Ascension of the Watchers

Numinosum (13th Planet)
by Scott Hefflon

Burton C. Bell, singer of Fear Factory, wants to show his sensitive side, and that’s fine. Opeth got away with that shit, to the point of that acoustic album that reminded me of Simon & Garfunkle (and this slab contains a cover of their classic, “Sound of Silence,” just to make the comparison absolutely clear). Burton INVENTED the cold, detached voice in metal. Industrial adopted it, and, over the years, Fear Factory became as stagnant as peers Sepultura, cuz really, if yer good at one thing, and you do it fuckin’ well, the fact that that’s all yer capable of is nothing to be ashamed of. Make history, then get out of its way.

This album? Ministry’s Al Jourgensen produced it, and perhaps metal stoners will groove on it, but conceptually, it reminds me of Echobrain, some shit band Jason Newsted started after he left Metallica. He was so used to being famous, he forgot no one gives a shit about you and your art unless it connects with them, which is hard for famous fuckers to do unless they dig deep. And let’s face it, that might not be metal dudes’ strong point.

If you like originals by Pink Floyd tribute bands, this might be for you.
(www.thirteenthplanet.com/records)