mentallo & the fixer / albums

Where Angels Fear to Tread is a worthy successor to the brutal electro-industrial foundations laid in Mentallo & the Fixer's previous releases. The progression in this third release points to a more refined and polished electronic sound that sacrifices none of the dark intensity or raw power established in previous releases. There is more to Where Angels Fear to Tread than smoother synth voices playing out the complex, pulsing melodies and layered compositions for which Mentallo & the Fixer have become known. Doomy, tortured vocals have found slightly different tones throughout the release, and tracks such as "Virtually Hopeless," "Sacrilege," and "Decomposed (Trampled)," seem to be reaching in new directions, achieving a new and smoother tone, with ethereal highlights and a more even pace. Far from marking a diminishing of energy from the usual Mentallo & the Fixer raging tempos, these tracks pack a more reflective emotional punch that mark a maturation of the band's voice. Fans of the raging electro rawness need not fear -- the sinister highs and punishing bass of "Bring to a Boil," or the energy of "Afterglow" should fit the bill, even if the album lacks the overall caustic tone of Revelations 23. In return, Where Angels Fear to Tread feels to be the most structured Mentallo & the Fixer release yet, and the new balance is definitely worth investigation. ~ Theo Kavadias, Rovi