Front Line Assembly – Improvised Electronic Device

Improvised. Electronic. Device. isn't the strongest of FLA albums, if you had to ask me. The title of the album is referring to the approach that was taken for recording the album, rather than the sound of it. As Leeb explained in an interview regarding IED, the album's creation process was non-standard in that various of the band wrote songs on their own and later collaborated to bring them to fruition.

Unfortunately, the result sounds like a mixture of different FLA eras (FLAvour of the Weak, Implode, Millenium/Hardwired, Artificial Soldier and Civilization). The focus is jarring and unfortunately leads to a lot of uninspired sounding songs that are easy to write off as filler.

The strongest songs on the album are the singles, Angrif and Shifting Through the Lens. Following those, I.E.D., Hostage, Afterlife and Downfall the only other stand out tracks. The sounds of these songs range from the albums listed up above, with the exception maybe of Afterlife. Afterlife is interesting since it is a more personal song from Leeb (it's about the ing of his father). It has a different type of sound to it that could almost be equated to that of the balad-esque tracks from TNI and Hardwired.

The remainder of the album though is unfortunately a mess. Most of the tracks sound the same and they all blend together into one big ball of Millenium/Implode wannabes that would best have been left on the cutting room floor. Stupidity is easily the worst of the bunch, as since it is a guest track featuring Al Jourgensen of Ministry, it sounds like a Ministry song (and a bad one at that).

The bonus tracks do help make up for the messy metal tracks though as they feature a more varied approach versus the mess that crept its way onto the album.

I'd say this gets a 3.5 / 5 from me if I had to give it a specific rating. There's enough on here to carry it but the bad filler tracks really do weigh it down and hurt the album. The approach that was used to create this album was probably not the best choice for Bill, despite his fondness of collaborating. The end result sounds like Bill was spread too thin.

Jeremy Inkel sadly has ed on 13. January 2018. R.I.P.

"Shifting Through The Lens", the album's first single released two weeks ago set the bar high and I will tell you that it was the perfect set up for what was to come. Each track on the single explored different concepts and styles very much like this album does. The opening title track is a mindblower! "I.E.D." starts subtle and breaks into a creepy textured smathering of loops and kicks and is just amazing! "Angriff" (also the second track on the single) is probably some of Bill's best writing in years, add a superbly vocalized german chorus with a pulse-pounding guitar thrum and...- oh and by the way the vocals on this album are brilliantly processed in FLA fashion - so many times I caught myself giddy with excitement and actually saying aloud, "wow, that's brilliant!" Now, "Hostage" will be every FLA fanboy's electro dream track - yeah it is. "Release" breaks in to familiar guitar gnashing "Hard-wired" territory. "Shifting Through The Lens" is one of the best and most danceable singles in many years - not unlike "Columbian Necktie" from "FLAvour of the Weak" circa 1997. "Laws of Deception" and "Pressure Wave" wreak more havoc with guitar hits and Leeb's mastery of neurotic vox. Then wack! upside the head come two obligatory and opposing tracks. "Afterlife" is an opus with gorgeous bass lines and omg might I say it beautiful vocals. Now the standout track and for many good reasons. Some fans will be either blatantly ecstatic or loathsome for the fact that Al "Alien" Jourgansen who needs no intro has lended his talents to the track "Stupidity". I for one am impressed with the track. It's pissed off and awesomely devoted to the creators of the defunct and sorely missed "Wax Trax" Label. It does capture the feeling of how industrial music back then really was arguous and honest, not pretentous and copious. It really sends a message to the ruiners of the world today that only Al could ala FLA collab. "Downfall" is like the soundtrack from another planet. Not quite as brilliant (in my opinion) as "Endless Void" the nine minute extravaganza from "Shifting Through The Lens" single, but stands on it's own as the physical cd's closer. The new line up is really strong. Live this will be an eventful show! Let's hope they make it a nice long tour and hit us all with their industrial glory. Thanks guys this album really made me fall in love with the genre all over again. FLA is back!!!