Front Line Assembly – Virus

All of the EU presses of their Caustic Grip Era singles have really good sound that boosts percussion and bass alot, yet also retains a certain cleanness. They also are way louder than most 45rpm 12''s.

Still enjoyable, many years later. Though "Provision" is the strongest of the three singles present here, I still find "Virus" charming, but a bit sillier—and it didn't age as well sonically. As always, his lyrics are a self-serious pastiche of genre buzzwords. I take them as simply another sonic instrument, rather than something that provides textual meaning. "Overkill (Surge Mix)" would be great as chase music in some sort of dystopian sci fi film. As would "Iceolate", the third single here. Despite the cringeworthy title, it's a fantastically driving electro-industrial/EBM track with great vocals from Leeb. The verse vocals sound like a tired, drunk Arnold Schwarzenegger, then they shift into a sort of imploring Jack Dangers vibe for the chorus. "Mental Distortion" is a straight down the middle FLA track, as good as any average track of the era for them. It's decent stuff, replete with a layer of chaotic film audio samples and chunks of compressed noise. He does love his sci fi/horror samples. I think I like the "Aggro Mix" of "Virus" the best, the rough texture of the vocals is really cranked up in the overall mix, it's a nice contrast with the very clean synth parts.

The sleeve Art was by: Christian Mumenthaler - This design was also avalible on T-shirts from Wax Trax Records -