Customer Reviews

Transgression

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This album is yet another fine example in the line of Fear Factory works, in which they expand and grow from their obvious talent base.

In particular if you are a long time fan of Fear Factory, as I am, you will very much appreciate this Album. It is not disappointing in its hard hitting, riff rich Metal/Industrial flavors, and the melodic vocals on top of the screaming vocals that you are accustomed to. This album shows much musical growth.

Even with the new line up, there is still a formula that happens here like in no other band. Very unique and texture rich music.

The die hard metal/grindcore/industrial fan can enjoy this, and there is the Power Ballad (I know, I hate that term too!) like track, "Echo of My Scream" that is accessible to the non-hardcore metal fan as well.

I loved this album. Like each of their previous works, the rich and full textures of the songs fall on my ears better with each listening. I am on my fifth time through the album, and still discovering a lot of awesome sounds and flavors.

Enjoy! Bravo, Fear Factory!

This is still impressive Fear Factory despite what many "fans" declare. Transgression means change and this shows with tracks like 'echoes of my scream' and 'moment of impact'. I have the dual-disc version which is loaded with DVD extras and the best buy exclusive track 'empire'. The band is on current hiatus as of '08 I don't care I await this album's follow up eagerly.

Released only a year after they're 2004 comeback album "Archetype", "Transgression" finds Fear Factory moving ahead with their re-tooled lineup, and they continue to impress. Opening track "540,000 Fahrenheit" is heavy and driving, while the title track features some unbelievable drumming. Other standout tracks, including "Contagion" and the excellent closing "Moment of Impact" are throwbacks to the classic Fear Factory days of "Soul of a New Machine", but there are moments on "Transgression" where it can get a little repetitive. However, it appears that Burton C. Bell and co. have focused more on the guitar work and musicianship rather than the industrial aspects of their music, which is a welcome change of pace. The band even throws in a couple covers with renditions of U2's "I Will Follow" and Killing Joke's "Milennium"; both of which aren't the best covers Fear Factory has recorded, but they're a nice extra nontheless. All in all, "Transgression" continues the re-vitalization of Fear Factory, and hopefully they're next album will be the next masterwork that we've all been hoping for since "Demanufacture".

The "new" Fear Factory (Christian on guitar, no Dino) follow-up to the awesome ARCHETYPE is excellent- great tracks, great energy, great musicianship as always. But one thing- The do a cover of U2's "I Will Follow", and I've got to tell you- from a diehard FF fan- I almost drove off the road. I've got no problem with covers- one of the best tracks on this CD is also a cover (and it kicks major ass!) and I love their version of "Cars", but if you're going to do a U2 cover, why choose their most simple, non-musical song that a 6th grade garage band can perform well- and why play it absolutely like the original version??? FF has the Mexicutioner- perhaps the greatest double-bass drumming metal drummer of our era, and he's playing "Boom-Cha, Boom-Cha, Boom-Cha, Boom-Cha" for 4 agonizing minutes... Just slit my wrists!!! It's seriously the worst single track they've ever put out- And I'd love an explanation.

So I got my Amazon shipment the other day. I had been hesitant to buy the new FF, "Transgression," because people had bashed it pretty hard in their reviews, but I figured that I would give them a chance since I had been a fan since the beginning and since metal fans can be closed-minded on occasion about bands changing anything.

By the first several songs, I was thinking, "Well, this isn't so bad. Not memorable really yet, but not terrible. And by the end of the fifth song, "Empty Vision," I was actually getting into it, thinking, "Nice riff."

Then the next song started.

Not only is track 6, "Echo of My Scream" a ballad (fine, whatever), but it is a ballad complete with cheesy rock drums and canned synth violins on the chorus (so not fine). That was the end of the positive listening experience for me. It only goes down-hill from there. The next two songs are similarly poppy, in the worst way, and one of them had me thinking, "You know, I do own some Blink-182 if I am in the mood for that. I wanted FF." Two not-heavy-at-all covers in a row after that pretty much ensured that whatever the last song was, I wasn't going to care.

So disappointing. This ranks with Life of Agony's comeback in the form of a Velvet Revolver tribute band. One more band I liked has sold out. Sigh.

Well, at least the new Nevermore and new Opeth kick ass.

Ever since Digimortal I have been wanting to see Fear Factory live but they broke up supposedly after that. Then they come along and do this great album. All I can say is welcome back Fear Factory....its about time good music has come back!

I write this review here, because this is the version I have, but I will write it in the other one too, because that is where most of the reviews are.

In short, this album is enjoyable. Is it different? Damn right, but its not. It really does sound a lot like Fear Factory, but its not predictable. Raymond's bass drum is not going 1000MPH every song, even though there is fast double bass and blast beats. BCB takes chances vocally, and it works most of the time, which I am grateful, because the same notes reverbed in EVERY FF song was getting on my nerves. The "slow" songs have an 80's quality to them. If you are expecting Demanufacture 2, you will find some of that on here, but overall its a damn good album. Please do not compare to the awful Digimortal.