After Fear Factory made their second comeback with a very successful
“Mechanize”, they followed the album with “The Industrialist”. Now, for the
most part, “The Industrialist” scored well enough with fans and critics alike
given that it sounded like “Mechanize” 2.0, which was not a bad thing mind you.
With two albums under their belt since reforming, fans were excited to see that
the band was preparing new material for what would be their 9th album (not
including "Concrete") titled “Genexus” which released in August 2015.
When “Mechanize” was released, we saw the band revisit the
sounds and formula of Fear Factory’s past. You could hear bits and pieces of just
about every major release through the album, which was a nice way to kick off
their comeback. Subsequently, “The Industrialist” followed suit, only rather
the album seemed to stick to a tried and true formula that was more safe than
anything else. That being said, with two albums playing true to the band’s
roots, the band would decide that it was time to take the next step and put out
an album that would not only retain the classic Fear Factory formula, but also
reach new heights. “Genexus” is exactly what the band had in mind.
If Fear Factory was going to add a new layer to their sound,
they were going to have to make some changes to their current formula and the state
of their lineup. The first order of business was to go out and get a new
drummer, which they did by bringing on Mike Heller from the brutal death metal
outfit, Malignancy. Previously, “The Industrialist” saw a two-man act of Dino
and Burton handling all the instruments, which required the drums to be
programmed and while they were executed well enough, the human aspect was
sorely missing. The other change that is not as widely recognized was the fact
that, for the first time in his singing career, Burton decided to seek out help
from a vocal coach to help him with a few issues he felt he was experiencing. As
such, he began incorporating warm up exercises before live shows and recordings,
which would ultimate allow him to overcome those concerning issues. It showed a
new level of devotion towards creating the best music possible and it would pay
off in dividends. With a new drummer and a new sense of dedication to their
music, Fear Factory was preparing to put everything they had into “Genexus”,
but intent is one thing, execution is another.
As for the execution of the music, I will say, confidently
that “Genexus” is easily their most complete and sincere album since “Demanufacture”.
I’m not saying that it is better than “Obsolete” or “Archetype” (which could
easily be debated, but not now). What I’m saying is, when the band changed from
a quasi-industrial death metal act into the cyber metal powerhouse we heard on “Demanufacture”
it required a great deal of change, commitment and execution. That is exactly what
has happened from the transition of “Mechanize” (and “The Industrialist”) into “Genexus”.
You can hear how much time, effort and dedication they put into this album with
each passing song. The emotion in the vocals, the energy put forth in each of
the instruments, even the crew behind the scenes in the programming and
electronics department put in a great deal of time and focus to create the
fresh and genuine sound on “Genexus”. What we have here is not so much an album
staying true to its roots, but an album that took everything in its 25-year history
and combined all those elements into a showing of wisdom and mastery. It’s one
thing to simply utilize elements from previous albums, but it’s another to take
those elements and make them into something both familiar and unique.
Since beginning his consultations with the vocal coaches,
Burton’s vocals have been elevated to new heights. Now, not everyone can sound
the same at age 45 as they did when they were 20 (Although Rob Halford sounds
pretty good for nearly 70), but Bell’s voice on “Genexus” reminds me more of
his early “Demanufacture” and “Obsolete” days more than any other album. His
harsh vocals are so much more prominent and sharp, more so than either of the
two previous releases. He delivers more midrange vocals, which serve as a nice
build up to his majestic cleans. The cleans on “Genexus” are some of the best
he’s ever sung. They are high, clear and compelling on many of the songs that
leave you simply in awe. The ending of “Regenerate” nearly brought tears to my
eyes, as his soaring vocals left me completely floored. It’s impressive to
actually hear the payoff of all the dedication Bell put into enhancing his voice
after all these years.
With Dino on guitars, we know we’re in for some crunchy, groovy,
chugging riffs. However, with the sense of a fresh sound, even Dino understood
that just simply going back to the well would not be good enough. Yes, we still
have those crushing riffs, but their sound on “Genexus” sounds almost as if
Dino’s writing had been rejuvenated, as we haven’t heard such mechanical,
cybernetic and pulsating riffs since “Demanufacture”. The power and energy on
the guitars are far more intense than “Mechanize” and they actually add more rhythm
than normal. Dino also mans the bass once again, which is nothing new, but with
his renewed sense of guitar work, he would have to ensure that the bass did not
lull into the background either. Now, I’ll say that the bass is not as front
and center as it was on “Archetype” or “Transgression” for that matter, but the
atmosphere on “Genexus” really doesn’t require an in your face bass. That’s not
to say you don’t notice it, as many times the bass can be heard, bouncing along
with the guitars creating a nice harmonizing flow. “Soulhacker” displays a
heavy dosage of thick, groovy bass that enhances not only the guitars, but also
gives a nice punch to the chorus as well.
With Mike Heller on board, the human element lacking from “The
Industrial” had returned. Now, I had heard a few Malignancy albums in the past,
but they were before Heller’s tenure with the band, so I wasn’t sure of his capabilities.
I figured if Dino and Burton were serious about injecting new life into the band
and “Genexus” they would do their homework and find the right drummer to fill
the void. My concerns were put to rest as Heller displays not only that he can
handle the drums required to carry the Fear Factory sound, but provides more on
“Genexus”. The song writing really comes through on the drums as you, can hear
portions of the bands entire discography throughout the album. The power,
speed, depth, tempo and intensity of each track takes elements as far back as “Soul
of a New Machine” up to “Mechanize” and are combined to create the monstrous
sound we hear on “Genexus”. Aside from their concussive force, the drums, as usual
serve as a key component in creating the rhythms and directional force of the
album and when they gel together with Dino’s guitar and bass, they form a
wonderful harmony.
I mentioned that everyone involved with “Genexus” stepped
their game up a notch and that held true to those in the programming and additional
crew department. Most notably, Rhys Fulber, who adds his dystopian enhancements
to every aspect of the album. From Burton’s vocals, to Dino’s guitars and
Heller’s drums, Fulber’s touch can be heard consistently throughout “Genexus”
proving why I’ve always considered his addition to be the “12th” man
of the band. His magic behind the scenes is simply irreplaceable and I truly believe
without his inclusion, the band would have never attained the sound they have
accomplished.
“Genexus” was slated to be a step in the direction of a new
future for Fear Factory. With the amount of preparation, dedication and emotion
the band put into the making of this album, it’s no surprise that “Genexus” in
my opinion, one of the best albums in Fear Factory’s long and celebrated
catalog. With high expectations, the band exceeded those expectations and went
above and beyond anything that fans were prepared for. This album is a
testament to what can be accomplished when creative minds put their heads
together, and put forth a massive amount of effort, while puting one’s heart
and soul into an album. “Genexus” is simply a display of superb songwriting,
excellent musicianship and the culmination of years of experience and maturity
put onto an album. If this is the future of Fear Factory, the future is indeed
bright my friends.
(Be sure to check out the digipak which contains two
interesting tracks; "Mandatory Sacrifice" (Genexus Remix) and
"Enhanced Reality")
Highlights: "Anodized" "Dielectric"
"Protomech" "Regenerate"
Rating: 5
No comments:
Post a Comment