Front Line Assembly - Convergence (1988)

Industrial rock had developed into a powerful underground subculture by the end of the 1980s, and Front Line Assembly was one of the bands to enjoy this rabid following. At the time, they were helping to create the image of industrial rock, experimenting with samples and drum machines in a time when only a handful of bands were trying it. What makes Convergence so interesting is seeing how so many bands took what Front Line Assembly was doing and copied it without any change. "Lurid Sensation," "Right Hand of Heaven," and other songs off of this album would serve as the blueprint for hundreds of generic industrial bands, making it hard to believe that this was pretty original at the time. For dark synth lines and menacing vocals, few bands can match this album for both songwriting and sound texture. Do yourself a favor the next time you feel like expanding your industrial collection, skip the Stabbing Westward and Xorcist and try Convergence on for size.