Transgression (+DVD) - Fear Factory

Advantages: Fear Factory try something a little different
Disadvantages: Poor production quality in places, vocals often feel strained

Being a huge 'Fear Factory' fan I was looking forward to the release of 'Transgression'. The band had released consistent albums tinkering different ideas, rarely releasing anything sub-standard. But the first thing you will notice with 'Transgression' is that it delves into deeper waters than any of the previous 'Fear Factory' efforts, and not in a good way. It can be a good album in places, but on the whole is a mixed bag. Some will love it, some ...
...several aspects of 'Transgression's' creative direction that don't live up to the expectation, It's these I will share with you first. Firstly this is the first 'Fear Factory' album where mixing has left some possibly great songs sounding weaker than they should. Burton C Bell's voice sounds as though it's stretched too far when he roars leaving the listener gasping for breath, while at other times his voice soars majestically as on the 'Archetype' ... Read review

Advantages: can be found cheap
Disadvantages: some weak songs, unoriginal

Fear Factory are an interesting band that have done a remarkable amount of work in recent years on many strong but not chart topping or ground-breaking albums. With this album's update with a DVD addition, it signals more attention for a band who for all their effort certainly deserve it. The ratio of hits to unknowns on the album is good; supernova: a well-known, brilliant track, Contagion likewise and Spinal Compression also excellent, with I ...
...something that isn't lacking in this album in my opinion, the direction in which the band are heading from the indication of this album is a topic of much debate by the band's fans; some see the progression in this album to a more techno style with more clean singing as a negative move. Others however, such as myself, view this as a progression with the times to make more accessible music. Fear Factory have had reasonable but not outstanding success ... Read review