Where Angels Fear to Tread (Mentallo & The Fixer album)

Where Angels Fear to Tread
Studio album by
Mentallo & The Fixer
ReleasedMay 16, 1994 (1994-05-16)[1]
StudioThe Slum
(Austin, Texas)
GenreElectro-industrial
Length76:17
LabelZoth Ommog
ProducerGary Dassing
Mentallo & The Fixer chronology
Sensory Deprivation
(1994) 		Where Angels Fear to Tread
(1994) 		Out to Lunch
(1994)
Alternative cover
2014 reissue cover
2014 reissue cover

Where Angels Fear to Tread is the third studio album by Mentallo & The Fixer, released on May 16, 1994, by Zoth Ommog Records.[2] It is considered a favorite of the band's critics and audience.[3]

Music

Where Angels Fear to Tread integrated gothic music into its sound, making its compositions sound more melancholy in contrast to the abrasive sound of the band's previous work.[4] The album's music also made extensive use of you use of science fiction and horror film samples.[5]

The album was re-released by Metropolis Records on July 18, 1995, without additional content.[1] In 2014, the album was issued as a music download by Alfa Matrix.[6] The entire album was remastered and released as part of the Zothera box set on December 2, 2014.[7]

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[8]

Theo Kavadias of AllMusic says 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." The critic went on to say "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" and "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."[8] Sonic Boom said "It's not often that you find a band with such an astute sense of direction coupled with a cohesive album concept and musical style."[9] Peek-A-Boo Magazine noted the song "Sacrilege" as being a shining example of the band's craft and said "other excellent tracks that combine pulsing beats, melancholic synths and awsome [sic?] percussion are Decomposed, Abominations unleashed, Ruthless (with samples from Blade Runner) and Afterglow."[4]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Dwayne Dassing and Gary Dassing

No.TitleLength
1."Gargantua"2:33
2."Decomposed" (Trampled)6:33
3."Sacrilege"4:10
4."Bring to a Boil"9:30
5."Virtually Hopeless"4:46
6."Coward" (Submerged)6:19
7."Ruthless"5:41
8."Afterglow"6:29
9."Battered States of Euphoria"6:00
10."Abominations Unleashed"4:48
11."Dead Days"4:31
12."Atom Smasher"6:20
13."Power Struggle"2:51
14."Sacrilege" (Grimpen Ward)5:46

Personnel

Adapted from the Where Angels Fear to Tread liner notes.[10]

Mentallo & The Fixer

Production and design

  • Hype Graphics (as hype graphics/Berlin) – cover, design

Release history

Region Date Label Format Catalog
Germany 1994 Zoth Ommog CD ZOT 108
United States 1995 Metropolis MET 008
Belgium 2014 Alfa Matrix DL

References

  1. ^ a b Barnhart, Becky (1999). "Schwann Spectrum". Schwann Spectrum. 9 (2). Stereophile, Incorporated: 173. ISBN 9781575980782. Retrieved August 23, 2020.
  2. ^ Bush, John. "Mentallo & the Fixer > Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved August 23, 2020.
  3. ^ Marks, Peter (March 31, 2012). "Mentallo & The Fixer - A Collection". Brutal Resonance. Retrieved August 23, 2020.
  4. ^ a b Caluwe, Benny (October 29, 2014). "Mentallo & The Fixer: Zothera". Peek-A-Boo Magazine. BodyBeats Productions. Retrieved August 23, 2020.
  5. ^ Christian, Chris (March 19, 1997). "Interview with Gary Dassing of Mentallo & The Fixer". Sonic Boom. 5 (3). Retrieved August 23, 2020.
  6. ^ Yücel, Ilker (February 19, 2018). "Alfa Matrix Releases Reissues of Mentallo & The Fixer and Side Projects, Remastered by Gary Dassing". ReGen. Retrieved August 23, 2020.
  7. ^ Gullotta, Steven (September 24, 2014). "Mentallo & The Fixer - Zothera". Brutal Resonance. Retrieved August 23, 2020.
  8. ^ a b Kavadias, Theo. "Mentallo & the Fixer: Where Angels Fear to Tread > Review". AllMusic. Retrieved August 23, 2020.
  9. ^ Christian, Chris (December 1, 1996). "Mentallo & The Fixer: Where Angels Fear to Tread". Sonic Boom. Retrieved August 23, 2020.
  10. ^ Where Angels Fear to Tread (booklet). Mentallo & The Fixer. Hesse, Germany: Zoth Ommog Records. 1994.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)