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Released June 20, 2006 on Metropolis Records 1. UNLEASHED 0:00 2. LOWLIFE 5:17 3. BENEATH THE RUBBLE 10:45 4. DECSENTION 17:10 5. BURIED ALIVE 23:13 6. DOPAMINE 28:42 7. SOCIAL ENEMY 35:11 8. FUTURE FAIL 40:35 9. THE STORM 46:43 10. HUMANITY [World War 3] 51:54 (Hidden Track) FAWNCHOPPER 59:04 The fourteenth studio album by FLA: This is one heavy, dangerous record with soundscapes that stretch as far as the ear can hear. It's my favorite album of theirs and was also my first. Artificial Soldier was unlike anything my fragile young ears had ever heard. I became sort of an industrial music junkie in 2006, an EMO phase that all started with this record. I'm now 10 years older and I'm past that phase, but still have a blast with this record over a decade later. That was my inspiration for uploading it. Art by Dave McKean The band wanted the album art to reflect the title. The cover for “Artificial Soldier“ suggests a world where everyone is forced to pick up a weapon and march into combat, regardless of their age or capability. The child appearing on a battlefield (with a giant metal apparatus attached to his body) reflects a corrupt system with cold (or desperate?) initiatives. The reverse cover has the same boy elevated above the clouds, an innocent life being prepped for combat. It tells a breathtaking story of man becoming more machine like (or is the machine becoming more like man?) akin to “The Terminator“ or “The Matrix“ After all these years, I guess I found comfort in staring at the reverse cover, a young boy stuck to a piece of metal like a chair. It's a relatable concept, because of how stuck and restricted I felt as a teenager experiencing social anxiety, while also learning how to deal with ADHD. I suppose an image of a minor, inhibited by a metal apparatus, felt all too familiar. CRITIC Thought I might as well leave some quotes here for some insight on the initial response to Artificial Soldier. It was met with mostly positive reviews. The criticisms made over the years, despite being valid, never hindered my enjoyment of this record. “if you want your Bill Leeb furious and angry, this is right up your alley.“ -John Carlson of Release Music Magazine “This is not only a parody of the genre but of Front Line Assembly itself, and I find that disappointing for a band that was once so creative and forward thinking.“ -Barcode Magazine “Because it does not cover any new musical ground [...] it can hardly be considered a masterpiece, but it is one of FLA's strongest albums from start to finish.“ -Formid Dominatus at Discogs
