"KAMPFBEREIT: COMBAT READY" DVD Review

Alright, this is going to be a review of Front Line Assembly's DVD release "KAMPFBEREIT: COMBAT READY". This is a live concert DVD that was filmed by Anastasia Blink, A.K.A. Nasty Byte. She has previously done a live concert for Leeb's side project Delerium. After successful again, she once again has made a return for this concert and live recording. Nevermind that, though, let's get down to the nitty-gritty.

The packaging is pretty standard for the DVD. I mean, the cover art is pretty satisfactory, and there is a nice description about what's contained on the back, but there's nothing on the inside. I guess as a sort of collectible, I was hoping for something a little more, but it's what's on the disc that really counts.

And what is on the disc is very lovely material. The live concert was filmed at the Kinetik Festival in Montreal in 2011, along with other North American Cities during the Improved.Electronic.Device Tour. What can you expect? An up close and personal live concert experience that gets you as close to each member of FLA as possible. Especially Leeb. There's nothing better than that.

Aside from the up close and personal shots that were well captured and recorded, there are also many other shots super imposed over the main frame, like a fading effect, which gives you a better feel for the live venue as a whole. From shots of the crowd to dancers to everything in between, you'll really get the live treatment.

Audio quality is as good as it gets; don't expect studio level sound, as this is recorded from live sounds, but expect a lovely audio listening experience nonetheless. The tracks you get to listen to and see performed on your television screen are: I.E.D., Circuitry, Angriff, Resist, Release, Hostage, Plasticity, Pressure Wave, Prophecy, Shifting Through the Lens, Millenium, and Liquid Separation. However, there is also a hidden segment on the DVD, but I won't spoil how to find that. I will only give out a clue provided by Nasty Byte that reads, "12 tracks, 12 paths to the end. To find the one called LEGEND one must begin at the END."

And, coming off the end of this DVD, I can say that I've had my fun with it. I'm not the biggest FLA fan out there, but this live concert DVD has shown me what a performance Leeb can deliver no matter where he is, and shows that he can bring about a huge amount of energy to the stage if he needs to. Not only that, but Nasty Byte's work was good in capturing it all.

This is a fair DVD that is deserving of attention, though I do think this will bid more to the huge FLA fans than the standard fan. Either way, it has earned my admiration.

7/10

You can purchase "KAMPFBEREIT" here and purchase Nasty Byte's previous work with Delerium here.