Force.Is.Machine - Resurrection

For no reason other than professional difficulty, this review has been postponed since April - I'd like to take this chance to apologise to the band.

Now, this is a difficult one to write about. F.I.M are an act that were successful around 2006-2007. The band took a hiatus in 2008, and at the start of 2010, the bands main member, Stefan St John was tragically killed in an accident in Florida. I've been given extensive information from his remaining bandmates, but I feel it would be almost untoward to make this review into an obituary.

This release marks the resurrection of the act, with the sole purpose of ensuring Stefan's music reaches a bigger audience than it ever did when he was alive.

Now, be aware first and foremost - there is also an EP with the same name out on Bandcamp - this is a full-length, fifteen track release and is available from the bands webstore.

Starting with "FutureDK", I'm reminded of early C-Lekktor. The track is very hostile, and the vocals are distorted as hell. Textbook Aggrotech really, but good enough to be worth something.

"Todeslager II" sounds a lot more 'Industrial', and has roots closer to "Un-Music" than anything else. In fact, this album is quite simply difficult to really describe. It's a combination of the first two EP's and some rarer tracks put together into one long opus (explaining the Hexen Process remix located at track 5). However, this material is really strong, and the decision to honour Stefan's art is wise. The man had a genuine talent.

Honestly, this release is worth buying. There's better out there, there's also a lot worse, but for everything this is, it's poignant. As for the other thirteen tracks, I strongly suggest you check out the previews on the website. It's a habit i'm kicking; spoiling entire releases.

My only concern is that after this, the band is going to dissolve again as no more of Stefans material will be left. I don't want to have to watch a band I dearly enjoy separate for a second time, but that's life.

Kert Rotten and Coleco are working tirelessly to promote the project, and appearances with acts such as FGFC820 are only helping them.

R.I.P. Sep 10 2012