Revolting Cocks

In 2004 Rykodisc reissued a series of early, Al Jourgensen-related projects, including his work with irreverent industrialists Revolting Cocks. Big Sexy Land, the project's 1986 debut, featured Jourgensen, Luc Van Acker, and Front 242's Richard 23. It was primal and artificial, dominated by the incessant click of the drum machine and laced together with manipulated samples, hissing keyboards, and the occasional blurp of thick bass guitar. The more memorable tracks -- "We Shall Cleanse the World," "Attack Ships on Fire," "TV Mind" -- combined these elements with suitably detached and/or frightening vocals from Van Acker to create an overall sense of stark, clashing nihilism. There was no statement in Revolting Cocks' music, only anti-culture and apathy, amplified by the choking vocals, relentless sample triggers, and clattering drum programs. Ryko's 2004 version of Big Sexy Land is newly mastered, and augmented with a series of mixes. There are 12" versions of "Attack Ships," "No Devotion," and "You Often Forget [Malignant]," as well as alternate mixes of "Union Carbide" and "TV Mind." Additional liner information with comments from the principals would've been a nice touch, to help place Big Sexy and the Cocks into the context of industrial at the time. But as it is, the 2004 reissue is a nice set for completists, who will undoubtedly like having the 12" content on disc. ~ Johnny Loftus, All Music Guide