Woyote is set to release its debut album next month.
The hard rock super group is scheduled to release its first ever album, Mother of the Universe May 11. The band — Mikey Doling (Snot, Soulfly, Channel Zero), Aaron Nordstrom (Gemini Syndrome), Jari De Roover, Quentin Cornet, Sebastiaan Verhoeven, and Charles Degolla — has built excitement over the album with the release of the singles, ‘Atlas Shrugged,’ ‘Second Chance,’ and ‘Alternate Reality.’
More information on Woyote’s new album is available along with all of the band’s latest news at:
A wait of almost four years for new music from Soulfly officially came to an end this month when the band, founded by former Sepultura front man Max Cavalera, released its latest album, Totem. Released Aug 4 through Nuclear Blast Records, the 10-song record came more than three years after the release of the band’s then latest album, Ritual, which was also released through Nuclear Blast Records. The band’s 12th album, it shows as much change in its content as the lineup that recorded the LP. One of the record’s most notable entries comes early in its 40-minute run in the form of ‘Rot In Pain.’ This song will be examined shortly. Also of note much later in the album’s run is ‘Ecstasy of Gold.’ It will be examined a little later. ‘Superstition,’ which serves as the album’s opener and lead single, is yet another key addition to the album and will also be examined later. When it is considered along with the other songs noted here, that collective joins with the rest of the album’s entries to make Totem in whole one of Soulfly’s best albums to date.
Totem, Soulfly’s latest album, is a powerful new entry from the band. Coming almost four years since the release of the band’s then latest album, Ritual, the record shows a certain amount of growth from the band both in terms of musical and lyrical content. ‘Rot In Pain,’ which comes early in the album’s run, is just one of the songs that serves to make that clear. The song’s musical arrangement is unlike anything Soulfly (in any of its lineups) has crafted over the years. It is a full-on death metal style composition that hits listeners right from its opening bars. The pummeling (and sometimes shrieking) guitars pair with the drumming of Max Cavalera’s son Zyon and Max’s own vocal delivery to make the overall composition comparable to works from the likes of Morbid Angel and Entombed just to name a couple of bands in that vein. Audiences could even make a slight comparison to works from the likes of Exodus along the way, too. The overall musical presentation makes the song so powerful in itself.
The lyrical theme that accompanies the song’s musical content makes the song all the more powerful. Max Cavalera talked about the song during a recent interview with Apple Music, noting that it is a song of pure anger.
“It’s about having an enemy and wishing that he would rot in pain – not just die, but die in pain,” said Cavalera.
This is a topic that is accessible to nearly everyone out there. Whether it be in the workplace or somewhere else, we all have that one person that is just a complete enemy. They live to make us (and others miserable) and we wish the absolute worst on them. To that end, this theme will help any person deal with those despicable people without doing something that could land them in jail. The full-on anger is presented right from the song’s lead verse in which Cavalera screams, “Arteries open/Festering wound/Bleeding out maggots/Lifeless tomb.” Yes, that is a pretty graphic visual, but who out there has not had violent visions of what they would like to do to those people who are their enemies? Again, allowing Cavalera and company to express the anger is therapeutic to a point. The pure fury continues in the song’s second verse in which Cavalera screams, “Bodies on bodies/Flesh/Worm feasting now on human trash/Disintegrated mindless brain/Acid burns on a hollow face.” It is all capped off in the song’s chorus, which states, “I feel the need/Wide as the world/Deep as the grave/Cursed be the death that you know/Rot in pain.” Again, this is complete fury. This is emotion that everybody has felt at one point or another in life. Being able to vent that frustration through these accessible words and the equally powerful musical arrangement makes this song stand out so strongly.
‘Rot In Pain’ is just one of the songs that makes Totem stand out. ‘Ecstasy of Gold’ is another key addition to the album. It should be noted here that this song is not a cover of the song that was originally used in the timeless spaghetti western flick The Good, The Bad and The Ugly and then made even more famous through Metallica. This is a completely separate song from that composition. That is obvious in the song’s arrangement, which is another full-on death metal composition. While it is a death metal style work on the surface, audiences could also argue that there is a touch of groove metal in the mix, too. The blending of those separate but still similar styles makes the overall arrangement so impacting and at the same time unique from any of the album’s other entries.
