Aggression Continuum
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2021}}
{{Infobox album
| name = Aggression Continuum
| type = studio
| artist = Fear Factory
| cover = Fear Factory - Aggression Continuum.jpg
| alt =
| released = {{Start date|2021|6|18}}
| recorded = 2017 (Burton C. Bell's vocals)
2020–2021 (drums and mixing)
| studio =
| genre = Industrial metal, groove metal
| length = 48:34
| label = Nuclear Blast
| producer = Damien Rainaud
| prev_title = Genexus
| prev_year = 2015
| next_title = Recoded
| next_year = 2022
| misc = {{Singles
| name = Aggression Continuum
| type = studio
| single1 = Disruptor
| single1date = April 16, 2021{{cite web|url=https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/fear-factory-releases-first-new-song-in-over-five-years-disruptor/|title=FEAR FACTORY Releases First New Song In Over Five Years, 'Disruptor'|publisher=Blabbermouth.net|date=April 16, 2021|access-date=May 9, 2021}}
| single2 = Fuel Injected Suicide Machine
| single2date = May 14, 2021
| single3 = Recode
| single3date = June 18, 2021
| single4 = Monolith
| single4date = September, 2021
}}
}}
Aggression Continuum is the tenth studio album by American industrial metal band Fear Factory, released on June 18, 2021. An instrumental version titled Aggression Continuum: The Instrumentals was released on September 17, 2021.{{cite web|url=https://www.metalsucks.net/2021/08/16/fear-factory-announce-instrumental-edition-of-aggression-continuum/|title=Fear Factory Announce Instrumental Edition of Aggression Continuum|website=MetalSucks|date=August 16, 2021}}{{cite web|url=https://music.mxdwn.com/2021/09/19/news/fear-factory-release-fully-instrumental-version-of-their-latest-album-entitled-aggression-continuum-the-instrumentals/|title=Fear Factory Release Fully Instrumental Version Of Their Latest Album Entitled Aggression Continuum: The Instrumentals|website=music.mxdwn.com|date=September 19, 2021}} A remixed version titled Recoded was released on October 28, 2022, featuring a compilation of remixes of the songs from the album.{{cite web|url=https://blabbermouth.net/news/fear-factory-to-release-recoded-album-of-aggression-continuum-remixes|title=FEAR FACTORY To Release 'Recoded' Album Of 'Aggression Continuum' Remixes|website=Blabbermouth.net|date=July 14, 2022}}
Album information
In November 2018, Burton C. Bell announced that the band completed a new album which was set to be released in 2019, with the title being called Monolith and the cover art revealed via his smartphone. He noted that there was "technical difficulties", but expressed a positive outcome.{{cite web|url=https://blabbermouth.net/news/fear-factory-completes-new-studio-album-2019-release-expected|title=FEAR FACTORY Has Completed New Studio Album, Says BURTON C. BELL|website=Blabbermouth.net|date=December 4, 2018}}{{cite web|url=https://blabbermouth.net/news/burton-c-bell-reveals-new-fear-factory-album-title-cover-art|title=BURTON C. BELL Reveals New FEAR FACTORY Album Title, Cover Art|website=Blabbermouth.net|date=February 10, 2019}} However, Dino Cazares refuted any information regarding it,{{cite web|url=https://www.theprp.com/2019/02/10/news/there-seems-to-be-some-confusion-within-fear-factory-about-their-new-albums-title/|author=wookubus|title=There Seems To Be Some Confusion Within Fear Factory About Their New Album's Title|website=theprp.com|date=February 10, 2019}}{{cite web|url=https://blabbermouth.net/news/dino-cazares-doesnt-have-any-information-to-share-regarding-possible-release-date-for-new-fear-factory-album|title=DINO CAZARES Has No Information To Share About New FEAR FACTORY Album|website=Blabbermouth.net|date=April 15, 2019}}{{cite web|url=https://www.metalsucks.net/2021/05/20/fear-factory-burton-submitted-new-album-to-label-without-dinos-knowledge-in-2017/|title=Fear Factory: Burton Submitted New Album to Label Without Dino's Knowledge in 2017|website=MetalSucks|date=May 20, 2021}} and that there was no new album.{{cite web|url=https://www.theprp.com/2019/10/02/news/dino-cazares-says-there-is-no-new-fear-factory-album/|author=wookubus|title=Dino Cazares Says "There Is No New Fear Factory Album"|website=theprp.com|date=October 2, 2019}} In 2020, he stated that the band would release new music in 2021.