Front by Front
1988 studio album by Front 242
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Front by Front is the fourth studio album by Front 242, released in 1988, and has been labelled as "easily one of the greatest industrial albums ever made".[1] The album was reissued in 1992 by Sony Music Entertainment. The song "Headhunter" became an industrial dancefloor hit, accompanied by a music video directed by Anton Corbijn, and has since been subject to over 20 remixes.
41:46 1988 CD issue
69:37 Epic CD issue
Wax Trax!
Animalized
Epic
| Front by Front | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | November 1988 | |||
| Genre | EBM, industrial | |||
| Length | 36:28 41:46 1988 CD issue 69:37 Epic CD issue | |||
| Label | Red Rhino Europe Wax Trax! Animalized Epic | |||
| Producer | Front 242 | |||
| Front 242 chronology | ||||
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| 1992 Epic release cover | ||||
 | ||||
| Singles from Front by Front | ||||
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Miss Kittin used "First In / First Out" on her mix album A Bugged Out Mix.[2]
Reception
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [1] |
| Encyclopedia of Popular Music |  [3] |
| MusicHound | 4/5[4] |
| NME | 9/10[5] |
| Record Mirror | 4/5[6] |
| Select | 5/5[7] |
| The Village Voice | B−[8] |
Front by Front was one of Wax Trax! Records' most successful releases, selling more than 90,000 units in its first run.[9] The album, and its lead single "Headhunter", elevated the public awareness of EBM and industrial music in the late 1980s.[10]
In 2019, Pitchfork ranked it at number 6 in its list of the "33 Best Industrial Albums of All Time".[11] In 2023, Consequence ranked it at number 9 in its list of the "50 Best Industrial Albums of All Time".[12] Spin named it one of the ten essential industrial records.[13]
Track listing
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Until Death (Us Do Part)" | 4:30 |
| 2. | "Circling Overland" | 4:43 |
| 3. | "Im Rhythmus Bleiben" | 4:14 |
| 4. | "Felines" | 3:34 |
| 5. | "First In/First Out" | 3:52 |
| 6. | "Blend the Strengths" | 3:13 |
| 7. | "Headhunter v3.0" | 4:45 |
| 8. | "Work 01" | 3:28 |
| 9. | "Terminal State" | 4:09 |
| 10. | "Welcome to Paradise v1.0 (CD edition bonus track)" | 5:18 |
| Total length: | 41:46 | |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 11. | "Headhunter v1.0" | 5:01 |
| 12. | "Never Stop! v1.0" | 3:56 |
| 13. | "Work 242 N.Off is N.Off" | 5:18 |
| 14. | "Agony (Until Death)" | 2:43 |
| 15. | "Never Stop! v.1.1" | 4:24 |
| 16. | "Work 242" | 6:29 |
| Total length: | 69:37 | |
Notes
The 1992 bonus tracks were originally released on the Never Stop! EP, except for "Headhunter v1.0" which was originally released on the Headhunter EP.
Personnel
Front 242
- Jean-Luc De Meyer – vocals
- Daniel Bressanutti – keyboards
- Patrick Codenys – keyboards
- Richard Jonckheere – drums
Additional personnel
- Frédéric Boebaert – art direction
- Greg Calbi – mastering, remastering
- Alain Verbaert – photography
