Website: Mnemic
With a sound ever-evolving closer to Fear Factory (who they do cite as an influence), is it a surprise that Christian Olde Wolbers produced the band’s third effort, Passenger? Is it too harsh to say “listen if you like Fear Factory” without pidgeon-holing the band? Yes, there are many differences, and there’s a touch of Soilwork in there too, but there’s no dodging the obvious comparison. At least it’s not meant in a negative way.
Passenger kicks off with the uneven “Humanaut” but shows much better form by the second track “In the Nothingness Black”, showcasing their talents in polyrhythmic beats and counterpoint vocals. And so the album goes, with highly memorable hooks in songs like “Shape of the Formless” but sometimes degenerating into disjointed forms like “In Control” that sound like a rejected mess from Mudvayne. Throughout the album, verses are choppy, but choruses are ridiculously catchy. Themes of the album are philosophically existential, once again showing their influences, but they certainly come off more intellectual than copycat.
As a whole, Mnemic has a sonically pleasing effort in Passenger that often tries to be too much. But not everyone can be Fear Factory, right?
