X Factor X - X Factor X
Tracks:
Amducias
The Scream
Over The Edge
Lie
Shadow
Kingdom
B*A*M*F*
Playing With Fire
Ghosts
Nightmare
Devil's Lobotomy
Label: Klytus Records
Year: 1997
Producer: Chris McCarvill & X Factor X
Total Time: 39:24 m:s
My second slab of Heavy Metal this month. After listening to a couple of web site samples, I wasn't that hopeful that this one was going to impress me. Like I said in the Witch Meadow review, it has been quite a while since I got excited about traditional Heavy Metal.
It's a bit of a shock then that I like this. The fact that I haven't listened to much HM recently makes it difficult for me to think up comparisons. The bizarre combination that I I'd use to describe XFX is Metallica with a touch of David Lee Roth and some non-specific 90's (i.e. I can't think of any) influences thrown in.
The music is dark and brooding to match the lyrics. The lyrics certainly centre on the dark and evil side of life, but I'm not too sure how seriously to take them. If you've a song called B*A*M*F* (think about it) where you rant on about how evil you are and how you're out looking for someone to kill, then you've got to taking the piss (I hope!!!).
I can't think of many other albums that this happens on, but when I'm listening to XFX, I actually pay more attention to the bass than the other instruments. I was a bit mystified by it, but when I was typing in this review I just noticed that the bass player is also the producer, so maybe it all makes sense after all. I'm not saying that the bass is too high in the mix, merely that it's one of the things I like about the album.
Whilst XFX's music is heavy and brooding, they still manage to maintain a sense of melody. I know it's a short album, but the album holds together well and I don't find myself hitting the next track button on the remote control.
Best tracks are The Scream (Hard hitting yet curiously melodic), Lie (Sepultura/Metallica with a sense of melody), Shadow (Ethereal at the start, but gets heavier. Good song structure), BAMF (Even from the start this has me thinking David Lee Roth circa Skyscraper, but heavier. I'm not sure I necessarily agree with having a chorus contain profanity just to be 'cool') and Devil's Lobotomy (This is the tune makes me think XFX don't take themselves too seriously, as it features a comic strip manic chorus).
The next time I'm in the mood for some heaviness, I'll be reaching this album rather than Metallica.
Rating: 8
Decide for yourself by visiting their web site: http://www.geocities.com/SunsetStrip/Backstage/6919/XFactorX.html
