Fear Factory
Transgression

December 2005
Released: 2005, Calvin Records
Rating: 2.5/5
Reviewer: Pataklysm

With the departure of former guitarist Dino Cazares and the “BIG” break up in 2001, Fear Factory returned last year with ARCHETYPE. Now, in 2005 they’re back with another installment of heaviness entitled TRANSGRESSION.



With Dino gone and Christian Olde Wolbers moving from bass to guitar, Fear Factory have been doing quite well. TRANSGRESSION doesn’t stray from their sound too much, sticking with their patented machine-like drumming and heavy riffs. Overall, TRANSGRESSION is a definite headbanger.



Burton C. Bell’s vocals have also stayed much the same. His singing/chanting style in most songs has a way of getting to me…and not in a good way! I wonder what were they thinking with the song “Echo of My Scream”? I find myself always skipping this song due to its boring, depressing nature, whilst on songs like the title track and “Empty Vision,” Burton’s hardcore yelling is great!



Fear Factory has some really good, heavy riffs on TRANSGRESSION, some of the best I’ve heard since my personal faves DEMANUFACTURE and OBSOLETE. We can always count on Raymond Herrera’s drumming to keep things in check. With great footwork and even a few blast beats, I wonder where would they be without him?



TRANSGRESSION is not a huge progression in any way for Fear Factory. They seem to be going for a little bit more of a mainstream sound with these last few albums but you can still count on them for a good headbang.



If you’re a big Fear Factory fan, I would say buy this album. If you have not heard Fear Factory thus far (you must be living under a rock), go out and start off with the first few albums. They are much better and you’ll get more bang for your hard earned buck.



Killer Kuts: Transgression, Empty Vision