''Transform'' is the fourth studio album by American rock band

Powerman 5000 Powerman 5000 (also known as PM5K) is an American rock band formed in 1991. The group has released ten albums, gaining its highest level of commercial success with 1999's '' Tonight the Stars Revolt!'', which reached number 29 on the ''Billboa ...

, released May 20, 2003. It is an enhanced CD that includes the videos for "Free" and "Action", the album's two singles.

Musical and visual style

''Transform'' marked, both musically and visually, an obvious change from Powerman 5000's previous

science fiction Science fiction (sometimes shortened to Sci-Fi or SF) is a genre of speculative fiction which typically deals with imagination, imaginative and futuristic concepts such as advanced science and technology, space exploration, time travel, Paral ...

theme. Recording began in July 2002 and saw the band composed songs in a simpler, more straightforward manner with less emphasis on

industrial metal Industrial metal is the fusion of heavy metal and industrial music, typically employing repeating metal guitar riffs, sampling, synthesizer or sequencer lines, and distorted vocals. Prominent industrial metal acts include Ministry, Nine ...

and

nu metal Nu metal (sometimes stylized as nü-metal, sometimes called aggro-metal) is a subgenre of that combines elements of heavy metal music with elements of other music genres such as hip hop, alternative rock, funk, industrial, and grunge. Nu m ...

elements and heaviness. The video for its

lead single A lead single (also known as a debut single) is the first single to be released from a studio album by an artist or a band, usually before the album itself is released and also occasionally on the same day of the album's release date. Release ...

, "Free", also demonstrated the band's visual stylistic detour; rather than space costumes, the majority of band members are dressed in denim while performing in a red room covered in graffiti, creating a colorful, punk rock influenced edge. The album artwork contains symbols reminiscent of the Amphisbaena. Adorning the CD artwork are four two-headed arrows wrapped back pointing at each other, the outermost one sprouting two extra arrows for a total of six on the right, and underneath the CD are two worm like creatures face to face forming a circle.

Commercial performance

The album sold 39,000 copies in its first week to chart at #27 on the Billboard 200. It stayed on the chart for 9 weeks. The album had sold 148,561 copies in the U.S. before the band was dropped from

DreamWorks Records DreamWorks Records (often referred in copyright notices as SKG Music, LLC) was an American record label A record label, or record company, is a brand or trademark of music recordings and music videos, or the company that owns it. Sometimes, ...

in December of that year.

Tour

In support of the album, the band announced they would begin touring through the U.S. in April, along with

Stone Sour Stone Sour is an American rock band formed in Des Moines, Iowa, in 1992. The band performed for five years before disbanding in 1997. They reunited in 2000 and since 2015, the group has consisted of Corey Taylor (lead vocals, guitar), Josh Ra ...

and Ra. They would also go on to appear as the musical guest on ''

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'' (where they performed their song "Action"), and ''The Late Late Show'' (where they performed their song "Free"), respectfully. The band would also later begin to embark on a headlining tour along with

Mudvayne Mudvayne is an American heavy metal band formed in Peoria, Illinois in 1996. Known for their sonic experimentation, face and body paint, masks and uniforms, the band has sold over six million records worldwide, including nearly three millio ...

and V Shape Mind, starting in September and performing in festivals such as X-Fest. However, when DreamWorks Records was bought out by Interscope Records, the label pulled their touring support for Powerman 5000 in the middle of the tour, forcing the band to withdraw from their tour.

In other media

*"Action" featured on '' NASCAR Thunder 2004'' and was used as its introductory screen's theme. *"Transform" was featured in Midway Entertainment's hockey game '' NHL Hitz Pro''. *"Free" was featured on the

New Jersey Devils The New Jersey Devils are a professional ice hockey team based in Newark, New Jersey. The Devils compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference. The club was founded as the Kans ...

2003 Stanley Cup Championship video.

Track listing

Personnel

Spider One Michael David Cummings (born August 25, 1968), better known as Spider One, is an American singer, Producer, and Director. He is the founder and only consistent member of the rock band Powerman 5000. He is the younger sibling of singer and filmma ...

– vocals * Mike "M.33" Tempesta – guitar * Adam "12" Williams – guitar, additional programming, additional production, additional recording, additional editing * Siggy "00" Siursen – bass * Adrian "ad" Ost – drums * Trixie Starr – additional vocals on "That's Entertainment" ;Production * Joe Barresi – producer, recording * Dan Leffler – assistant engineer * Scott Oyster – assistant engineer * Chris Ohno – assistant engineer * Chris Lord–Alge – mixing * Dan Druff – guitar tech * Bruce Jacoby – drum tech * Mauro Rubb – drum tech * Ron Handler – A&R

Chart positions

Album – Billboard (United States) Singles – Billboard (United States)

References

Powerman 5000 albums 2003 albums Albums produced by Joe Barresi DreamWorks Records albums {{2000s-hard-rock-album-stub