The metal scene has always had a love-hate relationship with electronics. While most of the loyal fans and followers abhor the use of electronics, one can`t deny that keyboards have made their way bigtime into the diverse metal genres, especially the black and heavy ones. But keyboards is one thing - harsh electronics is another. With the exception of pioneer Samael, most of the bands who try to get away with using electronics had to either define themselves as true industrial bands (Ministry, Skrew) or they would not be looked at. Atari Teenage Riot is the exception to the rule. From the start, ATR has been mixing punk and metal with harsh digital breakbeats and digital hardcore elements, and the ATR vs Slayer track on the Spawn soundtrack made them `the next big thing` in the metal scene. Performances on Lowlands and Dynamo showed that ATR attracted a following that was spread over punk, industrial, metal as well as gabber. And with their third album, "60 Second Wipe-Out", they even managed to become a relatively mainstream band in Europe.

However, things went sour after the disastrous tour for the "60 Second Wipe-Out" album and ATR split up, at least for the time being. Alec Empire, ATRs frontman, continued working on his solo projects (which have never gotten the attention they deserve from the metal press and scene) and the result can be found in "Intelligence And Sacrifice".

Two CDs, showing two different parts of Mr Atari; the first one being the accessible one for the ATR devotees, the second one being the icing on the cake that Alec Empire followers will dig.

On the first CD of "Intelligence And Sacrifice", Alec Empire uses the same basis of influences as with ATR but the punk-rock element is even more blatantly present here. A lot of the songs ("Everything Starts With A Fuck") are just plain old punk songs performed with electronics as well as guitars. Appeal to the punk and metal scene is assured, and compared to the first two ATR albums the songs are of a consistently higher level. The second CD has its roots in the more mellow, laidback and experimental techno (as well as bits of acid and trance) and is a far cry from his work at the "Destroyer" or "Squeeze The Trigger" album. Instead, fans of his work for Mille Plateaux will love the sound sculptures and the different atmospheres he creates on this disc.

So in conclusion, "Intelligence And Sacrifice" has a lot to offer. Naturally, this material is only for the more open-minded punkers/metallers as the traditional clique will abhor this, but for those who don`t mind looking a bit further than the already threaded paths will discover a new high in excellence. My advice? Don`t play it loud, play it _louder_.