{{cite web|url=https://metalinjection.net/upcoming-releases/fear-factory-to-release-new-music-in-2021|author=Kennelty, Gene|title=FEAR FACTORY to Release New Music in 2021|website=Metal Injection|date=September 3, 2020}}{{cite web|url=https://www.theprp.com/2020/09/14/news/fear-factory-share-footage-from-new-album-sessions/|author=wookubus|title=Fear Factory Share Footage From New Album Sessions|website=theprp.com|date=September 14, 2020}} Monolith would be changed to Aggression Continuum with a new cover art.{{cite web|url=https://blabbermouth.net/news/fear-factory-announces-aggression-continuum-album-disruptor-single-due-next-week|title=FEAR FACTORY Announces 'Aggression Continuum' Album; 'Disruptor' Single Due Next Week|website=Blabbermouth.net|date=April 9, 2021}}{{cite web|url=https://blabbermouth.net/news/fear-factory-unveils-aggression-continuum-cover-art-teases-disruptor-music-video|title=FEAR FACTORY Unveils 'Aggression Continuum' Cover Art, Teases 'Disruptor' Music Video|website=Blabbermouth.net|date=April 14, 2021}}{{cite web|url=https://bravewords.com/news/fear-factory-complete-aggression-continuum-album-details-revealed-disruptor-music-video-streaming|title=FEAR FACTORY - COMPLETE AGGRESSION CONTINUUM ALBUM DETAILS REVEALED; "DISRUPTOR" MUSIC VIDEO STREAMING|website=Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles|date=April 16, 2021}}
The reasons behind the six-year gap between Genexus and Aggression Continuum were due to creative and personal differences, and legal issues surrounding the band, all of which contributed to Fear Factory going on an extended hiatus and Burton C. Bell leaving the band in 2020 after more than three decades as their vocalist.{{cite web|url=https://metalinjection.net/its-just-business/dino-cazares-implies-fear-factory-is-over-due-to-lawsuit|title=Dino Cazares Implies FEAR FACTORY Is Over Due To Lawsuit|publisher=Metal Injection|date=October 7, 2019|access-date=May 9, 2021}}{{cite web|url=https://www.metalsucks.net/2019/10/05/dino-cazares-chimes-in-on-fear-factory-lawsuit/|title=Dino Cazares Chimes in on Fear Factory Lawsuit|publisher=MetalSucks|date=October 5, 2019|access-date=May 9, 2021}}{{cite web|url=https://www.metalsucks.net/2019/10/07/are-fear-factory-planning-to-release-a-new-album-under-a-different-band-name/|title=Are Fear Factory Planning to Release a New Album Under a Different Band Name?|publisher=MetalSucks|date=October 7, 2019|access-date=May 9, 2021}}{{cite web|url=https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/burton-c-bell-officially-quits-fear-factory-i-cannot-align-myself-with-someone-whom-i-do-not-trust-nor-respect/|title=BURTON C. BELL Officially Quits FEAR FACTORY: 'I Cannot Align Myself With Someone Whom I Do Not Trust Nor Respect'|publisher=Blabbermouth.net|date=September 28, 2020|access-date=May 9, 2021}} Despite this, Bell's vocals are present on the album, as they were recorded in 2017.{{cite web|url=https://metalinsider.net/news/fear-factorys-dino-cazares-takes-veiled-social-media-jab-at-bands-former-frontman|title=Fear Factory's Dino Cazares takes veiled social media jab at band's former frontman|publisher=Metal Insider|date=April 14, 2021|access-date=May 9, 2021}}
Aggression Continuum saw Fear Factory's lineup intact (on the record at least) for the first time since Transgression, with Mike Heller on drums and Dino Cazares contributing to both guitar and bass.
The album also features Russian keyboardist Igor Khoroshev who is also in charge of the arrangements. Khoroshev is best known for being a member of English progressive rock band Yes from 1997 to 2000.
Reception
{{Music ratings
| rev1 = Blabbermouth
| rev2 = Exclaim!
| rev2score = 8/10{{cite web|website=Exclaim!|last=Hopkins|first=Manus|url=https://metalinjection.net/reviews/fear-factory-emaggression-continuum-em|title='Aggression Continuum' Is a Bittersweet Last Hurrah for Fear Factory's Core Members|date=June 14, 2021|accessdate=July 9, 2021}}
| rev3 = Kerrang!
