Psycho: A real walloping surprise in this year’s flood of summer releases is the new album of Cyber Metal inventors known as FEAR FACTORY. Since the band’s last (comeback) effort Archetype was unexpected brutal, killing everybody’s neck but stylistically playing safe, expectations were high for the follow-up Transgression.
To say it straight away: this album cannot withstand the pressure (?) in no way. That’s not only due to the plain, sometimes even pressed and mushy sounding production, but also ‘cause of the stylistic re-orientation. FEAR FACTORY have significantly turned into the New Metal direction, sometimes reminding of a blend of their old Souls…-material with some Hardcore and a dash of too much Korn and others (and that’s not only ‘cause of Burton C. Bells new mustache). Of course, one can find these skillfully placed stop-and-go themes and double-bass lines running with plenty of riffs. But at the end I miss these brutal dynamics of old times, the consequence and brilliance in songwriting and above all these special darkly mechanical atmosphere FEAR FACTORY were so known for. However, Transgression sounds like the modern urban noise but not like a sci-fi/high-tech-destruction-spree of tomorrow. It’s a pity …
There are just a few tracks able to catch up to older highlights or setting up new ones. There I’d like to mention Contagion, which soonest reminds of older material and the single Moment Of Impact, that in fact incarnates most of the new style but this extremely sophisticated and with a thudding charm.
Tracks like 540.000 Fahrenheit, Spinal Compression and epic ballad Echo Of My Scream have surely some well-done moments but cannot keep the tension over the entire length of the songs and drift away into sort of ambivalent boredom: that’s utmost professionally done music but doesn’t kick ass in any way.
While Supernova can already be described as poppy, yet being one of the stronger songs on this record, I found myself thinking that I don’t need to buy a FEAR FACTORY album for this kind of music.
But that’s much better than listening to such trivial material as New Promise, which emerges as total filler. Same for two (!) cover versions that get played without any noticeable development: U2’s I Will Follow – the Irishmen do it way snappier. So it does Killing Joke’s original Millennium. Latest at this point I can’t help thinking that FF have planned to release just an EP while the label demanded a full-length, forcing the band put anything else on this record too…
The bonus DVD included to the ltd. edition doesn’t add a real value too. If Transgression sounds much better with “enhanced audio” I cannot check out since I don’t own such a hi-fi. Announced videos of the title track, Spinal Compression and Moment Of Impact emerge as recordings from the tour-rehearsal room and the “making-of-Transgression-documentary” doesn’t offer any new as well (in contrast to products of other labels, there are not even any sub-titles etc.). Just the menu I liked …
All things considered: I think Transgression will cause similar discussions as with the release of Digimortal. I personally don’t approve the new line and realization and just rate with 6.5 … which means a huge disappointment for a band such as FEAR FACTORY …

Velinnos: FEAR FACTORY’s newest album, Transgression, delivers something a little different than what typical FF fans would expect. Certainly it strikes new chords in Burton C. Bell’s stylistic ‘cyber’ metal sound: from the heavy and harshness of the old FF, to the extended use of clean vocals and softer melodies.

With Cazares’ departure and Wolbers’ switch to guitar, I was a bit skeptical as to how this album might sound. Overall, its experimental nature is appealing - fierce as any FEAR FACTORY CD at parts, and yet it has distinctive operatic moments as well. The first track opens with a driving guitar riff, backed by Burton’s blazingly unique vocal style. The next few tracks follow crushingly along, in the classic, innovative FEAR FACTORY vein. Then Echoes Of My Scream comes on and it surprises me with its soft and melodic sound - very different and engaging as it shows the maturity in FEAR FACTORY’s style. The next song, Supernova, is a catchy tune that would surely appeal to a commercial audience. Another great track is the final one, Moment Of Impact, which is just a brutal and powerful song.

This is not an album that all FEAR FACTORY fans will enjoy. If you’re looking for the constant intensity of Demanufacture then you might feel disappointed. But I feel that FEAR FACTORY has created a strong and melodic CD and I commend them for experimenting and allowing different musical interests to take charge. Their cover of U2’s I Will Follow wholly proves that point.