Having recently told the music press that "Transgression" is actually an "experimental" album - somewhat back-peddling on the usual "this is the best shit we've ever done" press releases of only a few months previous - one has to wonder whether making such a risky record was a good idea for FEAR FACTORY. Especially for a band who - returning with "Archetype" in 2004 - are still very much in the process of prooving that their comeback - and indeed their music in general - actually warrants any relevance in todays metal scene.

Well the final product probably won't do them any favours. While there are some very good tracks on offer, there is also a large amount of ambient/ballady filler along the lines of their previous song "Invisible Wounds". It's obvious these songs are trying to show a degree of maturity - and indeed they are much better than anything from the dreadful "Digimortal" album - but songs like "Empty Vision" and "Echo of My Scream" just meander along pleasantly and "Supernova" is almost a pop hit. Do people really listen to Fear Factory to hear this sort of thing when there are plenty of others that do it already? Again the cover versions of U2 and KILLING JOKE are enjoyable enough - but again begs the question was it really worth it filling up 10 minutes of the album with covers? It's not that any of the material is truly bad, just a little... redundant?

Trangression's saving grace is in a few little musical gems. "Contagion" harks back to the sort of low grind of "Soul of a New Machine" - and "540,000° Fahrenheit" is a very different, but very intense album opener that impresses from start to finish. "New Promise" is also a greatly uplifting, foot stomping number that I can imagine will become a regular part of their live set.

It's just a shame that the album's inconsistency and indeed production (several loud parts of the cd "crackle" from overmastering) make this CD more of a set-back from "Archetype" than any sort of progression.

Standout Tracks:  New Promise, 540,000° Fahrenheit, Contagion.

Overall Score:   7 /10