The hard-hitting musical arrangement presented in ‘Ecstasy of Gold’ is just part of what makes the song worth hearing. The song’s lyrical theme makes for its own engagement. As Cavalera pointed out during his conversation at Apple Music, the song focuses on the greed that has driven so much of mankind throughout history.
“This one talks about human greed and what gold fever does to a person’s psyche,” said Cavalera. “Countries were built by gold fever. There are stories about the Portuguese going to Brazil and totally raping the whole side of a mountain for gold. It’s in all the cathedrals in Portugal right now.”
In other words, the song is another sociopolitical commentary from Cavalera. That is nothing new from him and to that end, is something that is certain to resonate with his longtime fans. The message is most clearly delivered in the song’s chorus in which Cavalera states, “Pounding hate from my hands/My hands/Solar eyes have deceived you/Thirst for wealth bringing pain/Ecstasy of gold remains.” He even mentions in the song’s lead verse, “Pounding hearts full of grief/Greed of lust has no relief.” Again, this is a clear illustration of what Cavalera was talking about in his comments. This is addressing that greed that humans have for not just gold but wealth in general. It is a fully accessible theme that when paired with the song’s equally powerful musical arrangement, makes the song in whole another example of how much Totem has to offer audiences.
While ‘Ecstasy of Gold’ is a clear example of what audiences have to expect from Totem it is just another example of how much the album has to offer. ‘Superstition’ is yet another positive example of the record’s positive marks. The musical arrangement featured in ‘Superstition’ is impressive in its own right as it takes listeners back to Cavalera’s days with Sepultura. That is evident in the full-on thrash approach taken here. More specifically, it takes audiences back to the days of Chaos A.D., which is going back quite a way. Cavalera’s more familiar tribal elements are most prominent in this arrangement than in any other point in the album.
The lyrical theme featured in the song makes for its own interest. That is because as Cavalera noted during his interview, it is based on his research into the Superstition Mountains, which he said are not far from where he lives in Arizona. According to legends, the so-called Lost Dutchman’s mine is located in the Superstition Mountains. Cavalera’s mention of “Superstition/Harder than stone” is an interesting play on words given the legends of the Superstition Mountains. What’s more, the fact that few if any other act out there has crafted a song about this topic makes the son stand out even more. When the song is considered with the rest of the record’s entries, the whole makes Totem an overall successful new entry from Soulfly.
Totem, the latest album from Soulfly is another successful offering from the veteran metal outfit. That is made clear through its musical and lyrical content. The songs examined here make that clear. When they are considered along with the rest of the album’s entries, the whole makes the album yet another welcome addition to Soulfly’s catalog and to this year’s field of new hard rock and metal albums.
Totem is available now through Nuclear Blast Records. More information on the album is available along with all of the band’s latest news at:
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The band announced Thursday, it is scheduled to release its latest album, Totem, Aug. 5 through Nuclear Blast Records. The record will be the band’s 12th album, and will come more than three years after the release of the band’s then latest album, Ritual. Audiences who pre-saveTotem will have a chance to win a prize package that includes the new album, as well as t-shirt, Soulfly towel, socks, and bandana.
In anticipation of the album’s release, the band premiered its new single, ‘Superstition‘ Thursday, along with its lyric video. The song’s musical arrangement is everything that audiences have come to expect from Soulfly. The familiar thrash leanings from founder/front man Max Cavalera’s days in Sepultura add even more of a welcome touch to the arrangement.
No information was provided about the song’s lyrical theme in the press release announcing the pending release of the new album and the premiere of the single and video. While no information was provided, it can be at least somewhat inferred that maybe this song is a commentary about the damage that the belief systems incorporated into our belief systems. That is just this critic’s interpretation.
The lyric video features the song’s lyrics placed over imagery, such as a Native American chief on horseback, cave paintings, and a totem pole. The visualization seems to play even more into the implications of the lyrics.
