ALBUM REVIEWS

Alec Empire
Intelligence and Sacrifice
Digital Hardcore April 22nd 2002
@www.vanguard-online.co.uk

 "This is our world and has no future." From the portentous voiceover intro to the collapsing rubble of imploding beats that is the finale, this is intent on destruction. Hardcore; pure and not simple. Insanely fast beats and Alec screaming 'destruction' over and over. This is music that might as well have been designed to reinforce generational boundaries. Alec Empire was the prime mover in Atari Teenage Riot and this is a step beyond their achievements. 'Call this music?' I'd go beyond that, this approaches art. This is the most aggressive albums I've heard in a while but varied and full of surprises. 'Everything Starts With A Fuck' is unusually aggressive and yet features a Judy Garland sample! The relentless single 'Addicted To You' is here and sounds almost relaxed compared to its neighbours. The key message is in the title track and screamed in our faces: 'Wake. The. Fuck. Up.' The album gets louder and more furious until it reaches 'New World Order' where it jumps over the wall and runs around screaming with bits falling off it until it collapses in a pile of steaming and screaming synths. There is no joy here but turn it up full and be pinned against the wall for an hour, a rictus of fear on your face and spreading puddle on the floor. This is a double CD. The second set is uncomfortable electronic music - 'Un-Easy Listening', if you like. It's very good but the meat (and blood and sinew and gristle) is in that monster first set. Horrible, objectionable, ruthless noise. What cutting edge rock should be.

Ross McGibbon