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Fact
Fact
Review By Andy Argyrakis
Over the past ten years, hardcore-centered rockers Fact have been honing its scalding sounds throughout Japan. Though this self-titled CD marks the band’s first-ever American release, there’s a noticeable chemistry across an intriguing album that ranges from delightfully challenging to occasionally catchy and literally everything in between. With influences as diverse as Metallica, Slayer and Blink-182, this mask-wearing quintet is just as entertaining as it is unusual, a point further driven home by enveloping pushing producer Michael Elvis Baskette (Incubus, Story of the Year).
Within the first few seconds of lead track “Paradox,” Fact appears to adapt an unrelenting screamo sound, but a few seconds after that, demonstrates a much more melodic vocal quality over intense but still accessible rhythms. “A Fact of Life” keeps the curiosity level at an all time high, interjecting ever so slight dance nuances within thrashing metal reflections. “Los Angeles” even goes so far as to tip its hat toward the progressive rock movement, bearing loose similarity to The Mars Volta, minus the meaningless tangents.
The disc hits a few hiccups, most glaringly the acoustic rocker “45 Days,” which sticks out like a sore thumb on the otherwise assaulting onslaught. “Lights of Vein” provides a less drastic break from the aforementioned whiplashes, but suffers from a watered down glossy approach that sounds like a bad Blink power ballad. Still, there are plenty of other reasons to celebrate, including the better balance between pummeling pop and brash punk during “Rise” and the furious drum fills that encompass “Snow.” In the end, Fact is a boldly bizarre concoction of all things heavy merged with old school metal, which certainly scores points for originality in an era of predictability.
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