Fear Factory | ‘Mechanize’
Fear Factory were an important band in many of our youths. ‘Demanufacture’ remains a classic record for a reason. Its cold, clinical, dystopian sound and imagery genuinely caught a mood. It was, and is, a highpoint of mainstream metal.
Sixteen years later, Fear Factory have finally produced an album worthy to be called its sequel.
The first thing that strikes you about ‘Mechanize’ is its heightened aggression. The second thing that strikes you is that for the most part, the unassailable Gene Holgan is responsible for it.
His drums across this great album are the perfect next step from Strapping Young Lad. He’s as clipped and tight as Raymond Hererra, but a thousand times more inventive. His talents have let Fear Factory get harder and more concentrated, and - in fact - more metal.
I’ll admit to not having heard anything Fear Factory have put out in years. The risible ‘Remanufacture’ was reason enough to lose faith in them, and you’d be right not to give ‘Digimortal’ onward the steam of your piss. It was awful.
This however is different.
Tracks like ‘Industrial Discipline’ show why. The futuristic keyboard swathes immediately recall their classic record, while the soaring vocal has returned to effect. Great facets. All the more so because they come after riffing as sharp as a scalpel and as cold as ice.
Some have already complained that this album is just too similar to ‘Demanufacture’, not varied enough, and generally stuck in the past. Ironic, given that this is precisely what’s demanded of most bands. So which is it to be?
As far as Fear Factory are concerned, I’m not really bothered if it lacks integrity to rehash earlier records. For a start, they’re clearly better. Secondly, they tried the alternative and it was manifestly balls.
All of this means that, dull tracks like ‘Oxidiser’ notwisthstanding, this is a pleasurably aggressive album recalling the sounds and atmospheres of Fear Factory’s highest moment. Back that up with a drumming powerhouse, powerful and atmospheric tracks like ‘Controlled Demolition’, a newfound sense of Metal, and you’ve got a pretty good spin.
If you ever held ‘Demanufacture’ in high esteem, pick this up. It’s a decently augmented trip down memory lane. If you’ve been put off by their deacade and a half in the wilderness, do so as well. It pays to remember that so many bands - including Meshuggah - drew much inspiration from Fear Factory. They’re one of metal’s real originals, and in that capacity at least, this reaffirmation of their sound deserves to be given a chance.
3.7 / 5 - Ciaran Tracey ::: 21/02/10
Thumped
Metal Ireland
Fastfude
February 21st, 2010 at 10:27 pm
Insipid band and review, seriously Ciaran, non of FF’s previous albums even conform to the accolades which you give them. Surely there have been better albums released in the last month which deserve a review, or is this Peaugot metal?
Ed
February 21st, 2010 at 11:13 pm
That’s interesting. Are you debating the fact that ‘Demanufacture’ is an album of great historical interest to many MI readers? The fact is that it is, no matter how cack the rest are (which I’ve very clearly pointed out).
This album is a logical follow on from Dmf. Hence it’s highly relevant to many reading.
Further than that, Gene Holgan plays on it. He’s certainly relevant to many MI readers.
So I dont know on what basis you feel it doesnt deserve looked at.
And speaking of ‘deserving’ bands, I see you havent noticed a review of an Irish underground demo cassette published beside it.
MI provides for all shades of metal. I cant help it if you arent interested in one or other.
February 22nd, 2010 at 12:59 am
Demanufacture and Obsolete are two absolutely savage metal albums. If you’re going to write them off because they’re popular with the Metal Hammer crowd (and honestely I can only perceive that as being the reason), then more fool you. You’re missing out.
February 22nd, 2010 at 1:01 am
Seen them on Thursday night in Glasgow and they were really on top form. Solid 1.5 hr set and from where I was standing they are certainly still well capable. Seeing Hoglan playing was certianly a highlight - no sunglasses though.
February 22nd, 2010 at 2:48 am
Serriously though all joking aside……… SOUL OF A NEW MACHINE is THE classic Fear Factory album, along with the FEAR IS THE MIND KILLER E.P. which followed… Demanufacture was not a patch on its predecessors, and the slippery slope started…. thought Transgression wasnt bad, must see what the new one is like…. was fortunate enough to see them in ‘95 just before Demanufacture came out. A set list with “Martyr”, “Scapegoat”, “Scumgrief”, “Self immolation” and the likes of the first album is where its at!!
