What makes Ballistic Statues by A Split-Second notable?

Ballistic Statues received critical acclaim for its innovative sound and has been influential in shaping the new beat genre. It reached notable positions on various European charts, helping to establish A Split-Second as prominent figures in the underground electronic music movement of the late '80s. Released in January 1987, Ballistic Statues was A Split-Second's sophomore album, following their debut, The Collected Works. This record solidified their position within the emerging electronic body music scene, showcasing a more refined production style and deeper thematic exploration.

How many songs are on Ballistic Statues?

Ballistic Statues has 11 tracks, running approximately 50 minutes.

Ballistic Statues

A Split-Second · 1987

50 min · 11 tracks · electronic body music

A relentless fusion of driving beats and industrial soundscapes, embodying the raw energy of late '80s electronic body music.

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Top tracks — play these first

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Rigor Mortis — The opening track sets a dark and aggressive tone with its pulsing rhythms and bleak atmosphere, perfectly encapsulating the album's industrial vibe.
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Cybernetics and Pavlovian Warfare — This track combines mechanical beats with ominous samples, illustrating the band's ability to blend political commentary with danceable rhythms.
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Ballistic Statues — As the title track, it showcases a lengthy, immersive composition that evolves from minimalist textures into a chaotic crescendo, highlighting their experimental edge.
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Neurobeat — With its catchy hooks and infectious energy, this track epitomizes the new beat sound while pushing the boundaries of conventional electronic music.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

Instrumental

50 /100

Foothills

Higher than 23% of albums we've rated

The album delivers a solid blend of driving beats and industrial sounds, marking its place in electronic body music.

What we noticed

The album features a consistent tempo throughout, with all tracks maintaining a driving beat that rarely varies.
Each track employs layered industrial soundscapes, often incorporating samples and synthesized textures to create a dense auditory environment.
The first five tracks are all under four minutes, creating a brisk pace before the album shifts to longer, more exploratory pieces in the second half.

Composition 25% of the score: 6/10
Craft 20% of the score: 7/10
Durability 25% of the score: 5/10
Distinctiveness 18% of the score: 7/10
Sequencing 12% of the score: 6/10

Influence 4/10

Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Tracklist

Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.

1 Rigor Mortis 4:54
2 Drinking Sand 4:53
3 Neurobeat 4:07
4 Close Combat 4:22
5 Check It Out 5:34
6 Cybernetics and Pavlovian Warfare 3:06
7 Ballistic Statues 8:13
8 Burn Out 3:40
9 Bodycheck 3:11
10 On Command 4:44
11 Flesh 3:53

What to play next

Listen next

Neurobeat

1987

Go back to

Burn Out

1986

Full A Split-Second discography Artists like A Split-Second

electronic body music new beat

Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata