TRANSGRESSION
Transgressions
another one of the more anticipated records from a band that has been
plugging away for years. I need to make those all aware right away that
this isn't like the last record. Then again they start it off that way
with “540,000 Degrees Fahrenheit”. It does kick some ass to start it
off right.
Then again Dino is still a missed member in the FF sound scape but I
still feel Christian has duplicated the guitar sound to a degree that
many metal heads will still be able to thrash out to. Also all Fear
Factory records must be blasted on good home stereo speakers and not
out of a computer speaker. The crush effect works better.
Transgressions
has a drifting quality while Burt is very understandable in his anger.
Still you’ll hear more effects under everything. “Spinal Compression”
serves up more decapitating riffs that rule in my ears! It even
ventures into a more dark black area. “Contagion” brings it to more of
where they were on the first album in some ways. It has a very catchy
chorus.
“Empty Vision” sees them laying down a holy shit riff and the
production seemed more raw on this track, lacking production that may
have been done on purpose to give it a more raw core sound instead of
all the dressing they could have used. I still can’t help saying that
is a more Obsolete gear the most. All must remember that these guys
always were here to add the extra shit into the cauldron to avoid
stagnation. I think that is what this is about. They cant keep
releasing a Demanufacture or Archetype every damned year.
Then a very slow track in “Echo Of My Scream” comes along and is more
near ballad like and just the broken down Fear Factory. They took one
chance there. You then hear a great catchy track in “Supernova” that is
definitely more commercial edged with cool orchestration. I’d imagine
they’ve been listening to some new Paradise Lost and their 80’s new
wave again. They sorta sounded like U2 on this one.
“New Promise” is another track that has a ballad like taste as it shows
more sorrow like sounds. You’ve never heard Burton C Bell showing his
real voice like this. The song picks up with some power and is very
catchy and does pound out.
The first listen I didn’t see the song titles because they are printed
on the CD and then I hear a familiar riff. I was sitting going that
sounds like U2? What? U2. I was in a shocked state. I never thought I’d
hear a U2 track but hell they covered Gary Newman so it should be a
surprise? They do a great cover version of it is one thing to say I
still think it should been the last song on the record.
“Millennium” serves it up rocking heavy with some commercial slickness
in it as with some industrials. Then again it has a catchy chorus.
“Moment Of Impact” provides the crush riff closer.
I think the main point of this record was to show a healthy dose of
change but not straying from the original point. I think they mixed it
up well and it wasn’t over produced or over manipulated. They throw a
few curves at the listener and are growing. I feel most fans have been
bracing for a more accessible band and the time is now And they did it
without pussing out.
