Front Line Assembly-“Caustic Grip”-Ex-Skinny Puppy member Bill Leeb delivers his best album.

[@magnussirius2273]

Great band. As you mentioned, it came so much good music at that time, that I didn’t really discovered this until Tactical Neural.. came out. But it’s my fav too. Great timing as well, listened to a podcast yesterday with Rhys Fulber…

[@tomprice4016]

I’m one of those that have been waiting for a FLA run down.

[@occasionalfeelgood23]

I plan on doing a few more for sure.

[@nimchimsky5125]

I saw these guys last night in Columbus and they played Resist and I lost my FUCKING MIND. Bill Leeb still has it.

[@thestangle1]

These songs just seem like they build and build until complete chaos

[@williamgrabowski3411]

CAUSTIC GRIP and TACTICAL NEURAL IMPLANT are never out of my reach. It's no surprise that FLA's influence never will die, especially with Rhys Fulber producing intense music like Fear Factory's DEMANUFACTURE, and a handful of more recent bands. Another aspect I admire about Leeb, Fulber, and Reely is the seeming absence of egotism. In the live shows they project a mission-like efficiency-and it gets you moving! Thanks again!

[@rossbeall3482]

Excellent video - excellent comments - excellent review (I am now a subscriber). I remember buying this CD at Camelot Music at Century III Mall (near Pittsburgh) and once I got home and listened to it, I was truly amazed! I saw them live for their "Caustic Grip" show at The Metropol (after an autograph signing at Eide's), and briefly met Bill and Rhys. I was fortunate to get an additional opportunity to catch up with Rhys after the show, and he gave me a quick tour on stage of his live rig (from what I recall an Akai S1000 and a Kawai K4). Great guys, and an absolutely great band! Thank you for this video!

[@javaally1203]

Remember visiting my dad in Seatle and going to a Frontline Assembly show at the Rock Candy. I met the drummer he was in the line before they let us in.

[@mattido123]

Caustic was surely a very raw release by FLA, and loved the singles. The formula IMO was perfected on Tactical, which is my favorite.

[@soulaborter7797]

My fav FLA album as well. It's the only FLA tee i wear frequently, was also fortunate to see them about 8 months ago at a bar 2 blocks from me. They only played a few off Caustic Grip, but more from Neural Implant and newer releases. Still a fantastic show.

[@Caffeine_Club]

My second favorite album by FLA, and there is no denying that Iceolate was a great club banger, and the Provision 12 inch is an essetial pickup from their discography.

[@twangology]

another one of my favourite bands!

[@bcalenda2609]

This was my first FLA album in 1991. Resist and iceolate standouts. Then i got TNI and it blew my mind how good it was. I am hoping you will be including the early to mid90s FLA albums as my favorite is Live:Wired . I know you dislike like albums. The stereo mix on LiveWired is so good. I listen to that every couplenof weeks still on headphones.

[@ZetaReticuli_]

You are covering my favorite period of FLA. In fact, I was introduced to their music around the time Caustic Grip came out. I still enjoy their catalogue best from The Initial Command to Tactical Neural Implant, and all the single in that time frame too. I have the LPs and CDs from that era, and the cassettes. All original prints too. To answer your question, Mental Distortion does appear in the track listing on the CD version of Caustic Grip. I also remember being totally blown away when I found out where the cover art came from: Der Henker Und Die Gerechtigkeit (The Executioner And Justice) by John Heartfield. The story behind the image really fits the theme of the songs on the album very well. This all takes me back to when we used to go to record stores, and buy copies of records, CDs or even cassettes, and bringing the album home, and listening to it was an experience. You had the artwork and inserts. And if you had friends who were in to the same stuff, you would all get together for a listening party and pass the sleeve around. You just don't get that with the digital downloads.

[@de_Thannberg]

This album is a real treat, one of the great classics, very stimulating. I still listen to it and I remember being with a Montreal friend in Paris for Front 242 concert and he surprised me with a FLA shirt when they played at Les Foufounes Electriques in Montreal in 1991. You bring back memories.

