The first of two releases for
Front 242 in 1993,
06:21:03:11 Up Evil (aka F*ck Up Evil) found the foursome rebounding from the somewhat sterile
Tyranny (For You) with a varied, vicious assault. Incorporating guitar noise more readily than ever before, but most often chopped up and heavily treated for the band's own particular purposes,
06:21:03:11 Up Evil contains some of the band's most virulent, explosive songs. All titles are one-word long, simple, and straightforward, with names like
"Flag," "Mutilate," and
"Crapage." There's almost a straight-up
rock feel to a number of tracks as well, as the drumming on
"Waste" and the quite anthemic
"Melt" shows. It's hardly
Front 242's
grunge move, though --
Jean-Luc de Meyer and the generally little-heard
Richard 23 may have a more openly emotional rasp and rage in their voices, especially
de Meyer, but the relentless beat of
industrial/
electronic body music lives on. Leadoff single
"Religion" continues the group's winning vein on that front, feedback roars and a huge beat setting an edgy pace before a body slam of a chorus kicks in,
de Meyer raging over the top, "Let me burn you down!" The winning secret of the album is that a fair number of songs also demonstrate a careful subtlety, as with the sly mood-setting of
"Skin," with its chopped-up
electro/
hip-hop beats providing the propulsion behind desperate whispers and ominous synth buzzes. The immediately following
"Motion" provides an even more upfront blend of styles, with a quiet start and gentle singing suddenly shifting into a pounding call-to-arms percussion attack, all while
de Meyer chants, "progress, progress!" again and again. Other successes in this vein include the strange prettiness of
"Stratoscape," featuring a low, purring bassline and crisp beats offset against soft keyboard sparkles and chimes, and
"Fuel," which includes minimal
ambient buzz, more upfront dance/beat chaos, and varying combinations of the two. ~ Ned Raggett
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