February 22nd, 2010 at 3:35 am
“Demanufacture” is without a doubt my fave album of all time and has been since ‘95. I still think it sounds fresh today so i will always check out FF’s new material, but did lose alot of faith in them as I really did think digimortal and transgression were AWFUL as much as it pains me to say, i remember being so dissapointed after hearing both records!….I listened to a few tracks off the new album online and it hasnt done much for me but i will pick it and give them the benefit of the doubt as i will always have time for FF…and i cant help to agree with baggy “soul…” is also a killer album, so brutal as well and a savage debut record. Glad to see the new album getting reviewed on MI as well!
February 22nd, 2010 at 12:23 pm
Hang on a minute. Digimortal was a good album.
February 22nd, 2010 at 12:45 pm
Naah man, barring “Linchpin”, it was totally substandard.
February 22nd, 2010 at 3:30 pm
Transgression was without a doubt the lowest point for Fear Factory. I don’t count the remix albums, as I dont think they were ever meant to be considered new albums, just something different for their fans that liked the industrial more than metal side of their work. Digimortal was hit and miss, I liked some of it defiantely. But SOANM, Demanufacture, Obsolete and Archetype are all fantastic albums as far as I am concerned. I haven’t heard the whole new album yet, but what I heard was great, and I’d like to consider it a statement of intent if nothing else. As one of my favourite bands, I really enjoy the new work.
February 23rd, 2010 at 10:12 am
Agreed. FF’s return to form for me occurred with Archetype. The title track is as good as anything on Demanufacture. Unfortunately, at that stage, people had had enough of the formulaic, recycled riffs from the previous couple.
Be interested to hear this one.
February 23rd, 2010 at 12:58 pm
Good review Ciaran, me & the missus were listening to this in the car yesterday and we both commented on how similar to Demf. it is.
Great record and a real return to form for the FF boys….
February 23rd, 2010 at 1:31 pm
“I’ll admit to not having heard anything Fear Factory have put out in years. The risible ‘Remanufacture’ was reason enough to lose faith in them, and you’d be right not to give ‘Digimortal’ onward the steam of your piss. It was awful.”
Bit of a horseshit statement there. Admitting to not having heard anything by the band in years, yet dismissing those albums in the same statement. Archetype and Obsolete are well worth a listen with the latter being superior to Mechanize.
February 27th, 2010 at 6:27 pm
I was mad for Demanufacture when it came out, along with most other Metalheads of my age. I don’t think I would be able to make it through the whole album these days without getting bored after ten minutes (alá Nailbomb… Jesus….) and I certainly have no interest in hearing this even if the most overrated drummer in Metal is playing on it…
February 28th, 2010 at 9:40 pm
On first listen I was underwhelmed by this but kept going back, and now I rate it. You can tell they’ve spent time on the delivery of this one, there’s less bullshit.
March 1st, 2010 at 9:20 pm
album cover looks like a diagram of a vaj
this could be a representation of the material inside it…
tight& brilliant to get into to,
or it could go the other way…
loose n sloppy but ya cant help getting into it after 8 pints.
March 2nd, 2010 at 10:04 am
Wouldn’t fancy riding that vag. Looks like it would shred you to bits.
They’re album covers a getting pretty tired though. It’s always a play on the FF logo.
I’ll always have a soft spot(more vag talk) for Fear Factory. What I’ve heard of this new album is good. But they’re not really that relevent any more, are they. It’s just Burt and Dino trying to milk their cash-cow to make a buck at the end of the day.
March 3rd, 2010 at 6:32 pm
Giving this a first spin now, and I have to say I’m really enjoying it.
March 8th, 2010 at 3:52 pm
I listened to it last week at a mate’s, and it was the first time I have heard something from FF in a long time which genuinely interested me. The pummelling drumwork aside, the keyboards and vocals create an atmosphere I thought was beyond them at this stage. I prefer Obsolete at this point, but I have only listened to it once, so that may change.
April 16th, 2010 at 3:16 am
I only heard FF in 1999 when I started getting into metal and I straight away fell in love with their whole idea of the world and how we are walking into slavery with open arms. Every album they have ever produced bar transgression have a place in my heart and mind, they have always changed their sound for every album, even Mechanize, I would definatly consider it a bridge between Demanufacture and Obsolite as it blends the best of both albums into it. Hatefiles has some great stuff on it and Concrete is just so different you have to love it. What other band can you name that can change so much on every album and still keep their fans on the edge of their seat? I cant think of one bar FF. They are creative genius and I dont care what you say they are one of a kind and no one will ever compare or come close.