[@davesworld7688]

This is one of my all time favorite albums. It's just so good for so many reasons! I think you covered it perfectly! Also I agree that Mental Distortion should have been on the record. It's a fantastic song! FLA has gone through a bunch of different musical phases. The first phase (with Michael Balch) was cool, but far from FLAs best. Bill hadn't found his sound just yet. But still the music was genuinly good. The second phase was arguably their best. When albums like "Caustic Grip" and "Tactical Neural Implant" came out. The third phase was when they started incorporating heavy guitars (Millennium and Hard Wired). It was a good time for industrial music. Lots of of our favorite groups were doing this. It created a real toughness to their sound. The fourth phase was when Chris Peterson came in and Rhys Fulber left. Thus albums like "FLavour of the weak" and "Implode" came about. It was less heavy compared to the previous stuff, and more dancey. Then there was the phase where Rhys Fulber came back, and Bill brought in some young guns to contribute to the band. Albums like "IED", "Airmech" and "Echogenetic" were made. Echogenetic featured synthesizers like "Massive" which is what a lot of dubstep artists were using. It has a very unique metallic kind of sound, which I thought was a perfect addition to FLA. Then finally the phase where Bill brought in Tim Skold, which brings us to the current state of FLA with the album "Mechanical Soul". Which is a solid album, but personally I think it's a step down from Bills previous work. All that said, they are pretty much my favorite band of all time. Also, my apologies for the long comment. I tend to ramble when it comes to things I like. Great video as usual!

[@mattv2099]

I would love to have that on vinyl

[@unclefuncker3098]

Another great band, thanks for the video.

[@shannonm.townsend1232]

I'm in awe of the condition of the pieces in your collection; my records seem to overlap with yours, been lugging them around for 30-ish years. I had too isolate a couple crates as High Priority.

[@johnnyyeshno5230]

Agreed - it’s perfect that you reviewed this one as it’s their best and most accessible, as well being written. Their catalog is so big now that I am not sure what newer releases are like. Thanks!

[@Mondo1178]

Saw them last year with Tim Skold on guitar, and got to meet them after the and Bill couldnt be a nicer guy. Setlist was great and they sounded great. Also my favorite tracks on this are Resist and Force Fed.

[@MarysiaKosowski]

Always great to see some appreciation for Bill Leeb. It's interesting that I just happened to be listening to this very album tonight. :) As a big fan of Bill Leeb and Rhys Fulber (specifically Delerium and Conjure One), I'm slowly but surely listening to their massive back catalogue. I've covered just about every side project and now I'm tackling FLA. There's not a single album from their many projects that I've disliked. Excited for Bill's debut solo album, which I just saw announced on bandcamp yesterday. Keep sharing your music tastes. I love watching people go through their music collections. :)

[@occasionalfeelgood23]

Thanks for watching, I really appreciate it! As you can probably tell, I do enjoy talking about my collection - I’ve probably got too many videos at this point. 😁

[@defilershand]

My favorite is "Tactical Neural Impact". Cyberpunk at its best.

[@2WheelsGood]

You're killing it with these albums/videos. Caustic Grip has been on my wantlist for awhile (hard to find clean) and oddly Wax Trax hasn't reissued it on vinyl, but do have a reprint of the shirt. Not sure what's going on with the licensing, but I'm sure there's something keeping that from happening. A few other favorites of mine from FLA is Disorder and State of Mind. Those hit my interest in early genre/slightly primitive use of electronic instruments from bands. Anyway, don't let the nerds get you down.

[@Hir0-Protagonist]

Ah yes, Caustic Grip. Hands down my favorite Frontline album. Back when it came out I wore out my Iceolate/ Mental Distortion 12" and had to grab the cd single to replace it. Soooo good.

[@notrinity72]

Thank you 🙏

[@shmackatrotsky5394]

Caustic Grip is my favorite as well, with Tactical Neural Implant as a close second.

