Maximum Metal Rating Legend
5 Excellent - Masterpiece. A classic.
4.5-4 Great - Almost perfect records but there's probably a lacking.
3.5 Good - Most of the record is good, but there may be some filler.
3 Average - Some good songs, some bad ones at about a half/half ratio.
2.5-2 Fair - Worth a listen, but best obtained by collectors.
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0 Terrible - Waste of your life and time.

Note: Reviews are graded from 0-5, anything higher or not showing is from our old style. Scores, however, do not reveal the important features. The written review that accompanies the ratings is the best source of information regarding the music on our site. Reviewing is opinionated, not a qualitative science, so scores are personal to the reviewer and could reflect anything from being technically brilliant to gloriously cheesy fun.

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Band
Fear Factory
Title
Mechanize
Type
LP/EP
Company
Candlelight
YOR
2010
Style
Heavy/Extreme
9/30/2010 - Review by: Ben McCraw

Fear Factory
Mechanize

Company: Candlelight Records
Release: 2010
Genre: Heavy, Industrial
Reviewer: Ben McCraw

  • Where man and machine collide



  • The newest outing from Fear Factory is once again an example of what this band does best. Although original drummer Raymond Herrera has departed, the bands prevailing sound has been tightened by the inclusion of founding member/guitarist Dino Cazares (Brujera, Divine Heresy) who seems to tap into the very heart and soul of FF.

    Their overall sound has always been a combination of ultra-precise double bass drums and palm muted guitars behind Burton C. Bell's growls and clean vocals. This is a formula that no doubt served them well on past albums such as "Obsolete" or even "Soul of a New Machine", which introduced their unique vision to the world. "Fear Campaign", the first single from the album, features a refreshing guitar solo and a rawer sounding rhythm section; making it slightly different from much of their past work. "Christploitation" and "Powershifter" are onslaughts of mechanical aggression, based on the bands usual hatred of abuses of power.

    And although they are undoubtedly the best at what they do, there isn't much new to be seen here in the area of concept. The idea remains basically the same--a loss of humanity caused by people being transformed into machines. Don't get me wrong, using music to describe machines is brilliant, but this has been the prevailing concept throughout FF's 19+ year career, and can be at times repetitive. My beef is a small one at best though, because nothing will change the fact that Fear Factory are legends and pioneers of metal, and the fans that love or have come to love FF's trademark style will also love this album. "Mechanize" is once again where man and machine collide.



    • 1 :REVIEW COUNT
      4 :AVE RATING

    ALL REVIEWS FOR: FEAR FACTORY
    TITLE
    DOR
    COMPANY
    REVIEWER DATE MADE RATING
    Archetype
    2004
    Liquid 8
    MM4/14/2004
    -
    Mechanize
    2010
    Candlelight
    Ben McCraw9/30/2010
    4
    The Industrialist
    2012
    Candlelight
    Greg Watson10/4/2012
    3

    ALL INTERVIEWS FOR: FEAR FACTORY
    INTERVIEW INTERVIEWER DATE TAGLINE
    Raymond HerreraMM4/21/2004

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