FRONT LINE ASSEMBLY EVERYTHING MUST PERISH SINGLE METROPOLIS RELEASE: SEPTEMBER 11, 2001 REVIEW: SEPTEMBER 7, 2001

This is the first single from the upcoming album "Epitaph" by the Canadian masters Front Line Assembly, and the first sign of life since their "Fatalist" single from 1999. "Everything Must Perish" sees the band taking a more mature and melodic route.
Bill Leeb makes better use of his voice here. And while they still have distortion it is less obtrusive, and the very infectious chorus is just Bill "au naturelle". This is something that was beginning to show on the last album "Implode". Lyrically we see a bit of a change too, with lines like "A bird takes flight / Now out of sight / The sun catches its shadow". Not the usual "volatile spleen" stuff.
The music is still very danceable and hard. It's just more melodic, and there are no guitars in sight, just excellent programming. Don't be afraid, there is no doubt this is Front Line Assembly. There is, however, some doubt about the so-called B-side, "Providence". This is essentially a beefed up, speeded up and dancified Delerium track. Jenifer McLaren, who also sings on Delerium's "Poem", sings it and it sounds like an opera aria on top of hard beats. It is very beautiful and I like it a lot, but I imagine some fans will disagree, since the female vocals lean towards Delerium more than anything else. A shorter radio version of the title track is also included.
OK, I'll admit it, I am a big fan of FLA and have been since "Caustic Grip" in 1991. I love this single too, and even though it might not be representative of the upcoming "Epitaph" in October, it is what Front Line Assembly do better than most, namely brilliantly produced, very electronic, danceable music with catchy tunes and incredibly fat bass lines. I am so looking forward to the album.

JOHAN CARLSSON