[@RockyBergen]

Samers.

[@RasMix1]

I've always liked FLA but the last couple years i've gotten more into them and the side projects like noise unit and Cyberaktif. There has been a few podcasts with cevin key and bill and rhys fulber that are really informative regarding their history. Rhys seems like a total stand up dude and bill leeb as well. Caustic grip was their first album that they mixed in a real studio, and it is one of their best definitely, I love the tech side of music history i cant help it. FLA was one of the best acts to do the "cyberpunk" "industrial" thing hands down.

[@thestangle1]

Haven’t got to see FLA yet but holy shit I love them

[@hankscorpio8928]

14:34 phenomenal video. I totally agree. This was the big departure for them into a new way of doing things and I think it’s largely because Rhys joined the fold.

[@WyattsWildNature]

Bill Leeb and Rhys Fulber are my go to, I've probably listened to most of their works. I like each album on their own, I can hear the growth and experimentations evolve. I love this early album, I really like all the new stuff too. Echogenetic was very modern and the remix album is great too. I have far too many favorites 😂

[@WyattsWildNature]

Mostly been listening to Mechanical Soul lately on my long photography nature drives and the newer noise unit: deviator album

[@heathenhammer2344]

Great album. Also eagerly anticipating Bill Leeb's new album which is out in in September. Sounds great so far. Kinda has the classic FLA sound to it.

[@defilershand]

Oh that was my first release by them I bought. They played in Atlanta GA on that tour. LOL I think there might have been 150 people there. We sat at tables only several feet from the stage.

[@AndrewSmith-mc3yu]

Mental Distortion and The Chair were both on the CD release. Resist was the very first track I heard of FLA and within a minute I knew I would love this group. Can’t really disagree that Caustic Grip is their greatest album. I also had the Virus t shirt and wore it all the time.

[@crazyjimheath]

Niice . Agreed ! best FLA album, they nailed the heavy industrial dance ... Some shades Of Ministry's Land of Honey musically mostly ...., You're right , that Wax Trax sampling is PEAK here !! i feel this gritty mix of industrial sampling and singing pace is ahead of it's time .. from 1991-1997 various bands like Machines of loving Grace built off this vocal and synth/ sampling sound in a way .. .. it's very good vocally , they didn't OVERKILL the "industrial vocal" effects on every track , which is still a bit refreshing and was kind of unique for the genre back then

[@williampodoll]

Caustic grip is my favorite too

[@occasionalfeelgood23]

It's very simple but that's why I like it.

[@williampodoll]

@@occasionalfeelgood23 love the lyrics too “nothing for loser the hero always dies!!!!!” Lol

[@solllvent]

Exactly, it's time for FLA. That's what I put to my headphones in subway today. By the way, do you have some Recoil records?

[@einherier555]

A very good choice. All the songs on this album are good. Although my favorite FLA album is Tactical Neural Implant, Caustic is definitely a great record. My favorite track is Provision.

[@shannonm.townsend1232]

Off-topic, but did you ever play Laibach when you were DJ-ing? I know they're not always the most club-friendly but they had their moments, and a Wax Trax phase. *asking in the spirit of friendship, not pedantry!

[@shannonm.townsend1232]

Would the Human Condition look any different without the excesses of Capital

[@hankscorpio8928]

15:08 totally agree with this. Have you heard of RAILWRX? They’re very much in this vein of industrial. The one review I was able to find on them sort of compared them to FLA.

[@s7k6s]

good job

[@Gary.North.ElectroBrain586.]

Caustic Grip is peak FLA

[@williampodoll]

Totally agree with you

[@Gary.North.ElectroBrain586.]

The Virus CD single release contains a great remix of Resist

[@WyattsWildNature]

Resist hits so hard, it is a banger 😁🤘

[@hankscorpio8928]

14:34 phenomenal video. I totally agree. This was the big departure for them into a new way of doing things and I think it’s largely because Rhys joined the fold.