| rev3score = {{rating|4|5}}{{cite web|website=Kerrang!|last=Beebee|first=Steve|url=https://www.kerrang.com/reviews/album-review-fear-factory-aggression-continuum/|title=Album review: Fear Factory - Aggression Continuum|date=June 7, 2021|accessdate=July 9, 2021}}
| rev4 = Metal Hammer
| rev4score = {{rating|3.5|5}}{{cite web|publisher=Louder Sound|work=Metal Hammer|last=Hill|first=Stephen|url=https://www.loudersound.com/reviews/fear-factory-aggression-continuum-album-review|title=Fear Factory: Aggressive Continuum album review|date=June 14, 2021|accessdate=July 9, 2021}}
| rev5 = Metal Injection
| rev6 = New Noise Magazine
| rev6score = {{rating|4.5|5}}{{cite web|website=New Noise Magazine|last=Lord|first=Grim|url=https://newnoisemagazine.com/album-review-fear-factory-aggression-continuum/|title=Album Review: Fear Factory - Aggression Continuum|date=June 18, 2021|accessdate=July 9, 2021}}
| rev7 = Sputnik Music
| rev7score = {{Rating|3.4|5}}{{cite web|url=https://www.sputnikmusic.com/review/83387/Fear-Factory-Aggression-Continuum/|title=Review: Fear Factory - Aggression Continuum|website=Sputnikmusic.com|accessdate=19 June 2021}}
}}
The album received positive reviews. It was elected by Loudwire as the 33rd best rock/metal album of 2021.{{cite web |title=The 45 Best Rock + Metal Albums of 2021 |url=https://loudwire.com/best-rock-metal-albums-2021/ |website=Loudwire |publisher=Townsquare Media |access-date=January 3, 2022 |date=December 10, 2021}} The single "Disruptor" was elected by the same publication as the 12th best metal song of the same year.{{cite web |last1=Al-Sharif |first1=Rabab |last2=DiVita |first2=Joe |last3=Hartmann |first3=Graham |last4=Richardson |first4=Jake |last5=Trapp |first5=Philip |last6=Summan |first6=Yasmine |title=The 35 Best Metal Songs of 2021 |url=https://loudwire.com/best-metal-songs-2021/ |website=Loudwire |publisher=Townsquare Media |access-date=December 31, 2021 |date=December 6, 2021}} Despite charting in various countries, Aggression Continuum ultimately became Fear Factory's first album to not appear on any Billboard chart in the US since their debut album from 1992, Soul of a New Machine.
Track listing
{{Track listing
| all_lyrics = Burton C. Bell
| all_music = Dino Cazares
| total_length = 48:34
| title1 = Recode
| length1 = 5:47
| title2 = Disruptor
| length2 = 3:45
| title3 = Aggression Continuum
| length3 = 4:54
| title4 = Purity
| length4 = 3:50
| title5 = Fuel Injected Suicide Machine
| length5 = 5:28
| title6 = Collapse
| length6 = 4:20
| title7 = Manufactured Hope
| length7 = 5:01
| title8 = Cognitive Dissonance
| length8 = 4:37
| title9 = Monolith
| length9 = 3:34
| title10 = End of Line
| length10 = 7:18
}}
Personnel
- Burton C. Bell – vocals
- Dino Cazares – guitars, bass, arrangements
- Mike Heller – drums
With
- Igor Khoroshev – arrangements, keyboards
- Rhys Fulber – additional keyboards
- Giuseppe Bassi – additional keyboards
- Max Karon – additional keyboards, guitar solo (9)
- Jake Stern – intro narration (1)
- Alex Rise – keyboards outro (10)
- Andy Sneap – mixing and mastering
Charts
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+ Chart performance for Aggression Continuum ! scope="col"| Chart (2021) ! scope="col"| Peak |
| scope="row"| Australian Albums (ARIA){{cite web|url=https://www.aria.com.au/charts/albums-chart/2021-06-28|title=ARIA Top 50 Albums Chart|publisher=Australian Recording Industry Association|date=June 28, 2021|access-date=June 25, 2021}}
| 15 |
|---|
| {{album chart|Austria|31|artist=Fear Factory|album=Aggression Continuum|rowheader=true|access-date=June 30, 2021}} |
| {{album chart|Flanders|76|artist=Fear Factory|album=Aggression Continuum|rowheader=true|access-date=June 27, 2021}} |
| {{album chart|Wallonia|53|artist=Fear Factory|album=Aggression Continuum|rowheader=true|access-date=June 27, 2021}} |
| {{album chart|Czech|81|date=202125|rowheader=true|access-date=June 28, 2021}} |
| {{album chart|Germany4|20|id=480306|artist=Fear Factory|album=Aggression Continuum|rowheader=true|access-date=June 25, 2021}} |
| {{album chart|Scotland|18|date=20210625|rowheader=true|access-date=June 26, 2021}} |
| {{album chart|Switzerland|15|artist=Fear Factory|album=Aggression Continuum|rowheader=true|access-date=June 28, 2021}} |
| {{album chart|UK2|98|date=20210625|rowheader=true|access-date=June 25, 2021}} |
| {{album chart|UKIndependent|7|date=20210625|rowheader=true|access-date=June 26, 2021}} |
| {{album chart|UKRock|2|date=20210625|rowheader=true|access-date=June 26, 2021}} |
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Fear Factory}}