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Pieni’s Highlights of 2021

Posted in Editorial/Opinionated with tags best of, Danny Rose, Equaleft, Fear Factory, GoDark, highlights, Hills Have Eyes, Hollywood Undead, Hypocrisy, Ice Nine Kills, Infraktor, Moonspell, Pitch Black, Sepultura, Sugiru, The Halo Effect, The Night Flight Orchestra, Till Lindemann, W.A.S.P. on 31st December 2021 by Pieni

2021 was way less tough than 2020 but it was still tough enough. In November I’ve finally attended some gigs with no restrictions, but in December this new COVID-19 strain brought some new rules and I’m getting a little apprehensive regarding some plans I’ve made.. But I’ll talk about it in the “expectations for 2022”. I’m still including one live stream in my top-5 gigs because the “real” ones didn’t happen before June and that one in April (which included an unplugged section and stories about the songs they’ve performed) still meant a lot to me:

Infraktor at Metalpoint (Porto)
Equaleft at Hard Rock Cafe (Porto)
Hollywood Undead at MixOne Sound (“Undead Unhinged” live stream)
GoDark at Metalpoint (Porto)
Sugiru at Metalpoint (Porto)

My favorite records:

“Aeromantic II” by The Night Flight Orchestra
“Worship” by Hypocrisy
“Hermitage” by Moonspell
“SepulQuarta” by Sepultura
“Aggression Continuum” by Fear Factory

From big movie-like productions to the simplicity of the ocean, going through animation, here are the videos whose producers I tip my hat to the most:

“Burn For Me” by The Night Flight Orchestra
“Funeral Derangements” by Ice Nine Kills
“Treading Water” by Danny Rose
“Ich hasse Kinder” by Till Lindemann
“Children Of The Gray” by Hypocrisy

My expectations for 2022 are, in general, all the postponed concerts and festivals that should have taken place in the last couple of years. But then there are these specific items:

HHE2021

This is the 4th time I put here the 4th Hills Have Eyes album, so let’s hope that the matching number 4 is the lucky strike…
The Hollywood Undead headlining gig in Hanover (June).
The W.A.S.P. 40th anniversary gig in Madrid (March).
Really curious about The Halo Effect album (and gig in Lisbon).
A chance to see Pitch Black live, after missing their long-awaited return due to health issues.

Enjoy 2022 as much as possible, peeps. Stay safe.

Renata “Pieni” Lino

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Fear Factory – Aggression Continuum

Posted in Review with tags Aggression Continuum, Fear Factory, FF, Industrial metal, Nuclear Blast on 12th June 2021 by Pieni

Fear Factory
“Aggression Continuum”
Industrial Metal
Release: 18th June 2021
Via Nuclear Blast Records

Sometimes reading the news sideways – or just the headlines, I admit – results in bittersweet surprises. Last autumn, almost at the same time, Dino Cazares announced the 10^th Fear Factory album would be released the following year and then Burton C. Bell quit the band. So when Nuclear Blast sent us the “Aggression Continuum” promo for reviewing, I was eager to listen to the new chapter… only to find out that Bell still sings all tracks. My curiosity will have to wait – but the reason for the waiting was worthy.

Some bands have such a characteristic sound/nature that if they try and deviate a notch in order to stop repeating themselves, they risk losing the aforementioned character. The opening track, “Recode”, is brilliant in pushing the balance envelope: it’s definitely a Fear Factory song, taking you back to the “Demanufacture” era, but along the familiar riffing you have synthesized orchestral arrangements adding a classy refined touch. Still brutal as hell, but also refined. And Bell’s voice has a rougher edge here, enhancing the whole same-but-different vibe.

Of course that “Disruptor”, having these arrangements only in the chorus – and even there their presence is subtle – and being overall a much more aggressive song, was the one chosen to promote the album on YouTube. Yes, it’s probably the heaviest – and hence single-material – song, but so many others here offer a better notion of the industrial metal FF are about. The title-track, for instance, with its sci-fi ambiance, or the slamming “Cognitive Dissonance”, just to name a few.

Then there’s a certain groove in “Collapse” and catchiness in “Purity” that feels somewhat refreshing and yet is not exactly new in their writing process. And the guitar solo in “Monolith”? What a treat, but it’s probably the dark-ish ensemble of the song that made it my personal favorite.

So whatever the future holds for Fear Factory, I hope it’s similar to this.

8/10

by Renata “Pieni” Lino

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Burton C. Bell leaves Fear Factory

Posted in Misc., News with tags Ascension of The Watchers, Burton C. Bell, Fear Factory, Industrial metal on 30th September 2020 by izaforestspirit

Burton C. Bell has recently announced that he has parted ways with Fear Factory. The statement was made following a series of legal disputes with guitarist Dino Cazares and two former members of the band regarding rights to the Fear Factory name. Tensions between the band members began when Dino Cazares started a crowd-funding campaign to raise funds for the band’s new album. Here is an extract from an official statement from Mr. Bell’s official website:

” The past several years have been profoundly agonizing, with these members bleeding my passion with depraved deceit. As a direct consequence of their greed, these three have dragged me through the unjust, judicial system, resulting in the legal attrition that has financially crippled me. In the end, these three members have taken possession of my principal livelihood. However, they will never take my 30-year legacy as the beating heart of the machine. A legacy that no other member, past or present, can ever claim.”

Fear Factory was formed in Los Angeles, California, The USA in 1989 and Burton C. Bell joined the group the following year. He has been involved with the band throughout their career. Now guitarist Dino Cazres, the only original member left in Fear Factory, has announced that the band will continue as a two piece. Their last album ‘Genexus’ was released back in 2015 via Nuclear Blast Records.