Totem will release on a variety of platforms, all of which are noted below along with the album’s track listing.
Totem will be available in the following formats:
CD Jewelcase
Blue Cassette (Limited to 300)
Long Box
CD Jewelcase
Sticker
Pin
Vinyl
Black
Gold
Bundle
Album Shirt
CD Jewelcase
Below is the Totem tracklisting:
Superstition
Scouring The Vile
Filth Upon Filth
Rot In Pain
The Damage Done
Totem
Ancestors
Ecstasy Of Gold
Soulfly XII
Spirit Animal
More information on Soulfly’s tour schedule is available online, along with all of the band’s latest news and more at:
To keep up with the latest sports and entertainment news and reviews, go online to http://www.facebook.com/philspicks and “Like” it. Fans can always keep up with the latest sports and entertainment news and reviews in the Phil’s Picks blog at https://philspicks.wordpress.com.
Satirist “Weird” Al Yankovic has, for ages, been known as the king of comedy in the music community. His spoofs of songs from the likes of Coolio, Michael Jackson, and even Nirvana (as well as Miley Cyrus and others) have made him a household name among audiences across the musical universe. After so many years leading the way in the musical comedy ranks, Yankovic may well have some competition, at least in the metal community from the up-and-coming band, The Violent Inzident. The sextet’s new album, This Is Nu Metal!, which was released April 1, makes that clear. The 11-song record is the lighthearted shot in the arm that the metal community has needed for years thanks to its musical and lyrical content alike. Each item will be discussed in its own right here. Just as notable is the record’s production, which will also be discussed later. Each item noted is important in its own right to the whole of the record’s presentation. All things considered, they make This Is Nu Metal! a successful record that while it will ultimately be dated in the long run, is still entertaining from beginning to end.
This Is Nu Metal!, the new album from up-and-coming satirical rock band The Violent Inzident, is a welcome offering that reminds the metal masses that reminds hard rock and metal masses that it is possible to be musically heavy without always being emotionally heavy. The record’s musical arrangements make that clear. From one song to the next, the record’s musical arrangements pay homage to the nu-metal sounds that have been so popular since the late 1990s. Those songs include works from the likes of Disturbed, Powerman 5000, Slipknot, Soulfly, Sepultura, Korn, and even System of a Down. The band even pokes fun at Limp Bizkit, showing that no one is off limits to this band, at least in terms of musical content. The arrangements spoof the noted bands’ songs while still making the arrangements their own along the way, making for even more enjoyment. Simply put, the musical content featured in this record more than makes for its own share of engagement and entertainment. The lyrical content that accompanies the record’s musical arrangements adds even more to that engagement and entertainment.
The lyrical content is so important to the record because it spoofs the bands and their songs just as much. It also pokes fun at society. Case in point is the band’s single, ‘Triggered (The Snowflake Anthem).’ This song is a fully tongue-in-cheek stab at how overly PC society has become in the 21st century. On another note, the band goes right after Limp Bizkit in ‘The Violent Inzident, even mentioning the year 1999, which is really when Limp Bizkit broke out. The band even goes so far as to poke fun at the nonsense lyrics that Limp Bizkit has come up with for its songs here. As if all of this is not enough, The Violent Inzident even takes a direct stab at Slipknot/Stone Sour front man Corey Taylor in ‘D.a.R.E. to Keep Kids on Drugs’ as the question is asked whether people actually give any credit to anything he says. the song in this case pokes fun at all of the songs that glorify drug use and people who abuse them and try to get off of them. It’s really a social commentary in itself, but done in such a satirical fashion. Between that content, the other content examined here and the rest of the record’s lyrical themes, the whole makes clear just how important the album’s lyrical content is to this presentation. That content, together with the album’s musical content, makes this record overall such a surprisingly enjoyable presentation. It is just part of what makes the record worth hearing, too. The album’s production rounds out its most important elements.
