Customer Reviews

Fear Is the Mind Killer

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I have never loved Fear Factory, especially their horrid later day releases ('Digimortal'), but I seriously love this album. When I first heard their first album I thought that they sounded like a death metal Ministry, not necessarily a bad thing, and gave their first album - "Soul of a New Machine" - quite a few spins in my C.D. player, but nothing prepared me for the remix album that followed. 'Fear is the Mindkiller' is what I associate with Fear Factory, pummeling riffs, the growling death vocals (you heard me, death vocals), the killer sampling, and the throbbing guitars. I for one always like remix albums (KMFDM and Nine Inch Nails have put out some great ones as well) but this just blows it all away. The simple brutality of "Scapegoat (Pigf-ck Mix)", the great sampling on "Scumgrief (Deep Dub Trauma Mix)", the excellent sound of "Self Immolation" (one of my favorites from 'Soul of a New Machine'), everything about this E.P. (which is basically a single for "Self Immolation" - kind of like Meshuggah's brilliant "True Human Design") is spectacular. If you enjoy industrial metal or death metal this is a must have.

This remix ep almost is to the edge of something you would take to a dance party. They definatly can use the word regrooved especially on martyr and self immolation. Although the remixes of Self Immolation are my favorite they very much sound like each other i think us consumers needed a little more of a diffrent approach to that song remix than what was offered. I give much thanks and acknowledgment to this EP cause it gave Fear factory the open set for the Metal/Industrial sound you hear from them to this day.

really good remixes here, but the cd as a whole is barely worth 14 bucks. 3 remixes of self-immolation? come on....that's just a bit too much...anyhow, if you dig industrial music, this is a great cd to buy, but if you are looking for another cd like demanufacture or soul of a new machine, look elsewhere. THE TOGA LIVES ON!

Jan 30th 2003: I'm one of the lucky FF fans who saw them live at the Axis on Landsdowne in the late 90s. Sadly, not many FF fans were there. I got to meet Dino who was drinking at the bar afterwards, perfectly accessible to fans. Burton was sick and primadonna-ish and was "resting" in the bus. I met the other band members and they were really passionate about adding different touches to metal.

Someday, the metal masses will accept a kind of metal that incorporates death, melody, technology, and deep danceclub beats as demonstrated in Fear is the Mind Killer. Just as 311 was ahead of its time, So too FF is/was. Unfortunately, FF won't hang around long enough like 311 to reap their inevitable rewards (only now is 311 gaining ALOT of fame even though they have several albums out already).

I believe if FF was allowed to produce their metal the way they TRULY wished without critic or record label pressures, they would produce more music like this EP: Fear is the Mindkiller... Then TRULY, FF would have an identity unto intself.

About the EP: "Fear is the Mindkiller" really complements your experience of their first album "Soul of a New Machine." My favorite track is #4: The steam whistles blowing its mournful exhaust, the angst-filled drilling noises, and ominous clanking of pipes all against the backdrop of a danceclub-like beat truly expands one's horizons for metal. The rhythmic beats flow in step with Burton's lyrics, while the melodic chorus constantly ups the ante on emotion in this track.

The other tracks are also EXCELLENT, but are more geared towards a harder death sound. Track #4 is the most danceclub-like and represents the true future of FF that never will be. Thanks for the memories FF. Sorry to see you guys go.

One of my all time favorites! Seeing them live was something I have never forgotten. Never grows old even though I do!

Fear is the Mindkiller sounds more like a Frontline Assembly album than Fear Factory. It has moderate use of guitars, dark industrial noises and dance-like drums that are all present in Frontline Assembly's normal discs. The way Fulber and Leeb remixed this album made it much better in my opinion, something was lacking in the original Soul of a New Machine but they make a sort of FLA-featuring Burton C Bell that sounds great. His hellish screams are a great addition to the dark style of music they are known for.

probaly one of the best remix albums out there.. the design of the "machine" is as accomplished as the bulls and there "three-peat"./ very raw + unexpected in its own way- it truly brings out the sounds that you forget on "soul of a new machine".. its simply awesome!

To say this recording confused a lot of people is an understatement. After battering a jaded death metal scene with their debut album, Fear Factory then turned the scene on it's head with heavy duty techno remixes. The songs were not so severely deconstructed the originals were unrecognisable, but they definitely added a freshness to the sound. The guitar crunch and bass grunt were retained, which is part of the reason this is so appealing. There was very little electronic music out there with any kind of guitar sound whatsoever when this was released.

Martyr is probably the standout track here, with it's vitriol retained, along with a new driving electronic beat. This sort of thing would clear the dance floor in most nightclubs instantly.

The only disappointment from my point of view was the lack of a remix of Leechmaster.

ok this is ok but it didnt quite seem like fear factory. but still its really extreme and the beats still grow on you. my fav on this ep has got to be scumgrief deep dub trauma mix because if you ever get the chance to see FF live (lets hope everyFF fan has) this is what they perform now and the song is just cooler like that. fear factory is the FUTURE!!!

These are some seriously cool remixes! They have almost a dancy beat to them, but it isn't lame, it's awesome! The remixes of scapegoat and scumgrief were particulary good. I can't believe this doesn't sell more or have more reviews, it's awesome. And I bought it at a local store for like $10, it was worth every penny. I love it! If you like Soul of a New Machine,are a fear factory fan, or just enjoy industrial groove dancy music, go for it!