Fear Factory – The Industrialist
Candlelight 2012
Having gotten their considerable amount of bloodlust out of their system with 2010′s crushing “Mechanize“; the continually retooled Fear Factory have once again set their sights on conceptual affairs with “The Industrialist“.
To that end the band have constructed a predictably dystopian tale of an automaton that becomes self-aware. In its course of taking on human traits and self-discovery it comes to turn on humankind. But aside from a few interludes and some key lyrical passages, the story itself isn’t entirely that crucial.
For “The Industrialist” is an album defined more by its actions than its intentions. Stacked with the ever staccato hammering riffs, relentless double kick work and brushed steel industrial slickness; this outing is a sleekly balanced experience.
There are countless times where Burton C. Bell‘s detached, operatic vocal passages send the material skyward. Yet there are just as many moments of rigorous, gritty sonic devastation. It’s an inspired give and take, but one that eventually can become a touch predictable.
The songs “Difference Engine” and “God Eater” (which coyly flirts with dubstep styled bombast) boast the most initial promise of the band breaking new ground—particularly with their haunting openings. Yet they quickly fall victim to the severity of the Fear Factory playbook; relegating perhaps their most interesting components to quickly suppressed cameos.
The trademark digital manipulation has been modernized, though it retains an air of welcome subtly. Its continued presence adds depth to the bands onslaught and the stark personality shifts of the material. The problem with “The Industrialist” however isn’t so much any one component or the songs themselves. It is the overall lack of vision for new frontiers that weighs it down.
It’s everything you’d expect from a Fear Factory record, be it digitized symphonic oppression, the raw nerve rigidity or the assurgent choruses. It’s all here and as grandiose as it should be. However, it’s low risk with songwriting far too calculated to truly impress past the bands already considerable standards. “The Industrialist” surely adds some explosive new ammunition to the bands cache; but falls short of placing any new weaponry in their arsenal.
- USER RATING
- ( 63 votes, 4.06 stars )
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COMMENTS
I felt the last album, as good as it was with tracks like Final Exit and Designing the Enemy, was missing something . I really wish Christian and Raymond were still in this band with Dino and Burton. I feel that Fear Factory needs all four members to really make it hit home again and bring back that feeling I had when I heard Resurrection for the first time. As I say that I’ve gotta admit that I don’t care for this band to really break new ground, but bring back that sound that makes Fear Factory, Fear Factory. Cheers to hoping it leaks by the weekend.
The last album certainly couldn’t be missing anything more than Transgression, Digimortal or Archetype.
I agree with you on wanting the original 4, but I thought gene hoglan was awesome on mechanize.
What a great review! Beautifully well written. It’s nice to see classic mid-late 90′s shit like this still getting reviewed. I remember the static-x/dope tour back in the day that plagued this scene and it’s well taken when this shit is still getting exposure and even mentioned on forums that have managed to stay so current and relative throughout the past 15 or so years. Love it wook!
The Positive Review Place
Lol
My biggest PRP complaint? Wook reviews what he wants, and not what I want
But seriously, I’ll probably get around to listening to this album sooner or later. I like FF, but they certainly aren’t one of my favorites and I don’t necessarily get “excited” for new material.
yeah ff these days can defo be overlooked. They’re not exactly the “let’s rush out the door for the new album” band.
FYI – The Recent Comments is still broken, Wook.
I really wished that they would be able to keep Hoglan behind the kit. I thought Mechanize was the best post Obsolete album they have done. Hopefully there is no drumming fall off on this one because they seemed to be back and legit.
“Hopefully there is no drumming fall off on this one because they seemed to be back and legit.”
They used a drum program. There is no real drummer on the cd.
Is the album streamable anywhere?
That kind of sucks, I had no idea.
I guess I should of read up and knew this already but even though I really enjoy FF I don’t particularly follow them.
Wook used one specific word that hit the nail right on the head. Predictable. And honestly, I don’t really mind it. It’s Fear Factory. It is what is. They’ve been in the game over 20 years and have a pretty loyal fan base. No need to change things up now.
I will say, I was expecting more Dubstep just because that’s the climate right now and a band like FF could’ve easily gone that direction, And thankfully it didn’t happen. It’s VERY cool to see them stick to their old school industrial electronic roots. Cudos to them for not jumping on whats trendy…I’m looking at you Korn!
Korn always have gone with what’s trendy. Kind of their style.
Dunno about that. Self-titled and Life is Peachy were pretty unique and original back in the day.
I really enjoy this album. I like how they can stay relevant after all these years and still make great music. Great effort by Fear Factory.
I am about to poop my pants to hear the new record. “Must wait for release day. Must not download.”
This is a fucking metal album. Nuff said.
Ya think?
I thought it was bluegrass.
so how did you guys hear this one already?
Yes I’ve been waiting patiently for this one as well but can’t find it ANY wheres. How’d you guys hear it already?