The production that went into the creation of This Is Nu Metal! is important because of its role in the album’s general effect. From one song to the next, the album’s production ensures that the heaviness of the nu-metal compositions is fully on display. The down-tuned, crunching guitars, the rough vocals, the thick bass lines and drums are all there. Each gets its own attention in each varying nu-metal composition, too. The end result of the production is that each arrangement proves itself just as worth listening as the others. Even the vocals are clear in each song, getting just as much attention in the production as the instrumentations. Taking into account the impact of the record’s production alongside the impact of the overall content, the whole makes This Is Nu Metal! a surprisingly entertaining presentation that nu-metal fans and metal fans alike will find entertaining.
This Is Nu Metal!, the new album from The Violent Inzident, is a surprisingly engaging and entertaining presentation. That is due equally to its musical and lyrical content. The record’s musical and lyrical content each playfully poke fun at some of the biggest names in the nu-metal movement, from Korn, to Disturbed, to Powerman 500, to Slipknot and others, the content overall takes a satirical approach, making for plenty of laughs. The lyrical content does not just stick to poking fun at said bands, either. It also takes on societal issue, making for even more enjoyment. The record’s production adds its own enjoyment to the mix. That is because of its impact on the album’s general effect. It is just as worthy of praise as the album’s content. Each item noted is important in its own way to the whole of the album’s presentation. All things considered, they make the album well worth hearing at least once.
This Is Nu Metal! is available now. More information on The Violent Inzident’s new album and tour is available along with all of the band’s latest news at:
BMG is going to re-issue four of Soulfly’s albums this summer.
The company is scheduled to release the new box set, The Song Remains Insane June 17 on CD and vinyl. The collection culls the band’s first four albums — Soulfly, Primitive, 3, and Prophecy — into one collection. All four albums will be presented in their standard release editions and will be complimented with an extra disc of bonus tracks, previously released on various pressings of those albums.
Many of the bonus tracks featured in the extra disc are actually featured in the expanded edition of the band’s debut self-titled album, which was released in 1998. Those tracks are ‘Cagnaceiro,’ ‘Ain’t No Feeble Bastard,’ ‘The Possibility of Life’s Destruction,’ ‘Tribe (Tribal Terrorism Mix),’ ;Quilombo (Zumbi Dub Mix),’ and ‘Umbabarauma (World Cup Mix)’. The disc also features bonus tracks from Primitive in the form of ‘Terrorist (Total Destruction Mix)’ and ‘Soulfire.’
Pulled from the Japanese release of 3 is the band’s cover of Pailhead’s ‘I Will Refuse.’ Speaking of covers, the band’s cover of Black Sabbath’s ‘Under The Sun,’ which was featured in a special digipack release of 3 is also included in the bonus disc. The lone previously unreleased track is ‘Berimbau Jam.’
The collection’s full track listing is noted below.
SOULFLY Eye For An Eye No Hope = No Fear Bleed Tribe Bumba First Commandment Bumbklaatt Soulfly Umbabarauma Quilombo Fire The Song Remains Insane No Prejudice Karmageddon
PRIMITIVE Back To The Primitive Pain Bring It Jumpdafuckup Mulambo Son Song Boom Terrorist The Prophet Soulfly II In Memory Of… Flyhigh
3 Downstroy Seek ‘N’ Strike Enterfaith One L.O.T.M. Brasil Tree Of Pain One Nation 9-11-01 Call To Arms Four Elements Soulfly III Sangue De Bairro Zumbi
PROPHECY Prophecy Living Sacrifice Execution Style Defeat U Mars I Believe Moses Born Again Anarchist Porrada In The Meantime Soulfly IV Wings
Soulfire Cangaceiro Ain’t No Feeble Bastard Possibility Of Life’s Destruction Chaos Soulfire I Will Refuse Under The Sun Tribe (Tribal Terrorism Mix) Quilombo (Zumbi Dub Mix) Umbabarauma (World Cup Mix) Terrorist (Total Destruction Mix) Berimbau Jam
In other Soulfly news, the band announced in January, that Fear Factory founding member and guitarist Dino Cazares had been tapped to join the band on the road for its winter/spring 2022 tour. The tour launched Feb. 7 in Las Vegas, NV and ran through March 19 in Gallup, NM.
