story by Matt Meisinger

Living Colour synthesized metal and psychedelia to perfection with the acclaimed Vivid in 1988 and the overlooked Times Up in 1990. Their unique sound was a breath of fresh air amongst the high grunge concentration of the early '90s, and it sounds even fresher today amidst the current slate of homogenized rock acts - now that they are back in action after disbanding in 1995.

The band's meteoric rise on the strength of Vivid's powerful hit single "Cult of Personality" came sooner than vocalist Corey Glover had expected, but the band took it in stride. "Our kind of instant fame was a slight downfall," Glover told Chicago Innerview. "We would have preferred a slow burn, but success is what it is, you can't control it. If it happened after our second or third album, then people would be asking what took so long."

Collideoscope, the new album from Living Colour, begins with an aural assault of riffage and searing solos from guitarist Vernon Reid, one of today's truly visionary guitarists on "Song Without Sin". Their sonorous return to form begins with a theme evident throughout the record, commenting on dark times of the present, but brightly looking ahead. Collideoscope rolls on with the rumbling ferocity of Living Colour's rhythm section and Glover's soulful howling.

GLOVER'S INNER VIEW "How many people died in Turkey and Afghanistan today? It is hard to tell because every news channel is too worried about Michael Jackson riding around in some van."

The new album title is a nod to the synergy that occurs when the right pieces come together. "Everything is the result of collision of something else. If it weren't for your parents colliding, you wouldn't be here. It's a play on words. Collision brings change, which we need today," Glover said.

It is not by coincidence that the band sounds as fresh as ever - they have been collaborating on each other's solo projects in between Living Colour projects. "We all worked on each other's solo albums," said Glover. "Will [Calhoun] worked on mine and I worked with Will and Doug [Wimbish]. We would always keep track of what the others were up to, helping out where we could."

Will Calhoun and Doug Wimbish make up the relentless rhythm section that drives Living Colour's more balanced new sound. Elements of drum'n'bass and ambient jungle are interspersed throughout Collideoscope. The two played together as Headfake before being joined by Glover and Reid onstage at CBGB, planting the seed for a reunion. "The idea of getting back together was always around in conversation. We really had to do it. It felt like there was unfinished business," Glover said.

This album sounds like no other by Living Colour. The result of all their solo projects and experimentation has come together seamlessly on their latest effort. Besides guitar effects, looping machines and a slew of percussion instruments, they also used "different sequences, stuff we did in the past, but we really went full hog and took time to make use of new technology," Glover said.

Collideoscope took over a year to finish, and it sounds like their best ever. "We took the time to find our common focus, we wanted to have something to say with all that's happening in the world today," Glover noted. The song "Operation Mind Control" has a droning, raw sound and relates Glover's feelings about a fear-inducing media. "We are constantly told something is going to happen, hearing there is an orange alert. This causes chaos, which is a great motivator for some. But people can also be immobilized by fear."

Glover is fed up with the barrage of fear conveyed by the media, as his lyrics reflect: "Damn the repetition in this shadow factory / It doesn't look much like freedom to me…Just try on this straight jacket of conformity / While we force feed you propaganda / On the state TV." Another aspect of the media that he disagrees with is their questionable focus on celebrity. "How many people died in Turkey and Afghanistan today?," he asked. "It is hard to tell because every news channel is too worried about Michael Jackson riding around in some van."

Glover also keeps tabs on the government's dealings beyond what the media is feeding the masses. "In the time they are saying some terrorism is going to happen, they pass the Patriot Act, and people don't even realize it," he said. "They are too busy buying plastic sheets and duct tape." The war itself has also been on his mind. "I'm against any war, fighting never solves anything. It is always just taking something by force." Indecision and worry are prominent in "A ? of When," a new song that dissects fears of imminent war with the chorus "Not a question of if / But a question of when."

For all the songs with dark subject matter, there is an equal amount of joy expressed, as in the blazing cover of AC/DC's "Back in Black" and a transcendental version of The Beatles' Revolver-closing "Tomorrow Never Knows". Glover notes the contrast: "It's the two sides of same coin, talk about 'A ? of When', the flipside is 'Tomorrow Never Knows'. Tomorrow can be whatever you make it. It is not promised."

So what bands impress him today? "I love P.O.D.," he said. "I'm also into Sevendust, Linkin Park." This is so ironic since they are borrowing more than a little bit from Living Colour's sound, but they are an understanding bunch of guys - who waited for the perfect time to return.

This is like hearing that Eddie Vedder listens to Creed. Hopefully followers of nu-metal will hear this album and realize they are empty from years of a water-and-milquetoast diet. What to expect from their upcoming Chicago show? "It's going to be loud, fun and everyone will know we're back. Expect to be there for a while."

Living Colour will play at the Park West Dec. 2.