Customer Reviews

Initial Command

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

 

 

The Initial Command may not be Front Line Assembly's most well known album, or their most technologically advanced, but for me it clicks, with _Corroded Disorder,_ as their best. Tracks like "The State," "Casualties," and "Nine Times" show the band at the peak of its early output. However, the two real kickers are the first two "bonus" tracks, "Complexity" and "Intelligence Dream." These were not on the original album and were added as a bonus for the '97 version, but they are my favorite FLA songs. Brooding, dreamy, and meditative, they are a great set to have a musical "epiphany" and space out to. I would purchase the album just for the bonus tracks, although the original stuff is quite good too.

This 1987 debut was Front Line Assembly's first commercially available album as the two 1986 demo tapes, "Nerve War" and "Total Terror" were self-released.

At this early point in Front Line Assembly's history, Bill Leeb was the band's only member. Armed with only a rather limiting synthesizer, Bill pushed his primitive equipment to its absolute limit in each track on The Initial Command. In songs like "The State" and "Black March", we hear a protoform of Front Line Assembly's trademark sound, complete with sampling and much distortion everywhere. The most enticing song on this release is the ambient and chilling "Ausgang Zum Himmel". When the title's English translation, "Exit to the Sky" is taken into consideration, the song's expansive and somewhat psychedelic soundscape comes into perfect focus.

It's a shame that this FLA release is so very overlooked these days as it's the perfect place to start for anyone looking to deepen his interest in Front Line Assembly.

Like some reviewers on here, I didn't like this album when I first heard it, I thought it was incredibly repetitive and dated. But due to various reasons, I gave it another chance and loaded it onto my mp3 player, so I could digest it better on long walks, etc. It paid off because I grew to love this album immensely. There is so much going on in the background of each song that one probably fails to notice on only a couple listens. This was Leeb's first official album and I think he did an excellent job. It's true alot of it is instrumental and his lyric/vocals are perhaps not as entertaining as on later albums. Frankly I've never been impressed with Leeb's lyrics or his singing, but more for his knack of creating awesome soundscapes, whether they be incredibly sinister or chillingly ambient. For something coming out of 1987, with dated equipment, this is pretty good stuff and is definitely more palatable than the somewhat experimental "State Of Mind" which followed.

THE STATE (4/5) I love the punishing rhythms of this, the samples are twisted nicely around the urgent bass-lines and washes of strings. It makes an impact despite no vocals being present.

INSANITY LURKS NEARBY (3/5) Not his finest moment, but I like it anyway, the lyrics are catchy yet simple. Almost any 1980's industrial recording had that cheesy slap bass, so we might as well get used to it. The Cabaret Voltaire comparisons seem to be evident in the lyric and vocal approach.

CASUALTIES (4/5) At first glance, this seems like a plodding repetitive song, but the bass lines are so hypnotizing I fail to even notice. Leeb's vocals are buried somewhat and give the song an even more eerie atmosphere.

AUSGANG ZUM HIMMEL (5/5) In my opinion, this one alone is worth the price of admission. This isn't even music, this is a nightmarish landscape of sound, the hellish noise of a death factory. Simply awesome.

NINE TIMES (4/5) Simple yet catchy, hard not to tap the foot in time to beat of. Lots of chewed up samples floating around. Leeb surfaces a couple times to shout something like "It's too late...."

BLACK MARCH (2/5) Probably my least favorite, just doesn't go anywhere really. I don't like the lyrics or Leeb's performance of them. But thats ok, just one out of eight.

NO CONTROL (4/5) Excellent fast paced instrumental, all sorts of stuff going on. Leeb and Fulber collect some of the craziest samples and noise and know how to throw them in at just the right interval. I hardly notice that nearly six minutes has gone by when it finishes.

SLAUGHTERHOUSE (4/5) Similar to 'Casualties' but its even more relaxed and alluring. Great use of basslines and simple beat. It's almost in stark contrast to such a grim title as 'Slaughterhouse.' Finishes the album on a more pleasant but still eerie note.

There are two bonus tracks which Cleopatra added on to its re-release, and they're good but they shouldn't have tacked them onto the beginning of the album, perhaps the end. Also I think the original cover and design from the KK/Third Mind release is better.

This album is of course a bit basic, but it's a must for any FLA fan. Note that the tracklist is wrong, this re-release has only 9 tracks.

Leeb and Fulber have certainly come a long way since recording this very primitve sounding album. The samples sound cheap, the keyboard sounds are even worst and the lack of vocal treatment makes them seemingly reluctant to write extensive lyrics. Even so there is proof that they have immense tallent both of them and they use their equipment and create astounding music considering their limited budget and their very meager means. The cover art looks terrible and the photo on the back is a strange one. Even so this is a very good album as to use as a yard stick for thier humble beginings to the music that they record and produce today.

I don't know why however this CD just didn't appeal to me at all. There was no song that stood out to be counted. This was FLA when it first started out and the listener will be able to feel the 'primitiveness' and 'beginner's touch' in each song on this audio CD. The songs are too repetetive for long songs and sound too drawn-out. There is no spark that ignites the listener's imagination like so many other FLA songs do. If I had to pick a standout song on this album I would reluctantly say Track 8: No Control for even though it is very repetetive it does show that little spark of imagination. Other than that it is a missable album.
3 stars are because of my respect for Peterson and Leeb and Fulber with all that they have accomplished in FLA and Delerium and the other side projects.