Soulfly front man and founder Max Cavalera and his brother Iggor (who together also founded Sepultura) are now mapping out their tour performing two classic Sepultura albums, Beneath The Remains and Arise. The schedule for that tour is noted below.
Max and Iggor Cavalera have added two musicians to the touring band for their new tour.
The brothers announced Tuesday, they have added Dan Gonzalez (Possessed, Gruesome) and Mike Leon (Soulfly) to the touring lineup. Iggor spoke highly of the new additions to the touring lineup.
“We can only count with the illest players to step on stage with me and Max to play Beneath/Arise,” Iggor said. “So getting Dan Gonzalez from Possessed/Gruesome and Mike Leon from Soulfly was an amazing choice!… Can’t wait to hit the road!”
Leon shared Iggor’s enthusiasm.
“I am super excited to be a part of the revival of these classic albums with the brothers that created them, it is a great honor!,” he said. “These shows are gonna CRUSH, and I’m sure that we are gonna deliver these songs better than they have ever been played before to everyone who joins us! See you on the road!”
Gonzalez also shared positive thoughts about joining the group on the road.
“It would be an understatement to say that I am incredibly stoked and honored to be able to play with Max and Iggor, and the fact that we’ll be playing material from Beneath The Remains and Arise is beyond surreal to me since I grew up worshiping those albums,” Gonzalez said. “Max and Iggor helped change the standards of extreme Metal and those albums are still living proof of that. It’s insane to me as a fan and as a musician to be able to play these songs live, and I can’t wait to do them justice!!!”
Max and Iggor Cavalera announced their new tour last month. The “Max & Iggor Return Beneath Arise Tour” is scheduled to launch May 22 in Albuquerque, NM and to run through June 25 in Tempe, AZ. The tour will see the brothers performing Sepultura’s classic albums, Beneath The Remains (1989) and Arise (1991).
The tour’s schedule is noted below complete with links to tickets.
Independent rock band The Violent Inzident is scheduled to release its new album, This Is Nu-Metal! Friday.
The band is scheduled to launch a new European tour in support of the record May 25. In anticipation of the record’s release Friday, the band has released three singles from the presentation. They come in the form of ‘Brazil Is Great,’ ‘Triggered! (The Snowflake Anthem)‘ and ‘Nu-Metal!’
The band clearly goes into each of its singles with tongue planted firmly in cheek as the songs playfully poke fun at the likes of Powerman 5000, Limp Bizkit, System Of A Down, Slipknot, and even Soulfly and Sepultura. At the same time, one of the songs even takes a playful jab at the thrash and black metal communities in its arrangement and video while another even pokes fun at the current state of the world, what with its overly offended ranks and another goes after the very culture of nu-metal.
More information on The Violent Inzident’s new album and tour is available along with all of the band’s latest news at:
When Soulfly hits the road for its latest tour next month, Dino Cazares will once again join the band.
Cazares, guitarist and founding member of Fear Factory was announced as a guest member of the lineup Monday. This will mark the second time since August 2021 that Cazares has joined the band’s touring lineup. Cazares replaced Marc Rizzo for that tour, which ran from Aug. 20-Sept. 24.
Soulfly’s upcoming tour is scheduled to launch Feb. 7 in Las Vegas, NV and to run through March 19 in Gallup, NM. It features performances in cities, such as Memphis, TN; Lombard, IL and Eugene, OR.
The tour’s schedule is noted below. Tickets are available here.
