The Industrialist [Limited Edition, Deluxe Edition]

Fear Factory | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 5, 2012)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Limited Edition, Deluxe Edition
• Label: Candlelight / Lumberjack
• ASIN: B007WFR1MQ
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Music
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (61 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #6,079 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

The Industrialist is a vital chapter in the history of one of the most over-achieving bands in heavy music history. It is Fear Factory at its most confident and passionate; the band bringing every sonic weapon in its arsenal to the fore. Many have likened 2010 s Mechanize to Fear Factory's debut album, Soul of the New Machine. That said, in short time The Industrialist, is expected to be likened to the band's pivotal album, Demanufacture. Revisiting and refining the sweeping melodies and unforgettable songwriting that would forever distinguish Fear Factory from all others, the sound and creative storyline that is The Industrialist will without doubt carve itself a spot on the short list of Best Metal Albums of 2012.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 23 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent release from the cyber masters. June 5, 2012

By Brian Nallick TOP 1000 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase

I was a huge fan of Mechanize when it came out.
Brilliant, brutal, and catchy.
Mechanize put any worries that this reunion of Dino and Bell to rest immediately.

And now we come to the sophomore release of the newly formed FF.
Out is Hoglan and Stroud.
The core writing team of Dino, Bell and Fulber is intact with some very impressive results.
The disc stars out with the title track which simply crushes.
Up next is the single that was released a while back "Recharger" is everything a good FF song should be.
"New Messiah"...while not a bad song nothing about it really stands out either.
"God Eater"...probably my favorite song on the disc. Very experimental.
"Depraved"..The middle section of the song is great but a lot of it failed to keep my attention.
"Virus"...fast, brutal, memorable. Excellent track.
"Difference"...another song with a great middle part.
"Disassemble"...another kick in the face of brutal goodness.
The last two songs aren't really songs but more along the lines of robotic ambience...
"Religion" and "Human" don't really add anything relevant to the album and were not a good choice to close the album.
All in all, I'm actually very happy with this release.
There's enough variety and catchy songwriting to grab my attention and hold it.
Is it as good as "Mechanize"?
I'd put it in my top FF three of "Demanufacture", "Mechanize" and "Industrialist".
My only minor complaint is the subject matter.
FF have been writing about the whole man vs. machine subject for many years now and while this puts a slightly different slant on things it doesn't do enough to differentiate itself from past releases.
That said.
Great album.
A solid follow up to "Mechanize".
Excellent production.
Fulber's contributions are what make this disc really stand out.
Recommended.

REVIEW UPDATE....06/07/2012
I originally gave the album four stars.
I have since upped that to five.
It really did take multiple spins for this to properly sink in.
And now that it has, yes it may very well be FF's most well rounded album to date.
A few points I missed...
The digipack is simply incredible quality.
The two bonus tracks are kind of throw away but not bad.
And lastly..
New Messiah has definitely grown on me.
There are so many little subtle layers that require multiple listens to catch.
Awesome album when you give it a chance and really pay attention to just how well the flow, songwriting, vocals and everything else fits together.
Awesome album and sonic experience.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Another solid record in Fear Factory catalog June 5, 2012

By Ricaurte Goti Amaya

Format:Audio CD

Been a fan of FF for more than 15 years I saw in the last couple of years the lineup changes, the core of band belong to Burton and Dino and Rhys as a important member. The Industrialist simple if a gem in his own kind. Since the opening intro you hear what is coming a modern industrial record that only FF can deliver.

The clean voices of Burton simple are awesome, overall a great vocal performance. Highlights from the album New Messiah, God Eater, Virus of Faith. The deluxe edition came with two additional tracks where you can find Landfill (Pitchshifter Cover)a dark trackto end the record.

This is a no brainer if you want to hear quality metal simple buy this and support the band.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars YES!! June 5, 2012

By J. Hill TOP 1000 REVIEWER

Format:Audio CD

If you were hoping Fear Factory would build on the positive response to their Mechanize album and go with a crushing assault of thrash and groove influenced by hardcore and industrial, their new release should hit the spot. The core of The Industrialist is Fear Factory doing what they do best. Even though they've incorporated scores of different styles on their past efforts, they've always sounded the most potent and capable when they keep their aggressive side at the forefront.

They're smart to open each song with an energetic blast of either speed or power/groove, then play some softer parts around the middle, then alternate back and forth. It gives even the tracks that have a little less punch an overall scorching impression. Fear Factory remind me of Machine Head in that they have grown over the years and found the perfect blend of the various styles they play, making their songs cohesive and confident instead of awkward and confused, as both bands have sounded at times in the past.

For this release, I think you'll get the most enjoyment out of it if you're a fan of Demanufacture. They went for that album's ultra-heavy, aggressive approach on Mechanize, but I could swear I heard some traces of Meshuggah on some of those songs. The Industrialist features a greater focus on their trademark, precision guitar-and-drum machine-gun attack established on Demanufacture, enhanced by the incredible drum programming done by John Sankey and resulting in a strong thrash presence overall.

Along those lines, this album also sees notable emphasis on the essential sound effects and keyboard work of Rhys Fulber, who I think of as a full-fledged member of the band. A highlight for me is the Fear Is The Mindkiller vibe he creates on parts of God Eater; awesome song! Make no mistake, The Industrialist is a fantastic album.

One warning may be in order, though. I'm betting quite a few people will be unhappy that this only has eight traditional songs, and that tracks 9 and 10 are both semi-instrumental ambient pieces with intermittent whispered or spoken vocals. I'm not crazy about this being the album's end, but honestly, the first eight songs smoke so hard that it's tough to complain.

Like I say, though, I know some people are going to gripe, but this is a concept album based on a story by singer Burton C. Bell, so I'm guessing that has everything to do with the decision to close it this way. If you get the digibook special edition, you can read the story and try to piece together the connections between the story's tone and those last two tracks. Bottom line is, if you like Fear Factory, you'll be pleased. They've put together a stunning effort that solidifies their return and ought to make any metal fan look forward to their next release. It's a 9.5/10 for me.