Just went to see Fear Factory on Thursday. I personally wasn’t super thrilled with their setlist until the end (I screamed “Leechmaster” like a thousand times to no avail, lol) where they pulled out the obligitory Self Bias Resistor, Martyr and such but I thought the chemistry was great. Dino was in jovial spirits and doing most of the talking as the crowd chanted “Dino, Dino,” Burton was drunk I’m pretty sure but on point and the musicianship was tight. I couldn’t help to leave feeling an overall “meh” though. A band that defined a couple great years of my life are still strong, just not as hungry and not entirely as relevant.
The same night you were at fear factory, I was at meshuggah in mo-town… Let me just say I didn’t leave with ‘meh’ in mind, I left with ‘holy fuck, that’s the best band in the fucking world’ in mind… FF is still sick live though… I will go into the set list if someone wants… It was very pleasing
no need, sir.
Demanufacture.
Nothing better than good ole Demanufacture.
Nothing better than having zero credibility because you like Hatebreed.
Word to that. But Deman is a killer album.
Says the Snuggie-wearing wiener dog.
http://www.hmvdigital.com/artist/fear-factory/the-industrialist-2 Fucking awesome guys. Hope you enjoy it! =D
figured i’d post this link since it gives different and much longer samples than the amazon versions.
This is the most underwhelming album from a band I enjoy I’ve heard in a long time. It’s like they just felt the need to mail it in in the songwriting department. You can tell the drums are programmed…just absolutely zero feel going on on them. I’ll always be a Raymond fan but Hoglan at least did him justice on Mechanize. This is just boring. An absolute shell of Mechanize, which was solid but not amazing. I’m now looking more forward to the next City of Fire album that I am enjoying this.
You watch your fuckin’ mouth with that City of Fire shit, boy. You watch it. You can’t take that shit back.
3.5//5 is accurate. I love FF. This is a solid album. I feel like Mechanize was their last hoorah. I’m okay with that. That’s not to say I won’t enjoy The Industrialist. I’m digging it big-time, especially the melodic vocals.
This is exactly what I expect and, well, hope for, from Fear Factory. I know they use the studio a lot. I can live with that. They’ve always wrecked me live, so whatever works. I do think it sucks that FF is only a shadow (member-wise) of its former hardcore, committed self, but what can you do. I’ll take what I can get from FF at this point.
Yeah, it’s 3:34 a.m. What of it? Ouzo.
I’m enjoying what I’ve heard of this album so far and i can’t wait to hear more.
I miss the old school line up just like everyone else but I can’t be to mad that it’s gone. The last album with all 4 involved was digimortal and compared to what they had done at that point it was very lack luster. After that archtype made it seem like they made a good move forward without Dino then they dropped the ball hard with transgression.
The last album and this one finally give me the feeling that FF is back on track and i can’t wait for more.
To me it sounds like Dino and Burt are having fun again making a solid FF record. It may not be the “reunion album” people were hoping for, or may not even be the best record in their lineup, but its a solid ass release with some pummeling tracks. Yes a drum machine was used in place of a drummer, but its not as if they couldn’t ever get a drummer to play those parts live. I feel that this direction they took their signature sound is just brutal and seems… mature, adding layers of melody and keys. At any rate, you can tell both Burt and Dino seem happy making FF records again, and that means they’ll keep the machine running for as long as it has steam. Keep this shit up!
motherfucker, the new record is fine. I still love Fear Factory despite the same-old-formula.
I’m down with Fear Factory not straying too much. A by the book Fear Factory record is something I’m perfectly content to listen to. Some Science Fiction theme, some roar and pur and a few bleeps & steel-mill samples. Shit’s five by five.
That’s wild, dude, I always pictured those sounds (like in “Demanufacture” and “Body Hammer”) coming from a steel mill, too. Give me steel mill samples, or give me fucking nothing! Word.
the fact that there’s no real drumming on this album is an outrage! this band is known for defining precission drumming, just my opinion, i just hope this doesn’t further set a standard of recording that replaces the artist with (excuse the pun) a machine. but either way enjoyable metal tracks FF just needs to keep in mind they’re no Genghis Tron
Over all, weaker than Mechanize. New Messiah jsut might be their crowning achievement though.
Obsolete Pt. II quite possibly. Fear Factory knows how to bring the carnage. Great record across the board. 4.25/ 5.00
As a side note, Human Augmentation sounds like something off of the Blade Runner soundtrack.
I thought it was a cop-out way to close the album… especially following up “Final Exit”, which was my favorite FF closer ever. Pretty much my only gripe with The Industrialist. I also got the bonus tracks version. Nothing to write home about. I’d like to hear “Timelessness 2″ though.
User rating 4/5 is accurate. Nothing wrong with the programmed drumming. aside from unfathonably technical drumming, the industrial sound is a fear factory staple which they really hit the hammer on the nail with this new album. The programmed drumming definately gives the industrialist a more 90′s industrial type sound which I loved. 5/5 for my personal favorite Obsolete
I picked this up not realizing the drums were all programed. I know everyone is different, but I abhor that crap. I can’t even contemplate getting into it. It makes no sense to have such a legendary band (even though not really a favorite to me, but they’re legit) put out something with fake drums! Come on, they went from Gene Hoglan to programed drums, yo!
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