You will have heard that vocalist Burton C Bell quit Fear Factory (again) this past week. Appears that the confrontation within the band finally got to breaking point and the exit is permanent this time. Burton was the only member there for the whole discography, with Dino Cazares now the only original member left.
What will become of Fear Factory now? Can they continue with a new singer, or should they form a new band altogether? Burton‘s voice is a clear staple of the Fear Factory sound. But plenty of bands have succeeded with a new vocalist.
Anyway, it provides a good excuse to look at Fear Factory‘s best albums so far:
3. Digimortal
This may not be everyone’s choice for a top 3 Fear Factory album. It definitely has a nu-metal feel to it. You could easily mistake some of this album for Coal Chamber songs, plenty of syncopated ‘mosh pit’ riffs on top of Fear Factory‘s staccato ‘machine gun’ approach. However they gel together smoothly, with songs like Linchpin (below) adding an additional groovy feel to the album.
But the use of synthesiser on this album is excellent. Never used too much, just enough to add atmosphere to the songs. The whole of this album is clearly a step down in intensity from previous albums, but they did not aggressively move in an alternative direction. This is still very much a Fear Factory album, and a change in approach is what keeps a band feeling fresh.
Back the Fuck Up is prototypical rap metal. But rapper B-Real has pedigree in this genre (one of the front men in Cypress Hill and Prophets of Rage) and it doesn’t sound as out of place in this album as one would expect.
2. Mechanize
My favourite Fear Factory album, and a welcome return to form after the decent but forgettable Archetype (2004) and the snoozefest of Transgression (2005). The return of guitarist Dino Cazares to the band coincided with returning to the classic pummelling sound Fear Factory are known for.
Powershifter is the stand out song on this album, and one of Fear Factory’s best songs. Check out the punishing rhythm below.
This whole album is relentlessly aggressive. Whilst this could easily be monotonous, the sheer pace of it keeps the energy levels up enough to shake that feeling.
Then you get to the concluding song Final Exit and we find a change in tempo. But whilst the preceding 2 albums ended on a bit of a damp squib, this one is superb. Mixing typical violent speed with an anthemic chorus to round out the album perfectly.
1. Demanufacture
The undisputed number one. We have come to know the typical Fear Factory sound now, but this album was the first one to display this perfectly. The kick drum work is truly stellar, tight as a James Hetfield riff. The overly perfect tone perfectly fits the futuristic sound. It could easily feel dated now, but it sounds just as good as ever.
The title track is blazing start to finish. Zero Signal has a satisfying mistimed feel to it. Enough to perk the ears up whilst headbanging away. New Breed has a strong electronica vibe and would fit well on a Rammstein album. Replica is clearly the standout song from the entire Fear Factory catalogue and for good reason. Listen below and see why.
The core characteristics of Fear Factory‘s work is relatively simple. Relying on a punishingly tight kick drum and guitar, atmospheric backing and Burton‘s signature growls and haunting cleans. But the fact they have remained as relevant as they have for so long, and how influential they have been on the extreme metal scene shows how solid they are. I just hope however Fear Factory move forward without Burton keeps this alive.
Don’t forget to check out 5 famously criticised albums that look different under a new light, and find more articles here.
