by Greg Prato

Obsolete is the third full-length release by electro-metallists Fear Factory. Admirably, they've stayed true to their sound over the years, paying no mind to current musical trends -- they're content with their original Ministry-meets-Slayer sound. On their latest (produced by ex-Front Line Assembly member Rhys Fulber), the quartet offers more of the same sound, with a bit of experimentation thrown in for good measure, such as the use of violins, cellos, and violas on a few of the tracks. "Shock" kicks things off with the classic Fear Factory sound: mechanic heavy metal with vocals that morph from growls to hymn-like chants. Also of note is the title track, which features a robotic spoken word dialogue from industrial godfather Gary Numan, and contains slightly off-time drums that help to heighten the already-existing musical tension. The album's biggest surprise however is "Resurrection," which is perhaps the most tuneful song Fear Factory have ever done, without compromising their heavy sound.