Confirmed dates for SOULFLY‘s U.S. tour are: 2/07/2022 Las Vegas, NV – Rockstar Bar* 2/08/2022 Palmdale, CA – Transplants* 2/09/2022 Oxnard, CA – Oxnard PAC* 2/10/2022 Fresno, CA – Strummer’s* 2/11/2022 Santa Cruz, CA – Atrium 2/12/2022 Reno, NV. – Virginia Street Brewhouse* 2/14/2022 Berkeley, CA – Cornerstone* 2/15/2022 Roseville, CA – Goldfield Trading Post* 2/16/2022 Eugene, OR – WOW Hall* 2/17/2022 Portland, OR – BossaNova Ballroom 2/18/2022 Seattle, WA – El Corazon* 2/19/2022 Tacoma, WA – Fawcett Hall at Alma Mater* 2/20/2022 Spokane, WA – Big Dipper* 2/21/2022 Spokane, WA – Big Dipper* 2/23/2022 Great Falls, MT – The Newberry # 2/24/2022 Billings, MT – Pub Station # 2/25/2022 Casper, WY – Gaslight Social # 2/26/2022 Greeley, CO – Moxi Theater % 2/28/2022 Fargo, ND – The Aquarium # 3/01/2022 Minneapolis, MN – Cabooze # 3/02/2022 Milwaukee, WI – Miramar Theater # 3/03/2022 Hobart, IN – Hobart Theater # 3/04/2022 Lombard, IL – Brauer House # 3/05/2022 Cincinnati, OH – Riverfront Live # 3/06/2022 Nashville, TN – Basement East # 3/08/2022 Memphis, TN – Growler’s # 3/09/2022 Little Rock, TX – Little Rock Music Hall # 3/10/2022 Oklahoma City, OK – Whiskey Nights % 3/11/2022 Baton Rouge, LA – Chelsea’s % 3/12/2022 Ft. Worth, TX – Rail Club % 3/13/2022 Shreveport, LA – The Sand Bar % 3/15/2022 Corpus Christi, TX – House of Rock % 3/16/2022 McAllen, TX – Cine El Rey Theatre % 3/17/2022 Laredo, TX – Cold Brew Rock Bar % 3/19/2022 Gallup, NM – The Juggernaut Music %
= Support TBD # = with 200 STAB WOUNDS % = No Support
Soulfly’s as-yet-untitled new album was produced by Arthur Rizk (Cavalera Conspiracy, Go Ahead and Die, Code Orange). The follow-up to 2018’s Ritual, its release date and other information is under consideration.
More information on Soulfly’s new tour and next record is available along with all of Soulfly’s latest news at:
Soulfly will tentatively launch a new North American tour this winter.
The band announced Monday, it is scheduled to launch its new tour Feb. 7 in las Vegas, NV. The tour is scheduled to run through March 19 in Gallup, NM and features performances in cities nationwide, such as Lombard, IL; Tacoma, WA and Shreveport, LA.
Front man/founder Max Cavalera said he is looking forward to getting back in front of audiences again.
“I’m more than thrilled to kick off the New Year with a tour!,” he said. “We will be playing songs from our upcoming new release!”
Soulfly’s as-yet-untitled new album was produced by Arthur Rizk (Cavalera Conspiracy, Go Ahead and Die, Code Orange). The follow-up to 2018’s Ritual, its release date and other information is under consideration.
The tour’s schedule is noted below. 200 Stab Wounds is scheduled as support for select dates. Tickets are available here.
