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U-731, "By All Means..."
A pseudo-political noise project in the vein of the Grey Wolves, the debut from U-731 (also known as United Front) channels a lot of that legendary duo's punk infused angst but a little less of its tongue in cheek sarcasm. With guest spots from members of Steel Hook Prosthesis and the Vomit Arsonist, it results in a forceful record that makes no attempt to hide its disdain for the current state of US politics.
The songs featuring John Stillings (Steel Hook Prosthesis) lie somewhere between the menace of death industrial and the onslaught of power electronics.On "Forced Neurotic Displacement," a thin electronic drone sets the stage for heavily processed and flanged vocals, a staple of the latter genre.Hollow samples and an overt synthesizer progression give it its own feel, however, and an added layer of nuance and complexity.The intensity is ratcheted up on "The Mechanics of Embalming," with the vocals a bit more forceful and a harsher electronic backing, without ever becoming too noisy.
While there may have been subtlety and restraint on the front end of the album, the two long pieces with Andy Grant (The Vomit Arsonist) are anything but."F.E.M.A. Care" may begin with erratic samples and slow, menacing electronics, but it soon launches into a full on assault, with blasting noise and hate filled shouts.The title piece mimics the same pattern, initially ambient and sample-based before transitioning into a blast of pure anger and explosive electronics.
The two pieces that do not feature any guest vocalists stick to a more atmospheric mood, opting for a slow burn rather than an overt affront on the senses."Aktion-Freedom, Re-Aktion Resistance" has the trio building up cautiously, dripping with menace lurking beneath echoing samples but never releasing that tension.The closing "Suo Gan/Last Rights" follows suit, utilizing on historical speech samples in place of a vocalist.
The guest vocalists may add a lot to the overall force of By All Means, but the pieces without vocals demonstrate that the band itself played a predominant role in the overall mood and direction of the project.With its violently apolitical tone and imagery, U-731/United Front are nicely perched to succeed in a genre that so many others do not do nearly as well.
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