Remanufacture - Fear Factory

Advantages: An exemplary remix album
Disadvantages: Metal purists probably won't like it one little bit

...but I actually first heard Remanufacture before I'd heard all of Demanufacture. Which is a bit like seeing the film before reading the book I guess. But anyway, the point is that it gave me a slightly different perspective on the 2 albums to what most Fear Factory fans gained. Needless to say, I was impressed from the word go. An album that manages to be varied in style, without ever sounding bitty. And the expertise on board from the likes of Junkie ...
...particularly evident on 21st Century Jesus, which in addition to being a bangin' choon, is surprisingly conducive to chilling out. This album is truly a bargain item as you get the unadulterated intensity and aggression of Demanufacture with added depth and atmosphere. The crossover appeal of Remanufacture is truly awesome. ... Read review

Advantages: Some of their best stuff, completist value
Disadvantages: The live tracks are a bit of a let down

...as this material is concerned at least. This was one of the first metal albums I ever bought (at the same time as Coal Chamber’s self-titled debut and Fear Factory’s Remanufacture album). I wasn’t sure quite what to expect, but it impressed me - and has grown on me more since. Opener ‘Procreation (Of The Wicked)’ is absolutely phenomenal. It demonstrates that you don’t have to be fast to be heavy. Especially in their earlier days, Sepultura were prone to use fast thrashy guitars to cover limited ability. This song, a Celtic Frost cover, is completely different. A strong, slow, pounding drum beat sets the song off perfectly, and Max’s vocals are also pretty good - although they could be clearer. All the same, it’s a shame this track got relegated to this collection - it could have been a hit and even... Read review

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Advantages: A real return to form
Disadvantages: The cover of 'School' is a bit out of place, and it doesn't really offer much new on previous albums

...album Remanufacture, but it’s a change from the normal Fear Factory mould - more like some experimental post-rock indulgency, but certainly something that rounds off the album well for me. Unfortunately while that seemed the perfect way to end, the culmination of the album is let down slightly by a cover of Nirvana’s ‘School’ being tacked on the end. It doesn’t say it’s a bonus track, but has that afterthought feel, disrupting the album’s flow somewhat. Not a bad song in itself, but would probably have been better left to a b-side or at least shunted further up the tracklisting. That’s only a very minor blip though. Fear Factory are definitely back and in full working order. Recommended purchases: Controversially I’d buy Obsolete first for an introduction to the band, then the classic Demanufacture because it’s classic. This should... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful