A bit late from my side but better late than never. Actually it was kind of hard due to some personal circumstances to find the right mood for this review. Bill Leeb and his long-years partner Rhys Fulber have finally released their new full-length album which once again demonstrates their exceptional position in the Electro/Industrial music scene. I think there is no need to further introduce this famous Electro/Industrial music-project as ther long-year activty and their integrity speaks for itself. This album also holds the last two tracks composed among others of Jeremy Inkel, who passed away in January 2018.

This album kicks off with the already previously released killer track "Eye On You" featuring Robert Görl of DAF to provide some sequencing works. Another track already released previously is the usual cover version of the Austrian Pop-music artist Falco. With "Rock me Amadeus" the far too early gone Falco has reached highest international chart positions in 1985 and people often forget, that Bill Leeb is a born Austrian citizen. So this cover version is actually meant as a serious homage to his countryman. As for the half-German / half-English vocals, Jimmy Urine of Mindless Self Inguldence has been hired and he deserves respect for his performance. As it comes to rate this track, I was actually hoping for a bit more tougher and more Industrial-minded outfit of this cover.
But luckily "Wake up the Coma" offers enough mouthwatering stuff to satisfy your inner need for a raw Electro/Industrial experience. "Hatevol", "Living a Lie", "Mesmerized" and/or "Structures" are exactly the ones someone was hoping for: beat-oriented EBM-like tracks to bring some wild Pogo action back on the dancefloors of the dark clubs. Especially "Living a Lie" is that well composed with a catchy chorus progression and reanimates a quite compareable impression which we all had experienced with their classic smasher compositions like "Gun", "Iceolate", "Provison" or "Plasticity".
Asides these more upbeating tracks there are also some rather slow and ominous produced tunes which caught my attention. "Tilt" is a slow stalking, ultra-depressive track which describes lyrically the upcoming unavoidable nuclear worst-case scenario. Because of its brute and raw bass-line sequences this is to me one of the highlights of this diversified album.
"Negative Territory" has a related mood musically compared to "Tilt" but adds some more subtle layers and pads especially in the chorus part. Further guest appaerances to provide guest vocals can be noted in the title track (Nick Holmes / Paradise Lost) and the album closer "Spitting Wind" which features Chris Connelly (Revolting Cocks, Cocksure).
All in all this new FLA album turns out to be a satisfying one. Not their best work for sure, but in times when it gets harder and harder to separate the good ones out of a mindblowing mass of mediocrity, this album acts like an oasis in the desert.