mark Stagg.

Also featured is the ‘Mindphaser’ B side ‘Toxic’, originally recorded as the title track of a mini album follow up to Caustic Grip that was later shelved for being too sonically demanding. ‘Heatwave’ and ‘Target’ were recorded during the Tactical sessions but left off the ensuing album.  Finally the tracks saw the light of day as additional tracks on the European release of The Blade.

Millennium, released in 1993, marked a shift away from the band’s traditional European sound to a harsher hybrid of metal and electronics which opened up a large audience for the band in the US and proved the band were unafraid to experiment and take on new ideas. From this period is taken ‘Surface Patterns’, appearing here remixed for the first time.  In 1997 F.L.A.’s legacy is assured, although the focus of the band has changed again following Fulber’s departure last year. To the mainstream Front Line Assembly are well kept secret, their malign influence carries on not only through the like of The Prodigy, whose work has taken on darker shades of late, but it also reflected in Fulber’s own production work with Californian cyber‑metallers Fear Factory.