Fear Factory

Lyken21 – Cyclical Insight Review

By Lord Doom on June 25, 2019 in 2019, American Metal, Heavy Metal, Reviews, Sliptrick Records, Heavy Metal, 17 comments

“Bands who churn up a variety of styles within their sound present some challenges to music consumers and the journalists who cover them. On the one hand they provide a host of talking points in a single review, while on the other they make it difficult to categorize and pigeonhole. And there is nothing wrong with that, per se. One glance at where heavy metal music has drifted from its 1970s roots is all it takes to affirm that these mash-ups of styles can and often do enrich the genre.” Genre pile-up ahead.

Full House Brew Crew – Me Against You Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on November 12, 2018 in 2018, Greek Metal, Hard Rock, Reviews, Rock of Angels Records, Hard Rock, 89 comments

“I’m gonna level with all you. I own a Godsmack album. OK, fuck… I own two. But it wasn’t my fault. Where (and when) I grew up, the internet was barely a thing and censorship was real. And I don’t mean the Denver/Snider/Zappa type of censoring (though that existed, too). In my religious hometown, music is sold in the next town over, at Walmart. Which meant there weren’t many options. It was a time when possessing censored versions of Korn, Staind, Godsmack, Slipknot, and (fuck me, again) Nickelback records was rebellious.” The Devil’s photograph!

Parasite Inc. – Dead and Alive Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on August 20, 2018 in 2018, German Metal, Melodic Death Metal, Reaper Entertainment, Reviews, Melodic Death Metal, 114 comments

“Bands like Hypocrisy and Dark Tranquillity were like gateway drugs for me. I remember getting heavy into the style about a decade ago and then it seemed to run its course. And, as most of my favorite bands carry on with run-of-the-mill material, while others—like Soilwork, Arch Enemy, and In Flames—continue to bore me to fucking death, it’s become even more clear that I’ve fallen away from the genre. So, in hopes of rekindling some of those flames, I grabbed Parasite Inc.’s Dead and Alive. What the hell was I thinking?” The Doc has worms.

Wheelfall – The Atrocity Reports Review

By Treble Yell on October 10, 2017 in 2017, Apathia Records, French Metal, Industrial Metal, Reviews, Industrial Metal, 20 comments

“Drag the light from its perch and smother it in darkness. Crush it, beat it, push it down and hold it under until the thrashing stops and everything is still. Everything is cold. It’s done; the light is dead. All that’s left is to dig the grave, a deep trench for a silent slumber. The grave is yours. Of course, it is. Why linger in a world where the dawn will never spill over the horizon once more? A mouthful of soil is all that remains. Misery, misanthropy and unflinching nihilism, these are the pillars that hold The Atrocity Reports aloft, the latest album from French industrial metal act Wheelfall.” You just buried yourself.

Diablo Blvd – Zero Hour Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on September 27, 2017 in 2017, Belgian Metal, Hard Rock, Non-Metal Metal Things, Nuclear Blast, Reviews, Hard Rock, Non-metal Metal Things, 25 comments

“For years, I thought something was wrong with me when I got in the mood for some simple, catchy rock/groove. I mean, there is something wrong with me when I get the urge to listen to Volbeat over Mercyful Fate. But, sometimes, one needs a palette cleansing. And that’s exactly why I feel no guilt when listening to bands like Darkhaus, Ghoultown, A Life Divided, and Diablo Blvd. Week after week of listening to constant doom, black, heavy, thrash (and everything between) can make your brain mush. Not to mention, trying to find the words for the couple selected for review while meeting writing deadlines for a textbook, teaching classes, etc. So, detoxing is necessary.” Cleanse my wounded palette.

Decapitated – Anticult Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on July 14, 2017 in 2017, Death Metal, Groove Metal, Nuclear Blast, Polish Metal, Reviews, Death Metal, Groove Metal, 70 comments

“There’s album artwork and then there’s album artwork. The latter is the kind that speaks to you the moment you pick it up. It’s the kind that—in conjunction with the album title—conveys every hidden detail beyond its glossy surface. Beyond the praying hands to my left—forced together in the most submissive way—is post-Vitek Decapitated. A band I’ve had a hard time understanding since Vitek passed in 2007.” Decapitation, love and understanding.

The Interbeing – Among The Amorphous Review

By Ferrous Beuller on July 6, 2017 in 2017, Danish Metal, Djent, Long Branch Records, Metalcore, Reviews, Djent, Metalcore, 33 comments

“How about a group of Danes playing a core influenced brand of djent that flails at Meshuggah on the verses and Fear Factory on the choruses?” Djent you hear?

Plague Throat – The Human Paradox Review

By Treble Yell on June 2, 2017 in 2017, Death Metal, Indian Metal, Reviews, Transcending Obscurity, Death Metal, 21 comments

“There’s something to be said about truth in advertising, a mythical beast that promises the end-product bears some resemblance to the picture on the box. From Death to Obituary to Autopsy, few genres carry the torch with such ardent fervour than death metal, a genus devoted to announcing with a bullhorn its intentions to all and sundry. With a name like Plague Throat — other body part-related titles workshopped but rejected were “Funny Bone” and “Tennis Elbow” — this Indian trio is signaling loud and clear the type of music one can expect to find on their debut, The Human Paradox.” Perturbed Toenail could have worked too.

90s Metal Weirdness: G/Z/R – Plastic Planet

By Dr. Fisting on January 29, 2017 in 90s Metal Weirdness, Alt-Metal, 49 comments

“Cast your minds back to a time when metal music was not cool. Nay, indeed, a time when metal was anathema to all that was considered to be “chic” and “in.” A time when your favorite bands were actually encouraged by the music industry to play slower, cut their hair, and write sensitive lyrics about their childhoods. Yes, this unfortunately really happened. Our semi-irregular feature “90s Metal Weirdness” focuses on albums released between 1992 and 2001 and which we all probably would rather forget. But in the service of publicly shaming the musicians involved, we have pushed forward.” Next up: G/Z/R!

Diablerie – The Catalyst vol. 1: Control Review

By Grymm on January 23, 2017 in 2017, Finnish Metal, Industrial Metal, Primitive Reaction, Reviews, Industrial Metal, 12 comments

“As I grow older, I’ve learned that taking time to make sure your creative output is as sparkly, shiny, and impressive as possible is paramount to a healthy creative life. Music is no exception to this rule. Finland’s Diablerie released their sole album, Seraphyde, back in 2001. With only a couple of EPs since, mainman Henri Villberg returns with the long-awaited follow-up, the ambitiously-titled The Catalyst vol. 1: Control, the start of a planned thematic trilogy of albums.” A trilogy, eh?