FEAR FACTORY „“Mechanize””

Music: Industrial Metal
Country: USA
Cool Songs: Industrial Discipline, Fear Campaign, Final Exit
Web site: www.myspace.com/fearfactory

FEAR FACTORY, the kings of industrialized metal, return with their first studio album in five years. The appropriately titled “Mechanize” is the group’s first release on Candlelight Records. Said recording also marks the return of original guitarist Dino Cazares.

Although Cazares rejoins vocalist Burton C. Bell, the face of FEAR FACTORY has undergone much change since his hiatus. Gene Hoglan has replaced the steadfast Raymond Herrera behind the drum kit, and Byron Stroud once again takes up bass duties.

Both Hoglan and Stroud come over from STRAPPING YOUNG LAD (SYL). The new incarnation of FEAR FACTORY is a partial cast of FEAR FACTORY and SYL. The group could go under the name STRAPPING YOUNG FACTORY or FEAR YOUNG LAD. The merging of these two groups works well, though, for the two groups play a similar style of cyber metal.

Stroud has become comfortable producing floor-rumbling frequencies, but this is Hoglan’s first foray as beat maker for FEAR FACTORY. Because FEAR FACTORY’s guitarist and drummer work in such tight unity, Hoglan and Cazares surely had to synchronize their styles. Hoglan’s drilling double bass and Cazares’ machine-gun string delivery have meshed well, though.

Cazares’ homecoming results in a nostalgic trip back to the group’s initial efforts, which is most apparent in Burton C. Bell’s trademark clean vocals. Bell incorporates similar digitized vocal harmonies that are sure to result in long-time listeners saying, ‘Wow that sounds like “Demanufacture”.’

Cazares brings back his patented machine-gun chugging guitar riffs, but slips in the occasional deep-churning tone from his eight-string guitar. These low frequencies run parallel with “Obsolete” and “Digimortal”—the albums Cazares took part in before his departure. The thrashy string work on tracks such as “Fear Campaign” introduces an approach previously unseen on a FEAR FACTORY, possibly emanating from his time with DIVINE HERESY.

With “Mechanize,” FEAR FACTORY has created the type of album that initially drew fans to their music. However, the new ideas emergent in their sound create a balancing act, which keeps their music fresh and invigorating. Even though 2010 has just begun, expect “Mechanize” to hold up through the year and appear on many end-of-the-year lists for one of the best metal albums.

note: 9/10

Tracklist

1. Mechanize
2. Industrial Discipline
3. Fear Campaign
4. Powershifter
5. Christploitation
6. Oxidizer
7. Controlled Demolition
8. Designing The Enemy
9. Metallic Division
10. Final Exit
Total playing time: 44:43

Line-up

Burton C. Bell – Vocals
Dino Cazares – Guitar
Byron Stroud – Bass
Gene Hoglan – Drums