Customer Reviews

Front by Front [Vinyl]

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

With 'Front by Front' Front 242 made a giant leap forward. Combining hard, EBM beats to politically motivated lyrics, this album served both as a 'how to' to other bands in making aggressive dance music, and also as a statement in its own right.

Many will know 'Headhunter' as the album's centrepiece and highlight, but there is much more to admire here. 'Circling Overland' is as ominous as it sounds, all forboding bass and dense electronics layering a song about war and aerial attacks by bomber planes. 'First In First Out' shows they could also make modern, more commercial sounding dance music if they really wanted to and what is more, it sounded much better than most other groups' efforts, and also was ahead of many other groups in making that kind of music.

'Never Stop' is a classic Front 242 song. Much more accessible than much of 242's work, it features a strong beat and shifting bass combining it into a strong, dance song.

Of course 'Headhunter' is the star and there is two versions of it on here.

A band at their peak making strong, excellent aggressive dance music. This is a must have for fans of the EBM/hard dance genre.

"Front By Front" was my introduction to Front 242, the band whose sound is at the centre of my roots.

"Until Death": The anthemic introduction to the album, a.f.a.i.k this was never released as a single, although it was often heard in nightclubs. Think of that sense of righteousness, of belonging one used to feel when dancing to EBM, add F242's militant beats of the time and you'll get the picture.

"Circling Overland" continues the unforgiving beat of the first number, but with painful restraint. Images of military aircraft overhead, like you're in some important Cold War movie. Sheer brilliance!

"Im Rhythmus Bleiben" became a single meant for clubs, with its fast and hard beats. The synthesizers were very 80's. This was a bit like aerobics for Industrial fans wasn't it? "Stay in the rhythm!", Jean-Luc demanded. We obeyed.

"Felines" had a cult following - that distorted vocal sample sounded like, well, a cat. And Jean-Luc's voice... A slow, brooding number. As the song ends, one gets a sense that something's about to happen, but...

"First In/First Out" fast but loose beats postpone the inevitable climax of the album just a little more. And just.a.little bit more with "Blend the Strengths"...

... until finally, the familiar percussion and signature synth of that timeless, EBM anthem "Headhunter" explodes and your legs take over, the rhythm becomes overpowering and you're utterly powerless over its seduction!

"Work 01" and "Terminal State", like "Blend the Strengths" pale in comparison to the rest of the album, finally giving way to the curious "Welcome to Paradise" with its rather dated synth yet hilarious commentary on charismatic churches through clever use of samples - "Hey poor, you don't have to be poor anymore - Jesus is here!"

The rest of this album, the Sony remastered issue of 1992 is filled with remixes and B-sides, none of which really stands out except for Headhunter's 12" version - the one we used to lose ourselves to on the dancefloors under that strobe light...

Favourite tracks are the first two and of course both versions of Headhunter. To me this will always remain the benchmark album. I think of Front 242 as having had 3 eras, the first being the early 80's synth feel of Geography, the second being around the time of this album (give or take a few years) when their signature sound consisted of relentlessly executed beats with a military theme, and the third being the time when they took back from the techno world what they borrowed from F242 in the first place on the "E.V.I.L Off" album and its companion "Angels Vs Animals" EP.

The album Front By Front is my favorite album by any band; every song on this album has tremendous emotional potency, and half of the songs are completely legendary in my mind. "Circling Overland" is a superb song with haunting strings and some excellent vocals to boot. "Im Rhythmus Bleiben" is truly a classic; it is impossible to not be happy and without weight while listening to it. Headhunter V3.0 is my favorite song; it is the definition of a great song that provides an excellent emotional catalyst. The song has some of the best vocals I have ever heard, and the chorus string-like sounds make me happier than any other song I have ever heard. The final fantastic song, "Welcome To Paradise," is one of the funniest songs ever; cool musically, and chock-full of samples of the southern televangelist Farrell Griswold...I LOVE it! Gotta love televangelism. To sum it up; BUY THIS ALBUM!

This album is a pure classic in the EBM genre. It is also Front 242`s best release. This is claimed based upon both my personal opinion and what I believe is a widespread view. Includes the hits "Headhunter" and "Welcome to Paradise", but also the manipulative "Until Death" as well as two versions of the experimental and underestimated "Work 242". This album is the best start to F242 and captures the essence of the true 242-feeling. It is, however, suggested that the prospective buyer also get the album "Tyranny for You" in order to constitute a basic platform of 242-material.

This album originally ended with "Welcome to Paradise." The next tracks are from the Never Stop! EP.

