Music Review: Fear Factory – Mechanize

Vitals:

Name: Fear Factory

Album: Mechanize

Release Date:02/09/2010

Label: Candlelight Records

Genre: Industrial/Doom

The Skinny

Sinister. Adrenaline. Mechanical Terror. Dread. Fear. Factory.

Highlights

“Mechanize“ Perfect album opener. An organic step forward. Nostalgia.

“Industrial Discipline“ Absolutely disciplined and industrial!

“Christploitation” Least FF-sounding song on the album. Eerie piano work.

“Designing The Enemy“ Fantastic vocal work. Stellar rhythmic themes.

“Final Exit“ This is the stuff movie soundtracks are made of. Could this be the end?

“Contemplate your last breath
As you see the face of death
Contemplate your last breath
Breathe, slowly breathe
Goodbye”

Opinion

Holy shitstick. Well, Fear Factory, you’ve done it. You have managed to blow my mind for the first time since Obsolete. I haven’t giggled at the end of a new metal release since Mastodon dumped Crack The Skye on us early last year. I don’t even know where to start this… every single element from the back catalog is present here. The eerie vocal harmonies. The industrial rhythmic themes. The fist-clinching grooves. The butthole-puckering blast beats that make even the most seasoned drum machine proud. The fear. The factory.

There’s a whole new dimension present here though. It’s like a flux capacitor for your ear, providing every bit of the 1.21 gigawatts it takes to melt your face off. To say “ehh it’s another Fear Factory album” is ignorant and blasphemous…and fuckin’ retarded. If this isn’t the soul of a new machine, I don’t know what is.

Gene Hoglan provides a new freshness and organic warmth to a band that is typically frigid and static. Dino looks like he needs to lay off the donuts, and yet he still delivers enough angst with his riffs to fuel a small workout for your face. Although Byron Stroud is credited for laying down the bass lines, the album mix doesn’t allow you to hear him at all. Maybe Dino’s big ass was in front of the amp in the studio (I shouldn’t say that. He could handily destroy me).  And finally, I’m happy to see that Burton C. Bell has removed the boo-hoo baster from Dino’s turkey long enough to create such a masterpiece. Less bitchin’ and moanin’ and more creatin’ ,I say!  This album made me proud of Fear Factory. Proud like the first time I went pee pee all by myself.

Seriously kids, get your parents to hook you up with your allowance early for this one. Tuck it away and eliminate any excuses that may prevent you from buying this album. Congratulations Fear Factory, you’ve set the standard for the rest of 2010.     \m/

Recommend it? Duh.

Replay Value: Obsessive.

***UPDATE***

You can now stream “Mechanize” by clicking HERE