Confirmed dates for SOULFLY‘s U.S. tour are: 2/07/2022 Las Vegas, NV – Rockstar Bar* 2/08/2022 Palmdale, CA – Transplants* 2/09/2022 Oxnard, CA – Oxnard PAC* 2/10/2022 Fresno, CA – Strummer’s* 2/11/2022 Santa Cruz, CA – Atrium 2/12/2022 Reno, NV. – Virginia Street Brewhouse* 2/14/2022 Berkeley, CA – Cornerstone* 2/15/2022 Roseville, CA – Goldfield Trading Post* 2/16/2022 Eugene, OR – WOW Hall* 2/17/2022 Portland, OR – BossaNova Ballroom 2/18/2022 Seattle, WA – El Corazon* 2/19/2022 Tacoma, WA – Fawcett Hall at Alma Mater* 2/20/2022 Spokane, WA – Big Dipper* 2/21/2022 Spokane, WA – Big Dipper* 2/23/2022 Great Falls, MT – The Newberry # 2/24/2022 Billings, MT – Pub Station # 2/25/2022 Casper, WY – Gaslight Social # 2/26/2022 Greeley, CO – Moxi Theater % 2/28/2022 Fargo, ND – The Aquarium # 3/01/2022 Minneapolis, MN – Cabooze # 3/02/2022 Milwaukee, WI – Miramar Theater # 3/03/2022 Hobart, IN – Hobart Theater # 3/04/2022 Lombard, IL – Brauer House # 3/05/2022 Cincinnati, OH – Riverfront Live # 3/06/2022 Nashville, TN – Basement East # 3/08/2022 Memphis, TN – Growler’s # 3/09/2022 Little Rock, TX – Little Rock Music Hall # 3/10/2022 Oklahoma City, OK – Whiskey Nights % 3/11/2022 Baton Rouge, LA – Chelsea’s % 3/12/2022 Ft. Worth, TX – Rail Club % 3/13/2022 Shreveport, LA – The Sand Bar % 3/15/2022 Corpus Christi, TX – House of Rock % 3/16/2022 McAllen, TX – Cine El Rey Theatre % 3/17/2022 Laredo, TX – Cold Brew Rock Bar % 3/19/2022 Gallup, NM – The Juggernaut Music %
= Support TBD # = with 200 STAB WOUNDS % = No Support
Soulfly just wrapped another North American tour Sept. 19. Fear Factory founding member/guitarist Dino Cazares replaced Marc Rizzo for the tour.
More information on Soulfly’s new tour and next record is available along with all of Soulfly’s latest news at:
Fear Factory has been in the news quite a bit this year. Early last month, it was announced that founding member and guitarist Dino Cazares had joined Soulfly for its latest tour in place of Marc Rizzo. That announcement was followed up with the release of the new companion piece to the band’s latest album, Aggression Continuum. The companion piece in question is the isolated instrumental tracks from that album. Why the band would go that route is a headscratcher when audiences can hear the instrumentals just as clearly in the original album. Speaking of the album, the 10-song record was released June 18 through Nuclear Blast Records. The 48-minute collection is an interesting addition to the band’s extensive catalog. That is due in large part to the album’s featured lyrical content, which will be discussed shortly. The musical arrangements that feature alongside the album’s lyrical content make for more interest and will be discussed a little later. The production that went into this record rounds out its most important elements. When it is considered along with the album’s content, the collective items make the album maybe not the band’s best work, but still worth hearing at least once.
Fear Factory’s most recent album, Aggression Continuum, is a mostly successful offering from the band. Not knowing whether the band will continue now that former front man Burton C. Bell (whose vocals are featured in the record) and founding member Dino Cazares was recently announced as part of Soulfly’s current lineup, it is a positive potential final offering from the band. The album’s success comes in this record, primarily through its lyrical themes. The lyrical content in this case is actually quite different from that featured in the band’s existing catalog. While so much of the band’s catalog focuses largely on the issue of technology taking over the planet, this album seems less focused on that matter. Right from the album’s opener, ‘Recode,’ the album seems more focused on general defiance and belief in self than on technology’s role in mankind’s fate. Bell – again he recently parted ways with the band – goes so far as to sing in the song’s chorus, “Why deny life you dream about/Why deny your dream?” Considering comments that Bell shared in recent interviews about his time with Fear Factory, audiences are left to wonder if these statements are somewhat autobiographical. The mention of a generation being “left behind” and the encouragement to “open your eyes” serves even more, to bring about that sense of defiance. It is a statement about taking control of one’s life. That overarching theme continues through the album’s first few tracks just as clearly, too.
On a separate note, ‘Manufactured Hope’ takes the band in another direction, though one that is still familiar within the hard rock and metal community. In this case, Bell seems to take on the issue of religious hypocrisy. This is inferred he Bell directly sings in the song’s chorus, “I am hypocrisy of faith/I will not believe/My mind will never be enslaved/I will not believe.” His call of “ignore the facts in front of you/Deny the logic and the truth/Conform to mediocrity/You know it’s manufactured hope” in the song’s second verse serves just as much to infer the noted message. He goes on to go so far as to note, “Faith is a weapon and a tool/Creating manufactured hope” makes the noted message seem even more the case. Again, this is slightly new territory for Fear Factory, but not for the hard rock and metal communities. That Bell and company would again, show that willingness to try something new at least for itself as a group, is welcome even in its larger familiarity.