First off, I'd like to interpret the album's title. I see two possibly meanings: one, it alludes to a "front" used it war. With this meaning, Front 242 is conquering music one front at a time. The other possible meaning behind the title is simply "Front, by Front." This is their style, and they created it. It is the sound of Front 242 created by Front 242. Front by Front.

Alright. There are a lot of good things said about this album, and I agree with all of them. When you pop in this CD, you can immediately tell it's an album from the 80s. It has that synthy-80s feel to it. But the reason this album is hailed as Industrial's greatest acheivement is that it manages to transcend the technology available at the time it was created (1988... more than a while ago).

The electronic drumming on this album is nothing short of incredible. Precise and powerful, the beats laid down by this amazing group lay the foundation for the innumerable synths and the multitude of samples. The synths themselves are impressive; Front 242 never uses presets. They fabricate their own sounds, and you can tell. What you hear is what you get. The samples are well-placed, and some songs are completely built around them.

Until Death (Do Us Part) is an extremely satyrical look at marriage. L-O-C-K space T-H-E space D-O-O-R space F-O-R-E-V-E-R. A very accessible first track that creates high expecations for the rest of the album.

Circling Overland has great samples of what seem to be Air Force pilots chattering away during a night-time mission. The menacing, huge sound to this song is littered with this samples. This song was nothing short of a Cold-War statement about weapons stockpiling. One day, the song predicts, our soldiers will be one with their weapons. At what cost are we willing to fight for our beliefs? Are we willing to sacrifice our humanity?

Im Rhythmus Bleiben is probably my favorite track on this album. A straightforward dance song, I just can't get enough of the "Im Rhythmus Bleiben!" chant. Good samples here, too. This is a great song that was unfortunately butchered for the :Re:Boot tour.

Felines is the one song I skip when I listen to this monumental work. I just can't get into this. Maybe some emo kid somewhere will like a song about cats being attracted to people's pain...

First In/First Out is a great dance song, probably even better suited to this purpose than Bleiben. Great, great, GREAT sample here: "I go there every night just to hear the beat!" Interesting, gnarled vocals by Richard and Jean-Luc here. Good song, definitely. The :Re:Boot version was pretty good, too.

The first thing I think of when I hear the opening lines of Blend the Strengths is the "There will be total chaos" sample. It sounds like an English woman speaking, but I don't know. The distorted scream is a classic Front 242 sound, one that you will forever associate with the end of this track and the beginning of...

Headhunter v3.0. Easily the most popular Front 242 song, it's popularity is not undeserved. The perfect harmony between Richard and Jean-Luc is unmatched on any other Front 242 studio album. The snarling synth in this song is immediately recognizable in any one of the multitude of remixes on the Headhunter 2000 CD. The refrain to this song will burn its way into your mind for all time: One you lock the target / Two you bait the line / Three you slowly spread the net / And four you catch the man! The drums to this song are almost set up in a breakbeat. This song is one for the ages.

After the assault of Headhunter, you will find no rest in Work 01. None at all. This is the most sample-laden song on the album. It sounds like horror movie samples coupled with a very short refrain from De Meyer. A good concept with great implementation.

Terminal State was the first song I really liked on this album. I don't listen to it as much now, but I think it's a great starting point to get into Front. The lyrics seem especially poingant now. They almost seem to be written about our idiot of a President.

Welcome to Paradise is another incredible song. Using great samples from a televangelist, the group portrays the fanaticism that is Christianity without actually casting a judgement on it. This song is an incredible work of sarcasm in that there are no actual lyrics in it. I've played this for many of my friends, and they always crack up listening to it. Also, the :Re:Boot version where De Meyer and 23 actually sing the samples is priceless. Also in this song is the single greatest quote ever sampled: "No sex until marriage!"

Headhunter 1.0 is (I believe) a mix of 3.0. Sounds backwards, I know, but I think that's how it works. Anyway, it's a good mix, definitely. Much more straightforward.

Never Stop! V1.0 is a Front 242 classic. It exemplifies everything good about Front besides De Meyer's incomparable voice. Richard 23 does all the singing here, but boy does he do a great job. Great "America!" samples, better singing, and it all adds up to a classic.

Work 242 N.Off is N.Off takes a while to get going, it's true. It's a drum loop over and over and over until near the end of the song. If you can figure out the lyrics then, you get a prize. I've seen a few ideas, but nothing I think hits the nail on the head.

Agony (Until Death) is a vocal-less remix of Until Death (Do Us Part). It's good, nothing spectacular.

Never Stop! v1.1 is missing the lyrics! I don't get it! Some of the synths have been slightly reworked, but I think v1.0 has everything over this one.