Burton C. Bell’s new alternative rock band Ascension of The Watchers have a new album called ‘APOCRYPHA’ coming on 9th October 2020 via Dissonance Records.

For further information go to: https://www.burtoncbell.com/
https://www.facebook.com/fearfactory
http://www.fearfactory.com/

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Fear Factory – Genexus

Posted in Uncategorized with tags Fear Factory, genexus, Industrial metal, new album, Nuclear Blast on 3rd August 2015 by Pieni

Fear Factory
“Genexus”
Industrial metal
Release: 7th August 2015
Via Nuclear Blast Records

Whatever breaks they may take, whatever line-up they may feature, you know that any Fear Factory release is an industrial metal one; with a more extreme approach or more mainstream-oriented, but industrial metal nevertheless. So you’re left with just one obvious question: is it good? This time it’s great!

In the year that “Demanufacture” celebrates 20 years, Fear Factory pay tribute to it in the form of “Autonomous Combat System”, the opening track of this “Genexus”. The violent drumming and cranking riffing embedded with such regal electronics sound like a version 2.0 of something that could have been featured in that breakthrough album of theirs. I’m still wondering how this didn’t make it to single.

The synths in “Anodized” are more vibrant and the chorus is more melodic, but it doesn’t make this track, as a whole, less heavy than its predecessor.

On a second thought, when listening to “Dielectric”, I understand why this was the third single and not “Autonomous Combat System” – its eager intro and richer structure are somewhat more compelling.

“Soul Hacker” – another single – has that nu metal vibe that earned them new fans during the “Digimortal” era. I’m already picturing a massive jumping crowd when played live.

“Protomech” is probably my personal favorite, having a killer rhythm combined with classy synths – the proverbial neon sign that glows “FEAR FACTORY!” in your mind. The same can be said of the title-track, hence the “probably” in my previous sentence – although with a distinctive identity, the adjectives to describe both songs are similar and are exactly what I like the most about the band’s sound, becoming hard to say which one I prefer. But that’s a good thing, as it is proof of the creative quality of the album.

“Church Of Execution” is yet another example of the more alternative vein of the band. Less sharp than “Soul Hacker”, but a lot groovier and catchier. Still, it’s “Regenerate” that represents the most melodic track. Of the regular aggressive songs, that is – the album finishes with a beautiful electronic ballad, “Expiration Date”. But before that there’s still room for one more straightforward electrical discharge that goes by the epic name of “Battle For Utopia”.

In sum, “Genexus” gathers ten tracks that deliver a little bit of everything that the band’s done so far. And therefore I believe it will please both old-school and modern fans, as the general outcome stands in-between the aforementioned extreme and mainstream styles.

4,5/5

Renata “Pieni” Lino

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Bog – Morok – Industrialypse

Posted in Uncategorized with tags Fear Factory, Industrial metal on 21st November 2013 by izaforestspirit

Bog Morok
Industrialypse
Released 21st October 2013
Industrial Metal/ “Space Metal”
Released via More Hate Productions

‘Industrialypse’ is the new album from the Russian industrial metal band Bog Morok. It is the follow-up to the self-released ‘Декаданс’ and the EP ‘Неизбежность’. Originally a doom/death metal solo project founded by Morok back in 1997, the band has gone through numerous changes in both line-up and their musical style. This album sees them move towards a more industrial sound and features a cover of Fantomas Der Golem.

First up is the title track which comes complete with electronica; programming and synths galore. The near nu-metal-esque vocal style and guitar patterns make me think of Digimortal-era Fear Factory. Hell, even the drumming style is similar… As the subsequent tracks show, these guys are not afraid to sing in their native tongue. A very bold move, though I’m not entirely convinced that it works to their advantage.

Не вижу зла (Stadiae III), is another Russian lyric track that stands out mostly due to the downright bizarre-sounding, eerie keyboard intro and some equally odd-sounding vocal samples. It makes you wonder what sort of drugs these guys took during the recording process. Oddly enough, the aforementioned track also features a handful of decent guitar melodies and solos sandwiched between the bizarre cacophony of vocals and space metal tunes. There’s even some techno elements on here such as the dance-friendly keyboard intro to Neizbezhnost. Other noteworthy tracks include the electronic ballad Shapeshifter ,which sounds like a bastard offspring of Fear Factory and The Kovenant, and IDDQD which features some pleasant sounding keyboard melodies towards the end of the track.

Overall I’m not sure whether or not the metal scene is ready for a Russian equivalent of Fear Factory. To say that this album is experimental would be an understatement. My advice would be to approach this with caution and prepare for the unexpected when the Bog Morok spaceship lands in your area.

2/5

Iza Raittila

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Metal Heaven For Mexico

Posted in News with tags Fear Factory, Guadalajara, Heaven And Hell Festival, MaYaN, Megadeth, Mexico, Moonspell, South America on 19th October 2011 by Nico Solheim-Davidson, the North Sea Poet

The line-up for Mexico’s biggest metal festival “Heaven And Hell” is now complete. Legendary thrash metallers Megadeth will be headlining the event on 19th November in Guadalajara, Mexico. Other acts confirmed for the event include Moonspell, Fear Factory, Overkill and Tristania. This is the second edition of the festival – the first one being back in October, 2010.

MaYaN have also been booked for the festival as part of their South American tour. Henning Basse [MaYaN, Sons Of Seasons] had the following to say regarding both the festival and the MaYaN tour: “Well, it’s definitely a killer thing to me – it’s just awesome and honouring! You know this whole tour will be an huge release of pure energy to me. I will show my skills every night and kick ass!”

For more details on the festival, go to: http://www.hellandheavenfest.com/

For more details regarding MaYaN’s South American tour, visit either their official Facebook page or their official website.