Send "Believer " Ringtones to your Cell 
| Sputnikmusic |
 Believer has always been a band in constant motion. Every album in their discography has featured a notable progression and an ability to push in unexpected directions. Despite this penchant for experimentation, though, the band has always left the vocals alone. Admittedly, they have played around with different secondary vocals (notably opera), but the core ‘metal’ delivery has remained virtually unchanged since 1989. Considering the band’s constant evolution it always seemed odd that they would ignore the vocals, but it is no longer an issue. On Transhuman Believer has finally decided to play around with varying vocal styles and, despite a few growing pains, they have basically nailed it. Of course, they weren’t content with just expanding on the vocals; they’ve also taken what is probably their largest musical leap to date.In the past, Believer generally built their songs on a thrash foundation that allowed them to experiment with rhythms, melodies and any additional elements, but that’s not quite the case anymore. On Transhuman the band has stripped away a lot of the thrash influence in favor of a rigid and rhythmic approach that is more melodic and technical. The most noticeable impact of this change is that the music has lost a lot of its primal thrash energy and has taken on a very cold, mechanical feel. A lot of this robotic feel is due to the band’s expanded use of disjointed rhythms and a layered approach to the way they create a lot of their melodies – a method that generally fuses semi-dissonant chords with bleak sci-fi electronics. It should be noted, however, that just because the band dropped the thrash influence doesn’t mean that they still aren’t delivering heavy songs. It’s just that songs such as “Entanglement” with its rhythmic main riff also have powerful choruses that often exude a feeling of desolation or loneliness. Although, they do close the album with “Mindsteps” – a mellow and uplifting track that seems to imply that there is still hope despite the bleak feel of the rest of the album. The music’s cold, clinical approach can probably be directly attributed to the theme that runs throughout Transhuman. On Transhuman the band have decided to explore the overarching theme of what it means to be human; and not in some fruity philosophy style either. To develop the album’s subject matter the band looked for inspiration from Dr. Ginger Campbell’s Brain Science Podcast, which explores recent discoveries in neuroscience, as well as Dr. Thomas Metzinger’s scientific research and philosophical study of consciousness and the self. This is where Kurt Bachman’s new approach to singing really makes an impact. Neither the subject matter nor the music would have worked as well if Kurt had stuck to his old approach to singing. Throughout much of the album he uses a melodic shout that can best be compared to Devin Townsend’s solo work with kind of a Denis Belanger (Voivod) twist, and it’s these vocals that seem to have the most impact and impart the most feeling. Throughout the album they also utilize layered vocal harmonies, Kurt’s signature rasp and even a lower-pitched growl that definitely adds a whole new dimension to the band’s music....full text |
| Heavymetal |
| For a brief time around the release of 1990‘s Sanity Obscure, Believer briefly threatened to attain the same cult status as fellow tech-thrashers like Atheist, but for whatever reason it never quite happened and Believer has remained a largely unknown quantity to all but the most dedicated of underground fans. If Transhuman is your first experience of the band since those heady days, be prepared for a few surprises. Although traces of the high speed thrash remain on tracks like “Transfection” and “Ego Machine,” the Believer of 2011 is a very different beast; a beast that has decided to hunt its prey without adherence to any rule book and in doing so has created an album which pretty much defies any sort of genre pigeon-holing. Of course you get your fair share of metal – make no mistake, this is a heavy record – and yes, the band still produce some dizzying moments of musical technicality, but it’s the subtle stylistic nuances that make Transhuman such a successful venture. Adding color to some of the most bewildering – yet crushing – riffs you could ask for, are engaging elements of industrial, psychedelic and soundtrack music, courtesy of a host of programmed synths and sympathetic keyboards that confirm Believer as well and truly ahead of the pack....full text |
| Skullsnbones |
| Believer returned after a sixteen year hiatus in 2009 with "Gabriel" and reminded everyone in the metal world why this band was one of the best on the planet. Now in 2011 they have pushed their sound even further with the release of "Transhuman". After listening to this record over and over I have come to the conclusion that this is an album that everyone should hear. The lyrics take on the subject of human conditioning, and if you thought that topic was complicated than wait until you listen to this album. You still have the classic Believer sound, but they went away from the all out thrash attack and threw in intricate song structures, pounding riffs, and changing tempos that are just incredible. The band has always been known for progression but with "Transhuman" they have stepped up like never before. Now to my review... You can't really review "Transhuman" without talking about the lyrical theme. Transhumanism is a study about the possibilities of the human conditioning by eliminating such obstacles as aging via technological advances to enhance human capacities. When taking on a complicated theme like transhumanism you understand why the music on this album is so daring for Believer. Even when it comes to the vocals, Kurt Bachman showcases several different styles that I've never heard from him before. He does a great job with his high and low growls, his all out screams, and using his melodic styles. He really went all out for this record and I think it was very important to try something new to accompany the records theme. Now it was all up to the music to capture transhumanism in metal and it actually worked....full text |
Believer lyrics
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