Hehe, nice review.

Crash Test -> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZhIsuVmEvW0

Written by Vikcen on 11.02.2011 at 03:51

Hehe, nice review.

Crash Test -> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZhIsuVmEvW0

"Animals that die, animals that cry"...haha. I prefer the original. This version is a little too refined for my liking.

Written by Sonic MrSumo on 11.02.2011 at 04:32

Written by Vikcen on 11.02.2011 at 03:51

Hehe, nice review.

Crash Test -> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZhIsuVmEvW0

"Animals that die, animals that cry"...haha. I prefer the original. This version is a little too refined for my liking.

Hehe, i understand. By the way, do you like "Concrete"?

Written by Vikcen on 11.02.2011 at 04:39

Hehe, i understand. By the way, do you like "Concrete"?

I don't actually have it...I've been meaning to get it for some time. I just noticed that Concrete is not on this site either?

Written by Sonic MrSumo on 11.02.2011 at 05:20

Written by Vikcen on 11.02.2011 at 04:39

Hehe, i understand. By the way, do you like "Concrete"?

I don't actually...I've been meaning to get it for some time. I just noticed that Concrete is not on this site either?

Yes, as compilation: http://www.metalstorm.net/bands/album.php?album_id=3304&band_id=107&bandname=Fear+Factory

This was a very unique album at the time. And while I find it as a whole overlong and a bit patchy, in it's best moments, it has an ethereal atmosphere, offset by some vicious bludgeoning. I heard this way back near the time of it's original release, and it's hard to see it now, but back then, this was truly a very fresh and unique sounding album. And Burton C. Bell was a true pioneer when it came to his (at the time) hugely innovative vocal style. xD

For it's historical importance and influence, maybe a 9.3 is warranted, but as a standalone album, it's a slightly higher score than I myself would give it. The album contains some great tracks like the classic "Martyr", "Scapegoat" which is catchy, but still heavy as hell, the battering animal rights anthem "Crash Test", and "Flesh Hold", which pummels you with it's Napalm Death-esque grinding barrage. As a whole body of work, Fear Factory have certainly produced more consistent albums, but the debut was truly groundbreaking, and still stands as their most intense release. Id give it 8.5

Written by Vikcen on 11.02.2011 at 05:32

Yes, as compilation: http://www.metalstorm.net/bands/album.php?album_id=3304&band_id=107&bandname=Fear+Factory

Right you are. Sorry, I was looking under "demos".

Also, I meant to say in my earlier post that I don't actually have Concrete. Is it worthwhile?

I personally think people overrate this record a bit, because it's a more death metal orientated album people assume it's stronger. The fact is a large proportion of the songs just aren't very interesting or varied so as Angelic says quite correctly it's overlong and patchy.

I dunno, metallers have an tendency to cite a band's heaviest album as their best and mellowest as their worst (I suppose in Fear Factory's case Digimortal - an album I would choose over this any day as it's far more enjoyable).

Good but not quite great though it probably does deserve a high score for its originality at the time.

Written by [user id=4365] on 11.02.2011 at 16:51

I personally think people overrate this record a bit, because it's a more death metal orientated album people assume it's stronger. The fact is a large proportion of the songs just aren't very interesting or varied so as Angelic says quite correctly it's overlong and patchy.

I dunno, metallers have an tendency to cite a band's heaviest album as their best and mellowest as their worst (I suppose in Fear Factory's case Digimortal - an album I would choose over this any day as it's far more enjoyable).

Good but not quite great though it probably does deserve a high score for its originality at the time.

Very good points Joe, and agreed on everything. xD I think this album could have been great, if the filler was cut away, of which there is quite a lot on the album. It's menacing and genuinely awesome in it's best moments, but those are diluted by the amount of throwaway tracks. It was very original for the time, and has some classic FF tracks on it. But for sure, they've made more consistent and well-balanced albums than the debut.

@Vitriolic Hate: You know it!

