Artist: Fear Factory
Label: Liquid 8 Records
Release Date: 4/20/04
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Title: Archetype Artist: Fear Factory Label: Liquid 8 Records Release Date: 4/20/04 |
Judgment Committee Reviews | Rating |
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Abyss's Review:
One thing that is obvious upon first listen is that Fear Factory are desperately trying to recapture (or should I say Decapture?) the same balance of grit and industry that was found on their best-received record, Demanufacture. From the opening track, "Slave Labor," it becomes apparent that they've been largely successful in that endeavor. Fear Factory have ground down their sound, which began to drift on their last two studio albums, and for those of you who have been longing for a 'return to form', you couldn't really ask for more than this.
"One word review: Demanufactured." The album is much heavier than their last two, and seemingly dedicated to the same song structures we remember from tracks like "Replica." The band continues their mechanical riffing and manufactured aggression, interspersing it with cold melodies and haunting vocals. Mr. Bell's voice seems less impressive today, but that is may be because there are so many more people doing the same thing than there was during this band's early years, but the end result is he is perfectly competent and exactly what fans expect.
The loss of Dino Cazares is much less of a handicap than I would have thought, as those shoes have been admirably filled by Christian Olde Wolbers with nary a beat skipped. The guitar work remains structured and simple, but effective, and the songs are easy to get into. In fact, die-hard fans of this band may find this their strongest album, even better than Demanufacture.
And I guess that's my problem with it. It's not that this album isn't up to the challenge, it's that I'm just not very interested in this sound anymore. During this band's peak, I found them fresh and poignant, but that just isn't the case anymore. This band hasn't really moved on, but I have. I do really like this record for what it is, and I'm sure that I'll come back to it every once in awhile, but I just can't get overly excited about it. I find Strapping Young Lad much more satisfying. One word review: Demanufactured.
Death's Review:
Let’s face it: Fear Factory was cool during the Demanufacture days, and they sucked by the time they became Obsolete. Seriously, while I thought it was neat to see an ex-death metal band playing live on MTV’s Spring Break coverage, from the moment I first heard the band’s cover of Gary Numan’s “Cars,” I was forever turned off to the band. Or so I thought. The band got rid of guitarist Dino Cazares (aka “the Mayor” of Hollywood’s Rainbow Bar & Grill), and now appear to be back to their signature sound. Harsh, staccato riffing, tight drumming with machine-like double bass, a layering of soft-sounding keyboards to balance things out, and the signature vocal stylings of Burton C. Bell.
"Long time fans will certainly approve." Veteran Fear Factory members Bell, Raymond Herrera and Christian Olde Wolbers are joined by bassist Byron Stroud (Stapping Young Lad) (Olde Wolbers has moved to guitar from the bass). In the end, it is all about the songs, and these songs pretty much do the trick. I like the first track, “Slave Labor,” which is pretty much the brutal Fear Factory you remember from days gone by. The first single, “Cyberwaste,” despite the fact that it rails against anonymous Internet critics (like those at Metal Judgment), has some catchy parts and a crushing slow heavy riff or two that ends things. I like it. I also like the title track, which clearly seems to be talking about the revamped lineup (“the soul of this machine has been improved”).
All in all, I like this. True, I’d rather listen to Heavy Devy and Strapping Young Lad, but this record is pretty cool. Especially relative to my expectations. Long time fans will certainly approve.
Hel's Review:
Three years have gone by since the release of Digimortal. The old adage states that “absence makes the heart grow fonder” and, you know, there may be something to that. I was surprised to find, when I first put this into my player, that I didn’t instantly hate it. In fact, it brought to mind fond memories of Demanufacture, an album that, once upon a time, I had a great deal of affection for.I attended the listening party held at the Cat Club here in L.A. a few weeks ago, and in a conversation I had with someone, that person stated, “This is the album they should have made eight years ago.” Well, hell, I think that person was absolutely right. This would indeed have made the perfect follow up to Demanufacture.
"Perhaps it’s just good enough, and it’s been just long enough, that Fear Factory sounds good to me again. " To make a long, boring story short, Fear Factory pretty much lost me after Demanufacture, the subsequent albums were all sub-par at best. So when I tell you that Archtype would have been the perfect follow up, that’s a pretty serious compliment. Perhaps it’s just good enough, and it’s been just long enough, that Fear Factory sounds good to me again. But I truly believe this is a much better album than anything thing they’ve put out in many years.
The classic Fear Factory formula is present, and the songs cover the same ground as they did back in the day. The most notable difference is the drumming, which had begun to be simplified and less interesting in the more recent efforts, is once again fast and furious, as it should be. The overall lyrical tone of the record is basically, “fuck everyone and everything” - as angry as it ought to be.
So all in all, I’d recommend any former Fear Factory fans feeling nostalgic for the old days give this one a spin, it may just take you on a pleasant trip down memory lane. If you have seen the video for “Cyberwaste” and have had your interest peaked, then by all means, explore further. I’m not sure how much more time I’ll spend with this, but the time I have spent I consider to have been pleasant.
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