By: Anders

Posted: Oct 21, 2005

The last time I really listened to a Fear Factory album was when they released their second album "Demanufacture". After that I kinda lost interest in the band and couldn't connect to the path they chose. The band is now, after much hassle with line up difficulties, different rumours and so forth, which I won't bore you with here, due to you most likely knowing about it, ready with their second album after their "comeback".

At first a lot seems as the old, crunchy and heavy riffs, machine-like drum work and aggressive to melodic vocal-work. But it soon fades out and becomes very soft, there are many aggressive moments here and there, but just as many soft elements, holding the aggressiveness down and at times even invoking an epic feel like the keyboards in the track 'Contagion'. It at times seems like the band doesn’t know how to continue, it lies between their old style vs. a newer and lighter style, easier to listen to.

The musicianship is still top notch, the guitars are effective and hardhitting when needed, and soft and melancholic at other times, like in the soft and very atmospheric 'Echo Of My Scream'. The drumming, one of the usual highlights of Fear Factory, does have the reminiscent machine-like effect at times, like machine guns spitting out short waves of bullets again and again. Though it is very varied and Herrera shows all his skills. A big and pounding bass with the needed space and punch, which takes us to the good and heavy production. The sound is well-weighed and displays the instruments and sounds very well. The variation of the low and fierce growl and the melodic vocal invoked through a wah-wah pedal, as we knew the vocal assault from the older Fear Factory albums are gone. Burton C. Bell sings clean on almost all tracks, alternated with some more aggressive thrash-like screaming. There aren't many growls left, but when it's used as in the title track it works very well.

In my eyes it seems like the band is at a crossroad without really knowing which path to pursue. That is judging on some of the tracks on this album, which seems a bit split up, like the whole album, it starts out aggressively and gets more down tuned and soft towards the end, while receiving a peak in aggressiveness just before it stops. This album is listenable and is a good album, the band does have the songwriting skills in their power, as well the skills to handle their instruments. Though some tracks as 'Supernova' which makes me think of R.E.M., of course not as soft, but in the way the layered vocal harmonies sound, and due to the overall atmosphere on the track. It seems strange in connection with the Fear Factory moniker, though that might be the future. If you like the band, do give the album a chance, you might like what you hear. Though you better act fast, the first edition of the album comes with a bonus DVD, containing 3 music videos, a “making of the album” documentary, which actually is pretty good and interesting, even though they have mixed the finished music over the sound of the raw recording sessions. And as the last feature the whole album in enhanced audio format, so go at it.

Rating: 7/10

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