Written by Sonic MrSumo on 11.02.2011 at 11:41

Written by Vikcen on 11.02.2011 at 05:32

Yes, as compilation: http://www.metalstorm.net/bands/album.php?album_id=3304&band_id=107&bandname=Fear+Factory

Right you are. Sorry, I was looking under "demos".

Also, I meant to say in my earlier post that I don't actually have Concrete. Is it worthwhile?

Well, viewing that you like "Soul Of A New Machine", yes, it can like you, but remember it is demo and a few songs already are in SOANM (though are enough, 16 short tracks in total). Well, personally it is interesting, was the beginning, i like it.

Songs (that are not in SOANM):

Concrete
Sangre De Ninos
Soulwomb
Echoes Of Innocence
Dragged Down By The Weight Of Existence
Deception
Anxiety
Piss Christ (My favorite of these)
Ulceration

Written by [user id=4365] on 11.02.2011 at 16:51

I dunno, metallers have an tendency to cite a band's heaviest album as their best and mellowest as their worst (I suppose in Fear Factory's case Digimortal - an album I would choose over this any day as it's far more enjoyable).

Good but not quite great though it probably does deserve a high score for its originality at the time.

Interesting take. Soul Of A New Machine is very different to subsequent FF records. They changed direction dramatically with Demanufacture, and I think from Demanufacture onwards, they're formula has not changed enough to make their music interesting or challenging. Digimortal was a little different, however for me that album just didn't work (a good mate of mine would disagree with me strongly, as I'm sure you will also !J.O.O.E.!).

I rate Demanufacture very highly both for it's originality and completeness. For me if I want either the Death sound of Fear Factory, SOANM is the pick Iobviously as it's the only one), and if I want the more Industrial / Death sound, Demanufacture is it. I rarely listen to their other records.

Written by Vikcen on 11.02.2011 at 22:30

Well, viewing that you like "Soul Of A New Machine", yes, it can like you, but remember it is demo and a few songs already are in SOANM (though are enough, 16 short tracks in total). Well, personally it is interesting, was the beginning, i like it.

Thanks mate. I will try and get my hands on a copy for sure.

Written by Sonic MrSumo on 12.02.2011 at 01:12

Written by [user id=4365] on 11.02.2011 at 16:51

I dunno, metallers have an tendency to cite a band's heaviest album as their best and mellowest as their worst (I suppose in Fear Factory's case Digimortal - an album I would choose over this any day as it's far more enjoyable).

Good but not quite great though it probably does deserve a high score for its originality at the time.

Interesting take. Soul Of A New Machine is very different to subsequent FF records. They changed direction dramatically with Demanufacture, and I think from Demanufacture onwards, they're formula has not changed enough to make their music interesting or challenging. Digimortal was a little different, however for me that album just didn't work (a good mate of mine would disagree with me strongly, as I'm sure you will also !J.O.O.E.!).

I rate Demanufacture very highly both for it's originality and completeness. For me if I want either the Death sound of Fear Factory, SOANM is the pick Iobviously as it's the only one), and if I want the more Industrial / Death sound, Demanufacture is it. I rarely listen to their other records.

There's no doubt it's a very different entity to everything that came after it. Demanufacture is still directly comparable to Mechanize even after the 15 year gap (which in itself is quite worrying despite how much I enjoyed Mechanize) so this record itself is difficult to rate within the band's discography. I suppose there's not much that compares to this record. But then that begs the question did they abandon this approach because they felt it wasn't working or because of other reasons?

That makes me think one thing :

Written by Vikcen on 11.02.2011 at 22:30


Well, personally it is interesting, was the beginning, i like it.

Or was Demanufacture the begining? hehe

Written by [user id=4365] on 12.02.2011 at 07:25

But then that begs the question did they abandon this approach because they felt it wasn't working or because of other reasons?

Whilst I like SOANM the most in their discography, I'm not disappointed that they did change direction after that album. If they didn't, then we never would've got the ground-breaking Demanufacture masterpiece.

It is an interesting question though, as the styles are very different from the one to the next.