It’s been 7 years since Fat Of The Land. 7 years since those addictive beats of Firestarter and Smack My Bitch Up started a punk-trance following. And thankfully, AONO turns out to be worth the wait. Starting off with what could be the next Firestarter, Spitfire, the album is a welcome break from all the generic hip-hop/ R&B going around.
Though the strains of Prodigy’s shift to the more commercial disco-trance scene from their original punk-trance USP seem obvious, the CD still is very Prodigy-esque.
The beats are still loud as ever, the vocals still as hauntingly in-your-face. The album is clearly influenced by a more eastern-European sound and coupled with great production values, makes for great listening.
Particularly mention-worthy are Medusa’s Path, Phoenix (which features samples from Love Buzz), and Shoot Down (featuring Liam Gallagher on vocals, and Noel on bass). Recommended for anyone with an affinity for trance. A great record from the Grandaddies of Brit-punk.