Search - Will :: Pearl of Great Price

A "dark ages" spin on Front Line Assembly (3.5 stars)

Scott Sweet | Colorado Springs, CO | 05/17/2003

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Neither this album nor "Word Flesh Stone" made this FLA side project a household name, but it's not bad. The songs alternate between heretical EBM ("Crowning Glory," "Exhaust Inhibits") and gloomy filler ("Furnace of Souls," "Crimson Flow"). Lots of church organ, war drums and synth-choir. While the programming is pretty repetitious, there's some variety song to song. "Crusade" has a strong medieval appeal, though the techno beat late in the tune is almost annoying. "Visible Second Coming" has a nice haunted house rhythm. John McRae's vocals are shouted, and sometimes he uses an odd synchopation similar to that of Therion. "Father Forgive" is actually pretty catchy. "New Mass" is the most tribal, energetic dance track of the bunch.The lyrics are hard to make out, partially due to mixing. They consist mainly of unrhymed fallen-angel griping. John R. Dennison's cover photography reinforces the vibe, with animal bones arranged *just so* on a prayer book.If you're OK with hitting "skip" a few times, this is a good example of Catholicized techno for wailing and gnashing your teeth on the dancefloor."