I had written off Fear Factory quite a long time ago. Following the acrimonious departure of guitarist Dino Cazares in the late 90's, the cyber-metal band never really seemed to be the same, culminating in the horrendous Transgression, which is surely one of the worst albums ever released by a major metal band. News of Cazares reconciling with former bitter enemy and Fear Factory singer Burton C. Bell was surprising, because their split was nasty with a capital “N”. Now that things are hunky dory between Burton and Cazares, the other long time members of the band have been brutally dumped, resulting in more bad feelings as well as the band Arkaea.
I still didn't hold out much hope for a new Fear Factory disc, but lo and behold, Mechanize is surely the best record they have done since Obsolete. It doesn’t surpass their all-time classic Demanufacture but it certainly doesn't suffer much in comparison. The return of Cazares is the key. This guy has such a distinctive style of guitar playing that nobody can adequately fill his shoes. Mechanize is bursting with those brutal staccato guitar riffs that typify the FF sound. Another advantage is the addition of drum wizard Gene Hoglan to the fold. Former skin beater Raymond Herrera was more machine than man in that department, but Hoglan is one of the few who can match his skill and maybe even up the ante. With Hoglan behind the kit, a reinvigorated Cazares thrashing away and the rock solid bass of Byron Stroud on tap, Bell has also found his mojo again. The album is full of both grinding growls and transcendent melodies.
At some points it still sounds like "typical" Fear Factory, albeit with more conviction, but when it is at its best, Mechanize reminds us of what made this band so great during its heyday. This is one time I am glad to be wrong!
This review is available in book format (hardcover and paperback) in Music Street Journal: 2010 Volume 2 at lulu.com/strangesound.