Let me start the review off by saying this – there are two things that I’ve been 100% sure of over the past several years. First, when Fear Factory disbanded in 2002 and then reformed without founding guitarist Dino Cazares, they would become a total shell of their former selves. Never would Christian Olde Wolbers be able to fill the “big man’s” shoes. Second, that the McDonalds McRib sandwich is the most disgusting thing ever created. I’ll never understand why people are completely enamored by something that looks like roadkill. It’s undeniable that I am right on both accounts. Now, after two mediocre (at best) albums (2004′s Archetype and 2005′s Transgression), Fear Factory have been reborn with Mechanize. Dino is back on guitars, Burton on vocals, Gene (The Thunder God) Hoglan on drums, and Byron (not such a Strapping Young Lad) Stroud on bass. This fearsome foursome have created not only one one of the heaviest, but also one of THE best Fear Factory albums to date!

“Mechanize” starts the album off in typical Fear Factory form – with brutal domination! The drill press intro slams you back and forth into an absolute coma as Hoglan’s blinding double bass is layered with Cazares’ brutal down-tuned tone. Burton C. Bell fires on all cylinders in both his aggressive and singing vocals, while Byron Stroud’s bass is just, well, there. But really, and I mean no offense to Stroud, any monkey could play bass in Fear Factory. “The Factory” have always been about the precision double bass and guitar tandem. Awesome song to open the album up!

Songs like “Industrial Discipline” and “Powershifter” are pure cyber-metal genius. Fans of the band’s first three albums (Soul Of A New Machine, Demanufacture and Obsolete) will totally devour these tracks. “Industrial Discipline” flies by at breakneck speed with a killer melodic chorus that only Burton could deliver. “Powershifter” is not only fast, but has a completely brutal groove. For my money, I’d take Hoglan over Raymond Herrera (former drummer) any day of the week. Hoglan’s drumming combines pinpoint accuracy as well as adding little nuances that Herrera couldn’t possibly do. Dino and company completely annihilate your senses, while Bell’s vocals are hypnotizing.

“Christploitation” is not only the heaviest track on the album, but probably one of Fear Factory’s heaviest in general. The eerie piano intro bleeds directly into the mouth of the beast. At times the keys are mixed in very heavily, which adds to the overall ambiance of the song. This makes the listener really feel the hatred being spewed forth. The middle of the track sees blinding speeds mixed with insane guitar work and hellacious vocals.

Taking a page from the Demanufacture/Obsolete days comes “Controlled Demolition.” The big, bouncy guitars are interlaced perfectly with thunderous double bass and lightning fast snare blasts. The brutality of the verses are like no other, while the choruses are extremely catchy and melodic with Bell really finding his groove.

Songs like “Designing The Enemy” and “The Final Exit” may take the listener a few spins to really get into, though. “Designing The Enemy” starts out very ambient, but ends up being a total slobber-knocker. Imagine mixing Fear Factory’s overall ambiance with the off-time brutality of Meshuggah and you’ve got it. “The Final Exit” was not my cup of tea though. It’s rather slow and drawn out, making it a strange fit on this album. It’s a decent song, but for a brutal album to end this way was somewhat odd.

I have to say that I am really glad Dino and Burton let bygones be bygones to reform and create this colossal beast. Fear Factory have become a much tighter, more refined outfit that will destroy stages this year, and hopefully for many years to come. Mechanize will not only bring the band back from the dead, but should catapult them back into the stratosphere!

OUR RATING
[Rating:4.5/5]

4.5/5