Freax, it seems, regard themselves as scarier and more disturbing than they are in actuality. Sure, the band's family tree, which includes a Brazilian metal band and
Life of Agony, suggests unadulterated heaviness, but
Freax settles into industrial-tinged electronica for the majority of their self-titled album. There are the remnants of straight up heavy metal -- like the guitar break on "Big Pop Food" -- but for the most part,
Freax pairs dark ambient music with downtempo techno.
Life of Agony singer
Keith Caputo allows his vocals to groan just beneath the surface -- almost spoken -- for much of the record, and combined with the burping electronic textures and industrial guitars (on "Thief of Charm," for example) --
Freax comes off like a lighter
Nine Inch Nails. "Human Comedy," which is certainly the most original track, hardly fits with its Caribbean groove and gentle strumming, but suggests the most viable direction for
Freax -- a mix of world music psychedelics and industrial fervor. ~ Charles Spano