Search - Front Line Assembly :: Everything Must Perish

The b-side makes it worthwhile

ixion75 | 01/12/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"The true attraction of this cd single isn't the single itself-- which is arguably the best track on the latest, and perhaps last, Front Line album. It's the amazing song "Providence," which not only Front Line Assembly fans but also those who appreciate the dance remixes of Delerium will want to hear. Jennifer McLaren lends her voice to a soaring, pulsating, dreamy trance-techno piece that extends its majestic reach for a beautiful 9 and a half minutes. It's not only one of the finest tracks in this era of FLA, it also ranks with some of Leeb's best compositions. In its smoothness and atmosphere it easily compares to the first Intermix cd or anything on Noise Unit's _Decoder_. Heaven knows why it was left off the album itself, other than space limitations. Perhaps the powers that be felt it was too different to be a FLA track, even though this is not the first time a female voice has appeared under the Front Line moniker (that would have to be the cover of "Justify My Love" that Cleopatra released on its tribute to Madonna a few years back, a composition which was originally supposed to be released under the Delerium name).The music on here is excellent, and "Everything Must Perish" itself is a standout FLA piece. The package must be docked a star though for poor value-- only 3 tracks here. However, "Providence" is a B-side worth checking out for its quality and uniqueness in the FLA catlogue."

Too bad the rest of Epitaph doesn't live up to this.

Kokopelectronic | Saint Paul, Minnesota | 10/09/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

""Everything Must Perish" is a marvelous dance song. First off, I am not a fan of Frontline Assembly. But I am a big fan of most other Leeb/Fulber/Peterson projects (especially Delerium). I sampled the single in a used music store (yes, the cd was already being sold as used), and I loved it. It was much more upbeat and catchier than previous Frontline Assembly stuff, and the vocals were actually well-sung vocals; not distorted try-to-be-evil growls. And the bonus track "Providence": incredible! It does sound like it would belong more on a Delerium album, but the beats are a little more intense and the sound is just a little darker. I got the impression from the single that FLA had changed (and improved) their sound with the new album. I happened to stumble upon "Epitaph" today at (local store), so I bought it, excited for more of this new sound. Unfortunately, all tracks besides "Everything Must Perish" are more of the same old stuff. The vocals are just growls and the overall sound is the typical ridiculously dark stuff. Being a huge fan of Delerium, the darkness now seems quite fake coming from Leeb and the gang. Or maybe the lightness of Delerium is fake, but I am biased as a Delerium fan. To give the rest of "Epitaph" some credit, though, the music is pretty cool. I really do like all of Leeb and company's music (at least the stuff from Delerium's "Semantic Spaces" on); FLA is just brought down by the vocals in my opinion. So anyway, the single is definitely worth getting for both "Everything Must Perish" and "Providence." Both are the best songs FLA have ever come up with. But if you're not a fan of FLA's old dark stuff that sounds like good background music while reading the Necrinomicon, skip "Epitaph.""

Holy...

Kokopelectronic | 02/14/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"If there was one word to discribe what I found on this album it would be "Why." Where has Bill Leeb been with this? I am wondering if "Providence" could be some sort of a prelude to one of his best works yet, perhaps a rebirth in not Delerium per se, but rather in the side-project Intermix. If Bill Leeb ever decided to create an new Intermix album with songs like "Providence" and "Terra Firma / Delerium" then that would be an album I would never stop listening to. I heard that he was working on side projects along with working on "Chimera," perhaps my wish may become reality."