‘End of Line’ meanwhile takes the band back to more familiar ground while also taking it in a slightly different direction again. In this case, the song comes across lyrically as a sociopolitical statement about the state of the world today. This is inferred right from the song’s lead verse and chorus as Bell sings, “Avoid the bloody streets/We’re living in domestic war/Gunmen in uniform/Murdering innocents at your door/This can’t be real/Assault on my senses/Depriving me of sanity/Fractured/Damned images/Praying for the final reckoning/End of life/End of time/End of line.” The seeming message continues in the song’s second verse in which Bell sings, “Beaten to crush my soul/To silence me in shackled chains/Your lies like gasoline/Living every day in tragedy.” All of this comes across as a commentary of sorts on police brutality. That is just this critic’s interpretation. It is inferred through the mention of armed gunmen at the door. It conjures thoughts of what law enforcement officers did to Brianna Taylor. The images being seen are in fact still damning. It and so much more leaves many praying for the final reckoning. The matter of being “beaten to crush my soul/To silence me in shackled chains” points even more toward the matter of police brutality, especially considering this year’s headlines. Again, this is all this critic’s interpretation. If in fact that is the case, then it is another example of how Fear Factory on this album, really strayed from its own norm and opted instead for something more widely accessible, lyrically speaking. When it is considered along with the other lyrical themes noted here and the rest of the album’s lyrical themes, the whole makes clear why the album’s lyrical themes are so important to its presentation. They are just a part of what makes the album interesting. The musical arrangements that accompany the record’s lyrical themes are more familiar from the band and add to the record’s success.
While the lyrical content featured throughout Fear Factory’s new album finds the band seemingly move into new territory, the record’s musical arrangements keep the band in familiar territory. From beginning to end, audiences will find that the arrangements pull from various points in the band’s catalog. Right from the record’s outset, the band take audiences back to the sounds crafted for its 1998 album, Obsolete. As the album progresses, the arrangements are more akin to works from The Industrialist, Genexus, and Archetype. Simply put, the arrangements that are featured throughout the album are everything that audiences have come to expect from Fear Factory from one song to the next. To that end, they will appeal easily to the band’s established audience base, and to more casual fans of the industrial metal realm. Keeping that appeal in mind along with the interest that the album’s lyrical themes are sure to generate, the collective content goes a long way toward making the album successful. Even with that in mind, there is still one more item to examine, that last being the record’s production.
The production that went into Aggression Continuum is important to examine because of how much is going on in each song. The guitars and bass, each of which were recorded by Cazares, are so heavy and rich. Bell’s vocals are just as powerful here as ever, too, as are the drums, which were handled by current drummer Mike Heller. Considering the energy in each composition and the richness of each line, it would have been so easy for the songs to get bogged down in themselves, but thankfully that did not happen. Rather, each line complimented the others. The result is a record whose presentation succeeds just as much for its aesthetic value as for its content. To that end, all things considered here make the album overall that much more certain of a success.
Fear Factory’s latest album, Aggression Continuum is a record that is certain to appeal mostly to the band’s established audiences, and just as much to casual industrial metal fans. That is proven in part through the record’s lyrical themes. The themes in question find the band seeming to go in a different direction at least for itself, than that for which it has been known. By contrast, the musical arrangements featured throughout the record are more familiar from one to the next. That familiarity, paired with the new direction taken in the song’s lyrical content, makes for plenty of interest here. When the record’s production is taken into consideration, it puts the finishing touch to the presentation, ensuring the noted engagement and entertainment for the mentioned audiences even more. Each item noted is important in its own way to the whole of the album’s presentation. All things considered, they make the album a work that regardless of the band’s fate from here, is mostly a success.
Aggression Continuum is available now. More information on Fear Factory’s new record is available along with all of the band’s latest news at:
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