Having already released 2 albums, numerous 12 inches, and having built up a healthy following around the world, few record releases were more hotly anticipated than Liam Howlett & Co’s latest offering back in 1997. While many had argued that their previous two albums were aimed squarely at the ageing rave generation & its jilted generation Fat Of The Land encompassed a far broader appeal and offered a little something for everyone. While many believed that rock was long since dead The Prodigy bred new life into this genre as an electronically mutated monster in which traditional instruments like drums and guitars were melted seamlessly with samplers and drum machines. “Firestarter” had already topped charts worldwide, leading a >bunch of other electronic acts in an invasion of areas traditionally devoted to rock and all its derivations, including the Billboard Charts and MTV.

Sampling everything from Skunk Anansie to the Breeders, from Beastie Boys to John Barry, Howlett was pointing to the possibilities for the next decade of music. In a way only they could the Prodigy were paying also tribute to the past and present, and showing admiration for some of the pioneers of electronic music(“Firestarter” features a small but significant sample from Art of Noise(for which they paid handsomely in royalties)). The boys had clearlycapitalised on the rock/techno sound of their second album, many of the phatbeats and samples are very similar as on previous albums. That said there are constantly evolving ideas within the same framework and these tracks have all the qualities that make you want to dance til dawn. “Firestarter” and “Breathe” were automatic belting hits and even conquered the elusiveAmerica market. “Smack My Bitch Up,” was definitely in pole-position for most politically incorrect song title of the year. Listened to in a big room with walloping volume, “Climbatise” is an ambient number of epic proportions. Leave the dial on 10 and the album will crank into “Fuel My Fire,” a crazy track with Keith Flint emitting those clenched throat punk vocals that only just made it onto the track.

While perhaps not as groundbreaking as other artists on the scene at the time or even today when you’ve got the recipe right why change the ingredients? Having been 4 years now since this last offering there’s many a fan excitedly anticipating the new working titled album “Always Outnumbered, Never Outgunned” due later this year and I wholeheartedly count myslef among them.