Keven's Music Review: FEAR FACTORY – The Industrialist

For those of you maniacs out there that missed industrial metal concept albums about machines taking over mankind, Fear Factory are here for your creepy played out asses. Much like their older records, Fear Factory have decided to return to their roots and deliver 'The Industrialist', for better or worse.

I've been a fan of Fear Factory since their heyday in the mid-nineties when industrial metal was at it's peak, paving the way for Static-X and bands like Dope to a lesser degree. Fear Factory are probably the strongest industrial metal band on the planet whose name isn't Ministry. It's just a shame that inner band turmoil has led to a string of muddled records. After longtime guitarist Dino Cazares left the band, it seemed like it was over. What's really odd, is upon Dino's return it looks like it might be REALLY over.

Ever since singer Burton C. Bell and Dino settled their feud and ousted essential members Raymond Herrera (drums) and Christian Olde Wolbers (Bass), the music seems like a shell of its former self. The last record 'Mechanize' was devoid of anything emotional or worthwhile and while 'The Industrialist' harkens back to 'Obsolete' in its theme and scale, the songs just aren't as memorable. Heavy as hell, yes they are. 'Virus of Faith' and 'New Messiah' are tough as nails and give you that chug chug chug beep beep beep that electro-metalheads crave. But there's something missing here.

Maybe it's the fact that Fear Factory used a drum machine for most of the record, but 'The Industrialist' doesn't hook me in like the band used to do so well when they had humans making the album. Bell's soaring vocals are back amidst his heavy ass roars and Dino shreds with his 30 string guitars, but the soul seems to have left this machine once and for all.

I think much of the music best suits some video game soundtrack but I'm not convinced I can listen to 'The Industrialist' and take anything away from the experience. It's great for some casual headbanging in your car but not memorable in the slightest. I've listened a few times and I just can't find anything that hooks me like it used to, which maybe my own fault for growing intellectually as a music listener. Lesson to be learned – don't fire a human being and replace them with a drum machine because it's just as creepy and lazy like your concept album about hostile mechanized rebellion.

1. "The Industrialist"
2. "Recharger"
3. "New Messiah"
4. "God Eater"
5. "Depraved Mind Murder"
6. "Virus of Faith"
7. "Difference Engine"
8. "Disassemble"
9. "Religion is Flawed Because Man is Flawed"
10. "Human Augmentation"