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Biography
Formed by vocalist Burton C. Bell, percussionist Raymond Herrera, and ex-Douche Lord guitarist Dino Cazares, Fear Factor utilises a whole host of metal and sonic soundscape as an outlet for their pessimistic view of modern society. The band contributed two songs to the L.A. Death Metal compilation, which resulted in signing with Roadrunner Records who released their debut album “Soul of a New Machine” in 1992. The album featured new bassist Andrew Shives, allowing Cazares to play guitar on tour and was followed by the electronically experimental EP “Fear Is the Mind Killer”, featuring remixes by Rhys Fulber and Bill Leeb and marking the arrival of Reynor Diego.
Prior to the band’s sophomore album of new material “Demanufacture” in 1995, Shives was fired from band and replaced by Christian Olde Wolbers. Similar to its predecessor “Demanufacture” was followed by another remix project entitled “Remanufacture (Cloning Technology”, this time Fear Factory tried their hand at electronic remix contributions along with a number of techno-orientated artists.
Following Diego’s departure and Steve Tushar arrival and a number of side-projects including Cazares and Herrera’s Brujeria, and Nailbomb, Fear Factory returned in 1998 to released their third full-length “Obsolete”. The album marked the band’s biggest success to date, with an accomplished alternative metal style within a growing hybrid market. Following appearances on several film and video game soundtracks including “Mortal Kombat” and “Test Drive 5”, and shows at Ozzfest 1999, Fear Factor’s fan base swelled ahead of their fourth studio album “Digimortal” in 2001.
The album proved to be their most commercially popular reaching the Top 40 of the Billboard 200, however marked the departure of Cazares, with Wolbers moved to guitar and Byron Stroud hired to fill the bass spot. After being dropped by Roadrunner subsequent to the tumultuous line-up, Fear Factor released a set of original 1991 recordings under the title “Concrete” in 2002. The band soon singed with Liquid 8 who issued their 2004 album “Archetype”, followed in 2005 by the relentless “Transgression”.
Fear Factor then went on a hiatus to allow old wounds to heal, returning in 2009 when Bell and Cazares had made peace with one another. With the help of Byron Stroud on bass, Gene Hoglan on drums, and the continued membership of Herrera and Wolbers, the band released the album “Mechanize” in 2010 and the concept album “The Industrialist” in 2012.
Live reviews
When I learned that Fear Factory would play in Portugal I decided right away that I had to go, since I've been a fan for some many years. I confess I got a little desapointed by three aspects, but anyway, just seeing those guys blast the whole Demanufacture, plus some more classics and some new stuff is definately worth it. The aspects that kind of disapointed me were:
1. This one is not even the band's fault, but the sound wasn't good. There were noises in the middle of the songs and it was not well equalized.
2. Burton was kind of voiceless. His voice would sometimes fail and very often go completely out of tune in the clean vocal parts.
3. And mainly, Dino's completely lack of energy and interaction with the public. He stayed close to the drums almost the whole concert, looked really bored and turned his back on the public right after he eneded playing the last note of each song. He didn't even throw a pick or anything, Tony was the one who threw Dino's picks after he threw his own in the end of the concert. He (Tony) was much more energic and interactive. I had seen him before with Soulfly. He had been so attentive then, that I made him a sign to throw a pick in the end of a song and he did throw it right in my direction, so I could get it in the air. With Fear Factory he was just as good (I didn't have the chance to ask him for another pick though :P). I understand Dino is a "heavy" guy and not that young anymore, so he may lack the energy to go crazy in each and every concert during the tour. He even touched his back sometimes, showing some discomfort. But come on, throwing a pick wouldn't tire him at all.
Anyway, it's Fear Factory. It's Dino, It's Burton. It's their history, their creativity and their pioneerism that make it all worth it, no matter how bored Dino was or how fucked up Burton's voice was :p
arthur-araujo-1
Fear Factory is an American metal band, which was formed in the year 1990. This band was so successful that they released eight full studio albums.
"Resurrection" is an awesome song. It really grabs you. Some of the lyrics that I love in this song state, "Revive all my fears. Revive wasted tears. Revive void within. Revive once again. . .."
These guys are cool and dressed in all black. The lead singer even has black hair and looks super cool. The guitars in this song are super loud and the lead singer screams at all of the right places. In the clip that I watched of this song, their was a huge audience, and they were all headbanging and getting into the song.
This band knows how to perform because the audience really enjoyed it. "Cars" is another cool song by them. It was extremely popular. It is not as hard as some of the other songs of them. It is really easy to sing along to. The instruments are still loud in the song, but the singer does not scream in this one. However, the audience still loves this song because this band really knows how to perform for an audience.
It is pretty hard to tie Fear Factory down to one genre as their music freely skips between industrial, thrash and even groove at times but there is one thing for sure, it is hell intense. With over two decades of experience on the live circuit, the Californian group really knows how to enthuse a venue and to turn a crowd from mere spectators into the very life blood of a performance.
They have clocked over a thousand live performances and this dedication is rarely matched by their peers. This sheer relent has benefits though as they are now one of the most technically gifted thrash bands on the circuit thanks to years of practice night after night. They have never really hit the big time but this does not seem to bother the musicians onstage who are happy to turn whatever space they are given into complete uncontrolled mayhem. The crowd gets really involved, head banging along and surging towards the stage through the show before a mammoth finale of 'Replica' ends the show in a suitably loud way.
sean-ward
The Demanufacture 20th Anniversary Tour is not a thing to miss if you're into modern metal. The album is legendary for what it did to the scene. One can't dispute that, regardless of whether you like the band or not.
They are in good shape, and this is one of its strongest lineups to date. I would say this is definitely the third big (and probably final) era of Fear Factory, after the Core Years and the Meltdown Years.
They still kick immense ass and I am amazed Burton can still rip his throat each night like that. His voice does get tired, but I can't think of anyone who wouldn't feel the burn. Dino delivers the usual mass assault. Mike and Tony are a great team and perform like well oiled machinery.
The machine is still alive. Experience it live if you can.
vesper_dbs
They played the entire Demanufacture album from start to finish with absolute perfection. The remaining set list was great. They played a full hour and a half. Combined with Soilwork this show is completely worth it.
david-bradley-1
A bit too loud. At some point it's only becoming a sound mass of noise and it's hard to hear music out of it. But besides that it was good and would go again.
Hillkorn
