fredag 22 Jan 2010, 2:41
I have decided to start reviewing CD's as well as doing my annual end of the year list. Hopefully, doing this might actually get people to comment on that list this year. Nevertheless, I am keeping the review simple and concise for this year, and I will add more things to the review as the years go on if I turn out to enjoy this. As always, I am open to any suggestions, comments, trolling, or anything you guys have to say*. You obviously read some part of this if you do contact me in anyway so thank you for your support. I hope to be doing weekly reviews so look forward to my consistency.
* - It is pretty early on in the year now, and not many releases are out so if you would like a recommendation reviewed, now would be a good time to contact me. Once the bigger releases start coming out this year, I'm going to try and make them priority unless I hear of something about a CD word of mouth through my sources. But yeah, until probably April, there's not much to review. Also, try to recommend stuff when you know a big release isn't coming up.
Let's Get Started!
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Mechanize
Fear Factory
Candlelight Records
Produced by Rhys Fulber/Fear Factory
2010
Id (Pre-Album): Fear Factory. To me, that name screams what was one of the pinnacles of the world of metal in the 90’s. When I started listening to them in 2004, only after being a year in the audio world of metal, I didn’t know what I was in for. Putting Demanufacture into my CD Player (yes, kiddies, oh yes…Compact Discs) for the first time was something I way underestimated. I was hooked to Fear Factory for life. Even nowadays, I’d rather listen to Soul Of A New Machine, Demanufacture, or Archetype (yes, I said it) instead of anything that has come out in the past 10 years. They are a staple band for me in my own unique diverse world of metal taste. And I am hoping that with this album, I can forgive them for what I got when I bought Transgression by purchasing it at my nearest Best Buy location since they are the only place nationwide that has cheap prices and a big selection. It’s sad to say but yes, There’s nothing wrong with Best Buy but just admitting I buy my CD’s at Best Buy now seems kind of un-metal. But back to Transgression, which just ended up being a huge mish-mash of premature Ascension Of The Watchers and Arkaea. ALMOST every band has those couple of CD’s in there catalog that are forgettable, and for Fear Factory, this is one of them. By the way, I should state that I never have gotten around to purchasing Obsolete or Digimortal. I will eventually but that time has not arrived yet. So keep in my mind that my opinion is missing the musical oscillations of Obsolete, Digimortal not so much from what I’ve heard. I do have my doubts though seeing as how Dino is back (after a long absence and 2 Divine Heresy albums) and the drumming prowess of Gene Hoglan added to the system. This could be a good or bad change depending on these 2 musicians. I hope Dino is capable of writing Fear Factory riffs and not Divine Heresy riffs. Keep it true to the Fear Factory sound. As for good ol’ Gene, I am worried partial that his drumming style might offset the FF sound if Dino does nail his part. Raymond’s drumming was an integral part of what made and still makes FF what it is. I really don’t think I have been this worried about line-up changes affecting an album since Opeth’s Watershed. But I pray to God/Satan/Buddha/Muhammad/ ETC… that this album will capture what Fear Factory is capable of doing, and if it doesn’t live up to that, at least to what was done on Archetype. I am now entering the soul of a new machine, a new Fear Factory. (Pun Intended.)
Ego (Album):
Mechanize – The opening riff let’s us know there back. The intro sample along with the rest of the song pick up the slack perfectly. The chorus is heavy and extremely catchy. Classic Fear Factory.
Industrial Discipline – A thrashy song dripping Fear Factory in all aspects. This combines with a chorus that is made into something more than it should be with Burton’s help. The nice little melodic outro ends the song perfectly.
Fear Campaign – Awesome intro sample which sets up the lyrics perfectly. The verse riff fits perfectly along with the chorus. But the rest of the song sounds a little like what Divine Heresy would come up. Also, the build up to the chorus is superb but the guitar solo that followed seemed out of place. The drums also flip-flopped around on my like-o-meter.
Powershifter – Jesus! I know it’s the first single and everything but damn. Once again, classic Fear Factory. This song would fit perfectly into the older albums.
Christploitation – The keyboards, provided by Rhys Fulber, definitely add to the song. This time the drifting into melodic territory for Dino pays off. Perfectly blend of everyone involved that shows us what Fear Factory can do.
Oxidizer - An excellent tune that I hope doesn’t get under looked for the chorus vocals. Quite possibly, the best song on the album.
Controlled Demolition – The first half of the song is not that strong, but the second half makes up for it. It also could have done without the effects on the vocals of the second to last line of the song. It seemed extremely out of place.
Designing The Enemy – A Fear Factory song with an aura of Meshuggah in the riff writing. But it works for what they were going for in terms of the song. Burton uses some gnarly vocals towards the end of the song, which adds to it. Good track.
Metallic Division - A simple minded, yet heavy and catchy track. At 1:30, it is the shortest song on the album, and does exactly what it is intended to do with what is given.
Final Exit – The perfect way to end this album. A mix of beautiful melody and heaviness. Fear Factory show us that they are capable of pulling off a progressive-esque track. The only way to describe this is the next logical step in the footsteps of the Human Shields/Ascension duo off of Archetype.
Superego (Post Album): They are back. What else can I say? This album has lived up to my expectations and surpassed them by quite a lot, not like a HOLY FUCK amount, but a HELL YEAH amount. Dino nailed it. I don’t say completely nailed it because of Controlled Demolition and Fear Campaign, but he nailed it. Those were the only 2 tracks that seemed like the experimentation he was trying to do drifted into Divine Heresy. Alas, these were also the 2 weakest tracks on the album in my opinion, and that was my complaint about them. Gene Hoglan completely nailed it on the other hand. Fear Campaign also seemed to be his only weak point and props to him for filling the shoes of one of the most underrated drummers in metal in Raymond. Powershifter and Mechanize show that he not only kept Raymond’s style but was able to add his own unique flavor to the mix. Byron never disappoints me and I can’t really say much about him. He did his part and this album would not have sounded the same without him. He meshes together so well with Gene (obviously, SYL?) and Dino. Burton also does what he does best, as heard on Oxidizer and Final Exit. He tried some new things, like Designing The Enemy for example, and still made it work. And lastly, the almighty Rhys Fulber. Where was he during Transgression? Oh right, he wasn’t there at all. He has been with Fear Factory since the beginning and his production sound along with the electronics/samples/keyboards he adds is the icing on top of the cake. Actually bad metaphor. Anyways, without Rhys, Fear Factory would not have it’s signature sound. All in all, this album was BALLER. It exceded my expectations and gives me a warm, fuzzy feeling that 2010 is going to be a great year in metal. On a side note, I don't know if anyone has noticed this yet, but Fear Factory are the fattest band in metal now, FYI.
Final Prognosis:
Stand-Out Tracks – Oxidizer, Mechanize, Final Exit
Not Stand Out Tracks – Controlled Demolition, Fear Campaign
\m/ \m/ \m/\m/
4 Horns out of 5
http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/reviewpics/fear_factory_new.jpg
Fear Factory Is
- Burton C. Bell - Vocals
- Gene Hoglan - Drums
- Byron Stroud - Bass
- Dino Cazares - Guitars
Next Week On Very Metal…Very Nice
The undoubted pioneers of Future Metal, Mnemic, are back with their 4th studio album Sons of the System. Mnemic is one of my favorite bands ever and I have been looking forward to this album MORE than Fear Factory's. Will it live up to my huge expectations? Will they do everything they have promised to do? Will I blindbuy the CM Distro CD pre-order or wait until I actually listen to them album?
Find out next week on Very Metal…Very Nice!
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