Demanufacture - Fear Factory

Advantages: Fear factory's best album easily, pretty effective for the most part
Disadvantages: Not a high level of musicianship, there are better albums out there

Let's face it, fear factory are not a great band. With most of their songs sounding exactly the same, and an extremely uninventive singer, they are not really one of the more original or exciting metal bands. However having said this, "Demanufacture" is not a bad album at all. It's in no way great, or a classic, but it is definitely in my opinion fear factory's best album, and contains some pretty good songs, considering the fairly low talent average ...
...do best, with no pretence, fast, almost inaudibly low riffs supported in every beat by pummeling double kick drum. Burton C Bell alternates between harsh screamed vocals, and rather comical melodic parts, all with the trademark fear factory "singing into a cup" sound (i think it's supposed to sound futuristic). The title track is a real head banger, as are most of the tracks on this album. Single "Replica" is also worth noting. The tracks are all ... Read review

Advantages: You could listen to this over and over again. Have fun working out what Burton C. Bell is saying in the lyrics without looking at them in the cover!!!
Disadvantages: Only 11 tracks copared to Digimortal's 11 but they are all an average 5 to 6 minutes anyway!

...they were. After they released Demanufacture they released Remanufacture which is an album which is completely different from anything I have ever heard. It was Hard Rock Raved up, and it was good, but I will talk about that in my opinion of that album. Demanufacture features 11 tracks as follows: 1. Demanufacture 2. Self Bias Resistor 3. Zero Signal 4. Replica 5. New Breed 6. Dog Day Sunrise 7. Body Hammer 8. Flashpoint 9.Hunter-killer ...
...the songs are totally unique in different ways whether it is from the speed to the heaviness or how loud Burton C. Bell is shouting. If you listen to this and think, does this guy always shout then just listen to linchpin from Digimortal and you will hear him singing amazingly. This is very heavy rock and that is what Fear Factory are about. Alot of people seem to be into that "So Called Music" called Dance but in my opinion bands like Fear Factory ... Read review

Advantages: Very clean production...
Disadvantages: ...but it's a bit cold at times

Fear Factory are one of the best new mainstream-ish metal bands of recent years, and this album is what much of their success is based on. A winning formula of thrash headbutting industrial, with keyboards thrown in, and all round quality performances from all concerned. Dino Cazares pulls off the impressive trick of sounding like a guitar god whilst playing almost unbelievably simple riffs when analysed and not playing one solo all album, Raymond ... Read review

Advantages: Some decent growling
Disadvantages: Everything else

...kinda heavy idea, but this is no Machine Head, no this isn't even Linkin Park standard! 2/10 2. Taxi Cab Confession Nice dark and dirty bassy sound, another good sounding start, but again the vocals destroy the illusion that this could be a fantastic band. It's a bad half talked/rap idea which sounds totally out of place with the music going on in the background, and out of tune. Very unpleasing on the ear. And oh a nice growling bridge into the chorus. Keeping my fingers crossed that this time we'll have a decent chorus... But alas we're back to this poor Nu Metal imitation reminding me slightly of Demanufacture Fear Factory. Another nice bridge into another awful verse. How much more of this song can I stand? Though the first verse had a nice bridge before it, this one is straight in, and then into a heavier second bridge... Read review

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Advantages: The beginings of Fear Factory in its original unmastered format
Disadvantages: Poor production, a much better re-mastered copy is available

...such as 'Bladerunner' to tortured mechanical sounds like those used in the track 'Natividad'. These help to create a more disturbing atmsophere and also show off the bands talent. Some of the samples have music played over the top at breakneck speed and are very precise. This album has a raw energy almost sounding as if the band had recorded it live. I heard this record before I had heard any of the other albums by Fear Factory. It was my friend who played 'Soul Of A New Machine' in his car, and it was this point that I was amazed with the intensity recorded here, but I found the sound was too harsh. It wasn't until I had heard the more refined 'Demanufacture' that I became a Fear Factory fan and sought my copy of this album. Tracklisting: 1. Martyr 2. Leechmaster 3. Scapegoat 4. Crisis 5. Crash test 6. Flesh hold 7. Lifeblind 8. Scumgrief 9... Read review

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Advantages: Fear Factory try something a little different
Disadvantages: Poor production quality in places, vocals often feel strained

.... 'Transgression' is a very hard album to get into, even for a die-hard fan. Each successive listen reveals more and more that 'Fear Factory' are trying something different and it is nice to hear them attempt this, It is a shame that the final result is shakey in places. This is the reason why I can't recomend this album to newcomers, it doesn't represent 'Fear Factory' at their best (Production Quality), nor does it show what they are capable of. 'Demanufacture', 'Archetype' and 'Digimortal' are better places to start, representing 'Fear Factory's' sound properly! The DVD is another Joke, the three so called promo music videos are shocking! 'Moment Of Impact' is one of those that makes you think 'what on earth does this guy think he looks like'. The making of the album featurette made me yawn, it takes ages to get anywhere with its endless barrage... Read review

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