Fear Factory - Soul Hacker (Single) [256] V01dV

Over the past two decades or so, there have been certain bands that embody the very essence of this wonderfully chaotic and magnificently devastating style of music that we all love and endure. When names like Slayer, Megadeth, Pantera, Metallica and Sepultura (among others) are said, they instantly evoke a wide range of emotions simply because they are synonymous with the metal genre. There is one band, though, that definitely symbolizes what metal is all about: Fear Factory. Formed some twenty three years ago out of cold industrial steel and state of the art technology, Fear Factory quickly shot through the ranks as one of the premiere metal bands on the planet.

In 1992, Fear Factory unleashed the groundbreaking, industrialized death-dealer Soul Of A New Machine. It was a genre shaping album for industrial death metal that put Fear Factory on the map. Within six years, the band would deliver their two most popular albums: their crowning achievement, Demanufacture (which featured new bass player Christian Olde Wolbers) and the followup, Obsolete. These two records marked a change in Fear Factory’s direction. With the incorporation of much tighter rhythmic patterns, ritualistic drum work (courtesy of founding member Raymond Herrera), huge melodies and catchy choruses, the band was able to capture an entirely new audience and bring industrial metal to the forefront. In 2001, Fear Factory dropped Digimortal. While the album did have some teeth, the songwriting was lackluster and came across as a much more watered down version of their two previous efforts. This is when fans started wondering what exactly was going on in the Fear Factory camp. About a year after Digimortal was released, Vocalist Burton C. Bell left to pursue other avenues (Ascension Of The Watchers) while guitarist Dino Cazares wasn’t far behind him (returning to Brujeria and starting Asesino). Bell, Olde Wolbers and Herrera patched things up and in 2004, released Archetype. This was the first album that featured Olde Wolbers on guitar (he recorded both bass and guitar on the album while Strapping Young Lad’s Byron Stroud filled in for live shows). This was a return-to-form album of sorts that was solid but missing the most important element, Dino. Less than a year after Archetype, Fear Factory launched the disastrous Transgression. With famed producer Toby Wright at the helm (Alice In Chains, Korn, Sevendust, Taproot, Soulfly, etc.) Transgression was a rushed disaster that saw the band totally lose their identity. Once again, the band decided to go their separate ways to work on their own personal side projects (Olde Wolbers and Herrera with Arkaea and Bell with Ascension Of The Watchers). Most fans figured this would probably be the last they’d hear from the almighty Fear Factory, but that was not the case. In 2009, Bell and Cazares announced that they had mended their differences and started work on the beast that was Mechanize. To the surprise of many, Mechanize brought the departure of Olde Wolbers and Herrera. Replaced by Byron Stroud and the legendary Gene Hoglan, Fear Factory went on to create one of the most punishing albums in their catalog. Now, the band is back with their new album The Industrialist and have stripped down even further. With only Bell and Cazares left (Cazares handled all aspects of the music, including programming the drums for the album), Fear Factory went in with Ryhs Fulber (who is both a producer and the band’s keyboardist, programmer and samples extraordinaire) and created what might just be one of the finest albums of their illustrious—albeit rocky—career.

The Industrialist‘s first few tracks not only set the tempo, but also the tone for the entire record. “The Industrialist” opens with Fulbers’ incredibly ominous keys fused with Cazares’ visceral baritone eight-string attack and Bell’s trademark bark. For those who are worried about the absence of a real drummer, don’t be. The programming is relentless, backbreaking and phenomenal. The album’s first single “Recharger” is something that could’ve easily come off of Demanufacture. Combining disgustingly brutal yet incredibly melodic riffs alongside Bell’s vicious vocal bite and wide-open choruses, the track is a real breath-taker. “New Messiah” is yet another barbaric creature chocked full of gripping guitar, drum and vocal work. Once the chorus opens up, Bell’s ultra-charismatic croons pull you in and never let you go.

What I found so engaging about this release is how the band was able to mix and match the sounds and songwriting from their most poignant albums (think Demanufacture and Obsolete sprinkled with Mechanize) and still make the songs feel fresh and exciting. Tracks like “Depraved Mind Murder” (which I must say, features some of the coolest air wrench samples ever incorporated into a song), “Virus Of Faith” and “Difference Engine” all demonstrate what Fear Factory is all about: precision, extreme aggression and melody when needed.

There are really only two drawbacks found within The Industrialist. First off, with one intro and one ambient track (“Religion Is Flawed Because Man Is Flawed” and “Human Augmentation”) the album really only has eight songs. It would have been nice to add a couple more to the tracklist, but it is what it is. Secondly, if you’re someone who didn’t enjoy Fear Factory to begin with, this album probably won’t change your mind. This time around, they aren’t out to appeal to or appease new listeners. This record is a one-hundred-percent-in-your-face, aggro-industrial neck-wrencher, period.

Fans have always clamored for another Demanufature or Obsolete. With The Industrialst, you’ve got it…and so much more. There’s no doubt in my mind that this is by far one of the most incredibly penetrating albums released this year. Not only is it one of the strongest records Fear Factory has ever written, but it should solidify them as one of the best and most important metal bands of our time.



Сategory: Music
Year: 2015
Style: Industrial Metal
Country: USA
Format: 256 mp3
Size: 5.86 MB