Filter
"Hey Man, Nice Shot" was a satirical breakout single of '95. It was the work of Nine Inch Nail alum Richard Patrick and keyboard wiz Brian Liesegang working under the name Filter. The intense "Short Bus" album, recorded in Cleveland of all places, with the afore-mentioned "Hey Man, Nice Shot" blew the doors open.
Liesegang split during the "Title Of Record" sessions but Patrick pressed on and the album was released in '99. Featuring dense Punk and theatrical Rock, it spawned "Welcome To The Fold." "Amalgamut" arrived in '02.
Patrick began work on what was planned to be Filter's fourth album with former Limp Bizkit/Black Light Burns guitarist Wes Borland and ex-Jane's Addiction bassist Eric Avery. But Patrick's involvement in Army Of Anyone, with Stone Temple Pilots siblings Dean and Robert DeLeo, shelved work on the Filter project.
As Army Of Anyone's '07 tour concluded and the band was going on hiatus (STP had reformed), Patrick decided it was a good time to revive Filter. Recording commenced with Patrick getting help, once again, from Borland as well as Marilyn Manson/Rob Zombie guitarist John 5 and drummer John Freese.
Prior to the release of "Anthems For The Damned," Patrick announced that guitarist Mitchell Marlow and L.A. session drummer Mika Fineo were in the band. Filter then played a series of California club shows.
Produced by Josh Abraham, "Anthems For The Damned" landed in May, '08 with the lead single "Soldiers Of Misfortune." The "sardonic anti-war/pro-troops song" was inspired by a letter from a Filter fan serving in Iraq. The soldier, who was initially in the Army Reserves (to earn college money) prior to being called up, died in combat just a few days into his tour of duty.
Patrick called "Anthems For The Damned" "highly political." He added that the first three tracks, the aforementioned "Soldiers Of Misfortune," "What's Next" and "The Wake" were "straight-up industrial powerhouses."
Filter's return was long anticipated and discussed. Usually, when that happens everybody gets set up for a big let down - but "Anthems For The Damned" lives up to expectations. The album portrays the trapped and often conflicted existence of soldiers fighting in Iraq - how they got there and the debilitating impacts of that war.
There is a saying that you can measure a society by how it treats its weakest citizens. In music, the power ballad has a less than distinguished history - one of the lamest, most overworked styles and often the worst track on an album. So it's a telling sign when the ballad "Cold (Anthem For The Damned)," an acoustic guitar laced track, about "thoughts of dread," is both powerful and effective. And it just gets better. "Soldiers Of Misfortune" opens the set tinged with pain while "What's Next" and "In Dreams" blister. "Hatred Is Contagious" has a cool bass line and a war weary heaviness while "Kill The Day" takes a nihilistic tone. Even with harsh, bare throat vocals "Lie After Lie" may be the set's best shot at mainstream acceptance - if Patrick and company are looking for that - which is doubtful.
Filter's angst overload got off to a strong start with "Short Bus." The Techno-Metal blend is the group's best effort. Second album "Title Of Record" suffers from the apparent falling out between the group's principles. With Liesegang out of the picture the album drifts dangerously close to Metal-by-the-numbers.
Patrick recovers his footing with "Amalgamut" which has a handful of hard-charging Rockers. For some reason, the set's two best songs have to do with pedestrian activities, "My Long Walk To Jail" and "You Walk Away."
"So I Quit" and "American Cliche" are textured yet blistering tracks. "Where Do We Go From Here" and "God Damn Me" have strong melodies and possesses an intoxicating openness to them. The ballads are the only down time. While "Rock ballads" are usually dreadful, and here is no exception, these ditties do serve a useful purpose. They appeal to empty headed pre-teens trying to wean themselves from the latest American idol. In that context they're tolerable. Think of the greater good.