In 1989, the group returned with the album Gashed Senses & Crossfire, which contained the dance-flavored singles "Digital Tension Dementia" and "No Limit." A European tour in support of the record yielded a live album -- titled simply, Live -- that was released and deleted on the same day in a limited edition of 4,000 pressings. After Balch departed Front Line Assembly in 1990, Fulber stepped in as a full partner; the streamlined duo soon released the electro-styled album Caustic Grip, while 1992's Tactical Neural Implant found the group's music moving in a more hard-edged disco direction. By 1994, the sound evolved yet again, with the album Millennium displaying a newfound reliance on guitars; both the title track and "This Faith" scored as club hits. Fulber departed the lineup by 1997, while his replacement Chris Peterson debuted with 1998's Flavour of the Weak. A best-of/remix compilation, Monument, was released the same year, as well as Re-Wind, a re-mix collection of material from Flavour of the Weak. Implode appeared one year later. Sticking with a heavy dose of synth-pop trance and throbbing melodies,Leeb and Peterson issued Epitaph in fall 2001.
Once again re-united as FLA, Bill And Rhys released a killer single 'Maniacal' (2003) as a precursor to the new album 'Civilization' (2004) and the sighs of relief amongst FLA fans were audible across the globe. 'Maniacal' is good old-fashioned FLA bought up to date whilst B-side 'Anti' shows that messers Leeb and Fulber can still produce stark and dark Industrial.
For the first time, Bill Leeb, Rhys Fulber, and Chris Peterson have joined ranks. The trio, with new members Jeremy Inkel and Adrian White, began work on Artificial Soldier in early 2005, and it was time well spent. Just release in June 2006 the newly re-formed line-up managed to create a release that should live up to the expectations of Front Line Assembly fans. Heavy pounding beats, atmospheric strings, percolating melodies, dynamic synths and Bill Leeb's trademark vocals are the norm here. Two guest vocalists also appear on Artificial Soldier. Eskil Simonsson from Covenant (on “The Storm”) and Jean-Luc De Meyer from Front 242 (on “Future Fail”).
Other projects include: Conjure One, Delerium, Pro-Tech, Synaesthesia, Will, Intermix, Noise Unit, Equinox, Cyberaktif and Mutual Mortuary.
http://www.mindphaser.com/
Machine Slave
Front Line Assembly Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Strutting all their corporate stuff
Like taken puppets they dance around
Devouring this valuable sound
Star eyed people wait for a turn
Only to see it's just a burn
Spike the bass
Smell the dust
Grind the rust
Mega dope
Mega beat
Winding down that tarnished road
Truthful stories never told
The price they pay
For seconds of fame
This game we play
The ultimate way
Broken promises
Fashionable hope
This big illusion
One big joke
Plastic people living the dream
Sell their soul to make the scene
Mega dope
Mega beat
Mega fake
Mega cheap
Mega slave
Mega brave
Mega fine
Mega slime
The lyrics of Front Line Assembly's song "Machine Slave" are a scathing critique of the music industry and its corrupt and superficial nature. The song starts by describing pretty faces all lined up, strutting their corporate stuff, like taken puppets dancing around and devouring the valuable sound. The star-eyed people wait for their turn, only to realize it's just a burn. The lyrics denounce the industry's use of artists as mere commodities to be exploited and thrown away once they have served their purpose.
The chorus of the song describes the futile attempts of musicians to make it big in the industry. The lyrics implore the musicians to spike the bass in their face, smell the dust and grind the rust, urging them to fight back against the corrupt system. The second verse of the song continues to criticize the industry for its broken promises and fashionable hope. It describes the music industry as one big illusion concealing the reality of plastic people living the dream, selling their souls to make the scene. The song concludes with a final chorus that uses the lyrics "mega dope, mega beat, mega fake, mega cheap, mega slave, mega brave, mega fine, mega slime," to drive home the point that the music industry is a toxic and degrading environment.
Line by Line Meaning
Pretty faces all lined up
A group of attractive people are standing in a row.
Strutting all their corporate stuff
They are showing off their business attire and acting confidently.
Like taken puppets they dance around
They move in unison like they are controlled by someone else.
Devouring this valuable sound
They are consuming the music in a way that is intense and enthusiastic.
Star eyed people wait for a turn
Hopeful people are eagerly waiting for their chance to participate.
Only to see it's just a burn
They soon realize that it was not worth their time or effort and feel disappointed.
Spike the bass
Make the bass sound more intense and aggressive.
In your face
Play the music loudly and directly towards the listener.
Smell the dust
The music has a gritty, industrial quality that can almost be tasted or smelled.
Grind the rust
Work to remove the rough, imperfect elements of the sound to create a smoother effect.
Mega dope
The music is really cool and impressive-looking.
Mega beat
The rhythm is powerful and catchy.
Winding down that tarnished road
The future looks bleak and hopeless, with fewer opportunities to succeed.
Truthful stories never told
There are many secrets and aspects of the music industry that are never revealed to the public.
The price they pay
The people who are trying to make it in the industry often have to make sacrifices or face negative consequences.
For seconds of fame
They may only achieve a brief moment of recognition that is not sustainable.
This game we play
The competitive nature of the industry is like a game that people are constantly trying to win.
The ultimate way
Being successful in the industry is seen as the most important goal, and can even become an obsession.
Broken promises
People in the industry often make commitments they don't keep or don't meet expectations.
Fashionable hope
People remain optimistic and excited about their prospects despite the challenges and setbacks they face.
This big illusion
The music industry creates an image of success and glamour that is not always real or attainable.
One big joke
It's ridiculous how seriously people take the industry and how little control they often have over their own careers.
Plastic people living the dream
The people who attain success are often artificial and do not seem genuine or authentic.
Sell their soul to make the scene
They are willing to compromise their values or do things they don't necessarily believe in to achieve success.
Mega fake
The music industry generates a lot of artifice and inauthenticity.
Mega cheap
The industry is not concerned with producing quality material, only generating a profit as efficiently as possible.
Mega slave
The people in the industry are enslaved to the expectations and demands of the business model.
Mega brave
It takes courage to pursue success in the industry, but it can also lead to a lot of risk and difficulty.
Mega fine
Although there are many negative aspects to the industry, there are also some positive qualities to the music being produced.
Mega slime
Sometimes the music and the people associated with the industry can be slick and unscrupulous.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: BILL LEEB, CHRIS BRYAN PETERSON, CHRISTOPHER PETERSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind