Album Rating: 3.4

--And a nice full circle moment with the Fear Is the Mindkiller reference in the outro. --

I was going to mention that, but I try to keep too much 'extra' shit out of my reviews. Make a review look 'too long' and no one bothers.



-- That being said it feels like they've been trying to remake Mechanize for the past 3 albums so...--

I don't think it has been intentional. I just think it's all they know. Fear Factory (like Meshuggah, AC/DC, Slayer, etc) have kind of painted themselves into a corner with what they can do under their band name. A new vocalist would be a good time to introduce new influences, as well.



--Who even is in the band now? Last I heard it was just Dinos project. He owns it. He's the only member? EDIT: This review says Burton is in the band but that's not what I read. I read that he left the band.--

Actually, the majority of the last paragraph talks about how Burton has left the band. Also, he is the vocalist on this album.



--I think it's really cliche to say this now. The band's debut wasn't a death metal record at all,--

Fair enough. I'm not sure if you were or not but, if you were around when the album first came out, it was definitely advertised as a death metal album and it didn't fit better into any genre at the time. I think this is more a case of the the album slowly fitting better into a newer modern genre that didn't even exist at the time of its original release. It was definitely advertised as death metal, and it definitely didn't fit into another genre at the time. So, for me, that's still how it 'sits' in my mind.



Edit: I also understand that the logic above doesn't make total sense and isn't even consistent in my own discography. Like the first Korn album was advertised as 'Industrial' in the beginning, but clearly it's not and it eventually moved into the genre it should have been in from the start (if the genre had existed when the album was released).

Damn their last few album arts all look the same

Didn't Burton start the whole pattern in Archetype?

Album Rating: 4.0

Demanufacture was technically the first.

Nothing special, but at least it's not terrible.

Album Rating: 3.4

No issues at all. I was young when their debut album came out, so my main ‘source’ for the death metal reference was the radio station that played “Scapegoat” all the time. The DJs always referred to it as death metal. On the other hand, I also remember them being confused as to whether the band had one or two vocalists because there was ‘no way’ it was the same guy doing both. Years later I remember reading reviews dropping the industrial metal tag, but by then it was apparently too late for me.

Now there’s a band name that takes me back to the Stickdeath days.

Album Rating: 3.4

I enjoy it, but I'm more interested to see if Dino uses a new singer as an excuse to finally change things up after 30 years.

Album Rating: 2.5

t/t bops

Album Rating: 2.0

— Nocte rating: Not enough bm or dm - 2.0—



Pretty sure I like some other music too

Album Rating: 4.0 | Sound Off

So, best Dino/Burton period:



Soul/Demanufacture/Obsolete/Digimortal

or

Mechanize/Industrialist/Genexus/Monolith



?

Album Rating: 3.4

Mechanize/Industrialist/Genexus/Monolith



Soul is the only album from the first period that I can listen to from start to finish.

Album Rating: 4.0

Soul/Demanufacture/Obsolete/Digimortal



no debate

Album Rating: 3.0

The only album from the first period I like is Obsolete. Seriously Demanufacture does very little for me. I guess I just don't get it. But it feels like it aged very poorly.



As for this new period...Genexus is my favorite, then Continuum, Mechanize and Industrialist. Between Genexus, Continuum, and Mechanize you can make a he'll of a playlist. Final Exit is still the very best closer

"The aggressive vocals on the verses, and clean singing on the verses"
I'm guessing you meant choruses at the end there :P

nice review Willie! if this is the band's final album, so be it, sounds like it is a rather fitting send off. gonna give it a listen later on :D

Album Rating: 3.4

You guessed right. Ha ha.



I don't think it's the band's final album. It's their final album with Burton on vocals, but I doubt Dino is going to give up the cash cow so easily.

Album Rating: 4.0 | Sound Off

Aggression Continuum really grew on me. On first listen I heard many things I disliked, but on third I actually noticed a lot of things I really really like.





Who likes bet ?



I bet Dino takes a female vocalist to replace Burton.

First period: Demanufacture and Obsolete (haven’t heard the debut properly)

Obsolete is sort of underrated.

Second period: Mechanize and Genexus

Need to listen to the new one properly.

Album Rating: 3.5

Agree with heck

Album Rating: 4.0

Enjoying this a lot, not revolutionary for them but a great Fear Factory album



Shame the members/ex-members have Misfits level drama between them

For me, any FF album missing Dino or Burton cannot be called a true FF album haha. It’s been a very long time since I’ve listened to their 2000s records, and a new vocalist would have big shoes to fill! I guess that’s what I meant with the “final” album comment