Front 242 - 05:22:09:12 Off

An unusual album by Front 242, the band's two singers were not directly involved in its construction. It is, however, first-rate electronic music with remarkably creative programming and flawless production. It features a female singer (Christine Kowalski), another surprise for longtime Front 242 fans. Her voice is wrathful and distorted on "GenEcide" and "Modern Angel," longing and resentful on "Crushed"--a touching song about loss and isolation. Menacing drum sounds and an enigmatic chant propel the portentous "Serial Killers." Intricate percussion patterns and sweeping synthesizers make for some of Daniel Bressanutti and Patrick Codenys' most memorable programming, particularly on "Animal," and the remixes "Junkdrome" and "Skin (Fur Coat)." --Mark McCleerey Amazon.com

Perfect blending of Industrial and Techno/Electronica/Etc.

Not 100% Industrial, and definitely not 100% Techno, this is an amazing recording. I have always loved NIN, early Front 242, Ministry, some Skinny Puppy, and a bit of Front Line Assembly, but THIS work takes the cake... amazing... I remember buying this when it was first released and expecting the same old Front 242 attack... wow, was I surprised.... female vocals for starters, but also a new sense of continuity and VERY cool synth/sample work... it will ALWAYS be one of my required listening CD's... Highlight: GenEcide... just listen to it. June 21, 2005

05:22:09:12 Off ~ Front 242

This was the second album that was released in 1993 and it is one of the best ebm albums ever recorded. I think that it was a very bold decision to go with Christine Kowalski as their lead singer instead of their regular vocalists. The end result is nothing short of astounding and stupendous. Kowalski adds a new element and edge to a band that needed some new blood and new ideas at the time. The lyrics are some of the best the band has ever written and they are not as obtuse and confusing as on some of their earlier releases. The sounds selected are nothing short of amazing and the vocal treatments sound awesome. This is such a great album and I personally think that it is Front 242's magnum opus. May 11, 2005

Really hard, really innovative

I always had a hard time deciding which of the two innovative 1993 albums from 242 was better. At first I prefered this album, but then I went back to liking the more laid back 'Up Evil' album better because of all the complex layers it had.

But despite, this album is the harder & stronger big brother of 'Up Evil'. The lyrics are loud & driving with distortion filters. I think 242 really paved the way on vocal filter innovation here.

I see this album as a MUST HAVE for any real industrial fan. While 242 isn't as commonly known as NIN because their lack of a Top40 hit, I would say 242's music is much more complex than NIN, if not always as catchy.

1. Animal (Cage) - great slow intro (I don't rate intros)
2. Animal (Gate) - 5 stars
3. Animal (Guide) - 4.5 stars
4. Modern Angel - 5 stars
5. Junkdrome - 5 stars
6. Serial Killers Don't Kill Their Girlfriend - 4.75 stars
7. Skin (Fur Coat) - 4 stars
8. GenEcide - 3.75 stars
9. Crushed - 5 stars
10. offEND - great soundscape (I only rate songs)
11. Animal (Zoo) - 4.5 stars
12. Serial Killers Don't Kill Their Boyfriend - 4.25 stars
13. Happiness (More Angels) - 4.75 stars
14. Crushed (Obsessed) - 4.75 stars
15. Melt (Angel) - 4 stars (sounds a touch like older 242)
16. Speed Angels - 5 stars September 30, 2004

Almost as good as

I bought both of these back in 93',pretty good,but I think Tyranny For you was Front 242's best to date. September 30, 2004

Top quality record

As far as the influence over the industrial scene is concerned, few bands can rival Front 242. This album shows the band still at its creative peak. It sounds somewhat different to what we came to expect from these guys, first of all, because there's almost no 242's trademark Jean-Luc de Meyer's singing. Instead, the female singer dominates most of the songs here. She sounds very convincing, with menacing distortion in certain tracks, and soothing melodism in others. There's a lot of techno influence on the record, and the pulsing of synth lines is entrancing. Overall feeling of the record is dark and disturbing, with hard driving rhythms, though the variety of the tracks is impressive. My favorite is perhaps "Happiness" where hard techno rhythm is mixed with operatic female singing. What's peculiar about this work, is that certain melodic themes and rhythmical structures are used throughout the record, mixed into the tracks structure here and there, as a sort of industrial conceptual record.

This album was the last in a series of studio greatness from Front 242 that continued on from their debut in 1982. "05:22:09:12 Off" is a must have for any industrial or EBM fan. June 22, 2004

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