Work 242 is as tedious as Work 242 N.Off is N.Off. There's about a minute of soft noise toward the end, then a "Listen Carefully!" sample also put at the end of Never Stop! v1.1.

Remember, those last 6 songs weren't originally on Front by Front, so while the genius of a short album has been diluted somewhat, getting Never Stop! free is worth it without a doubt.

This album and Official Version were Front 242's early peak. Both albums were unbelievably advanced for their time, and I don't think Front ever got back up to speed until their most recent album, Pulse. You'll read a lot of negative reviews of Pulse, but if you realize that that album is what Front 242 wanted it to be, that THAT is the new sound, you will learn to love it. That album and this one are truly FRONT by FRONT.

Being a fan of industrial/EBM, I hadn't actually gotten to buying a Front album until this, "Front by Front", which is backed with the "Never Stop!" EP and the original "Headhunter" version, found in its single (all on the Epic reissue). I had actually heard some of their songs before, but didn't actually buy until I found it for a rather good price. That being said, it turned out to be really good.

The beginning just confirms that, "Until Death (Us Do Part)". A rather catchy track and one that you'll find yourself listening to the most, it gives the album a sort of appeal.

There are also tracks which are mostly instrumental, like the religious samples of "Welcome to Paradise" or mostly on "Work 01" (great intro sample) and on most of "Blend the Strengths".

Sometimes it is the samples that make it, and sometimes it's the song itself. I'm sure if you're looking here at all that you know the song "Headhunter". The synth line is addictive and so is its chorus. It doesn't need to be explained by EBM fans why this is considered a classic, and the bridge is brilliant. Nearly five minutes of fun, I'm glad they have two versions of it on this album. That should be a reason enough to convince someone to buy this that's just a casual fan.

Honestly, there are sometimes when I don't feel like listening to this. But, in spite that, I think it's very good. I can't decide whether I prefer this or "Tyranny", as they've both got their moments in spite the fact that I wouldn't call either one of my "favorites". Still, I might look more into the Front 242 catalog, as I enjoy listening to lots from them.

When Front 242 released Official version back in the mid 80's people thought that this would be the best ebm album of the 80's. They were wrong. Front by Front is the best 80's ebm record period. With songs like Until death (us do part), Headhunter ver 3.0 and ver. 1.0, and in rhytmus bleiben they created a true master work. The sound is much more complex then on previous albums, the vocals are getting better and better and the samples have exploded in quality. This is an ebm album not to be missed by fans of ebm or for fans of Front 242.

Is Front 242 the father of Industrial? Probably not, but to me the sound of Head Hunter was the begining of a new era of music for me. This is a great album for people that are looking for that early industrial sound. Much of my mispent youth was in dark clubs grinding away to bands like Front 242, Nitzer Ebb, and Ministry. This album covers all the songs I remember and more I never knew of.

The album assualts all previously conceived notions of how an indlustrial album should play, and it did so sucessfully. Catapulting itself into the limelight of industrial megahits, "Headhunter", the unarguable stand-out track of the album, will undoubtedly become etched permenantly onto your subconscious. Every other song is equally powerful and memorable, as well, and the several generous remixes tacked onto the end of this EBM masterpiece are quite respectable in their own rights, especially when compared to some of the atrocious remixes that have originated from such over-played bands as Nine Inch Nails. To sum it all up, this is unequivically one of the best techno-dance/ industrial albums you'll ever likely come across, and the price is hard to beat. NOTE: They're presenting a political/religious satire on track 10, correct?

i have been a fan of front 242 for a while . it is funny how i did come across them . this was within ten to fifteen years ago when cds were not around and when you would go to a music store you would have to buy the basic cassette tape . so finally cds were starting to make there way into the stores . i might see myself trying to be tradition with things but sometimes you have to change a little bit. so trying to stick to the basics of cassettes and eventually everyone turning for the cds . most of it was what you would call tecnology . most people seem to get very compeled with the term tecnology . so eventually i took part of the move into tecnology wich was the cd . even to this day it is a little bit like that the era of tecnology . so the long story about front 242 was from a tape at the record sore called tower records . the reason why i think i did buy it was really because of the name . then i think because of the album cover . when i buy music i am always trying to find something that is more on the different side and something that not everybody has heard . so sometimes the one thing that has always worked for me was buy the apperance of the album or maybe the title of the band . so better the title or better the cover most of the time the album would not be that bad . so threw the course of buying music i have come to find out about a lot of bands . so one band that i came across over a long time ago was front 242 and the one thing that i like about them was that were differnt and even to this day there sound is more hard and hard to find .