The Algorithm (Ultra Edition)

Enduring hard rock vets Filter return after a seven-year absence, during which time quite a lot happened in the world and in the bands orbit. With global turmoil and a pandemic in hand, the Richard Patrick-fronted outfit set out to initially create a follow-up to their classic 1995 debut, Short Bus, but those so-called "ReBus" sessions eventually morphed into a different beast in the form of the intense eighth set, The Algorithm. Nailing nostalgic fan service without sacrificing sonic growth or a relevant message (much like 2016s Crazy Eyes), the LP nestles into the sweet spot between their familiar, post-industrial, aggro-alternative attack and a timely lyrical focus that is quite clear to those paying attention. Opener "The Drowning" is a time machine to the 90s in the most flattering way possible: dark, churning, and angsty. But that classic Filter sound is soon twisted by the downtuned guitars and chaotic electro-squabbles of "Up Against the Wall" and the closing segment of this early triptych, "For the Beaten," a skull-rattling, industrial dubstep assault that features one of Filters catchiest choruses. As Patrick cries to the heavens, "World on fire/Down to the wire/We have the right reasons/Fighting for the beaten," his desperation and anger about the state of the United States in a post-2016 landscape is palpable. That frustration seethes through the entirety of The Algorithm, and Patrick doesnt mince words about his intended targets, laid out on the sing-along rock epic "Summer Child" with the line, "Ive seen divisions have been made/Sold to us with fake grace by an impotent king." That politically charged sentiment has been a part of the Filter package for decades, but its refreshing to hear Patricks brand of vitriol delivered with a signature howl that can still level a city block (even with the understandable wear and tear of age). Other highlights include the straightforward rocker "Obliteration," the throbbing pogo-stomper "Face Down," and the towering cinematics of "Be Careful What You Wish For," which features a driving industrial beat that churns atop haunted atmospherics. The Algorithm closes on a surprisingly soft note, with the midtempo, acoustic guitar-backed "Burn Out the Sun" providing some bittersweet musing and "Command Z" utilizing computer commands to help Patrick escape this messed-up reality. Overall, its one of Filters best, another late-era gem that marries the comforting and familiar with the new and exciting. ~ Neil Z. Yeung