This single/EP is heavily beat-driven. The title track's original Massive Attack-esque ambience (a la "Angel") has been substituted for thumping beats on the two mixes. On the "Illusions of Grandeur Mix," the synths are more edgy, allowing for an aggressive dance track to shine through, although that piano melody and Leah Randi's soothing vocals are still retained (used very effectively). Leeb's vocals are also vocoded, creating a new melody and an entirely different feel. The "Re-Entry Mix" is not much different (only the vocoder is not used as much), making it similar to the second mix of "Maniacal" from that single/EP. "Sturm" is a heavy heavy track, reminding me of the days of "Hard-Wired." The beats, the guitars, Leeb's vocals, it's just an angry song. Fans of old-school Front Line Assembly should enjoy this song greatly. "Disseminate" is only a slight bit lighter than the rest of the CD, still keeping the dance beats and aggressive speed, but the synths are not as distorted. It's almost futurepop-ish, though it still keeps true to the FLA flavor and doesn't end up sounding like VNV Nation or Apoptygma Berzerk. And then "Uncivilized," a remix of the parent album's title track. Like "Vanished," this remix begins with the soothing ambience of the original version before segueing into hard industrial dance music. The radio sample vocals are still there, and the "These Islands Collapsing" refrain is kept, but vocoded, once again creating a new effect and melody that completely changes the tone of the song.

"Vanished" is a single/EP that seems hellbent on proving to the disillusioned that Front Line Assembly are not getting more mellow with age. "Civilization" may be a softer album than most FLA albums, but it still had moments of intense brilliance and energy. It was just subtler and not easy for many who were accustomed to constant aggression to pick up. "Vanished" proves that angst is balanced by calm and vice versa. I think the release-order was very deliberate, starting things off with a heavy kick ("Maniacal"), calming down a bit to get people into a groove and catch them off guard even ("Civilation"), and then catch people with their pants down and kick 'em in the arse again ("Vanished"). That's how I perceive the current state of Front Line Assembly's musical output, and I think the music speaks for itself. I've enjoyed everything I've heard from "Maniacal," "Civilization," and "Vanished," so my recommendation is to get this single/EP. If you're a fan of old-school FLA, this will please you to know that they are still as hard as ever. If you liked "Civilization," this CD offers something new in the different interpretations of the songs. Kudos to Leeb and Fulber!


pretty good   June 27, 2004
 0 out of 2 found this review helpful

this is a decent single even though it feels almost like a mini album. track 1 and 5 are the remixes of vanished but dont let that fool you.. they are nothing like the version found on civilization. these 2 mixes are heavy and fast. the 3 b-sides are merely ok. the one that stands out would be uncivilized which seems to be an anti song to the track civilization on the lp.


Buy it if you liked Hard Wired, Tactical Neural Implant, and Caustic Grip   January 24, 2006
This cd is worth the purchase if just for the song 'Sturm'. It's a very powerful song that sounds almost like a song from their 'Hard Wired' album, only with the aggressive raw energy of their 'Caustic Grip' album, and the complexity and accessiblity of their 'Tactical Neural Implant' album. This is one of the best songs FLA have ever produced. It's almost like a dream come true. I can't get over how heavy and aggressive this song is.
'Sturm' is pure FLA power. The only other FLA songs that comes even close to the aggressiveness of this is 'Plasticity'. It's not quite as evil sounding as the songs 'Final Impact' or 'Victim', but definetely more aggressive.

I don't know if other FLA fans look for this aggressive, powerful sound that I cherish so much, but if you fall into that category then I urge you to buy this cd without any hesitation.
There is no other FLA song as harsh, powerful as 'Sturm', I can only explain the harshness of the song as a kind of mild Claus Larsen (aka Leather Strip) aggressiveness.

I also highly recommend the Leather Strip albums 'Solitary Confinement' and 'Underneath The Laughter' for an even more aggressive assult on the senses. But please don't forget to buy this cd, as it really is more essential than the full length album 'Civilization' or the other EP 'Maniacal'.