Man vs. Machine is an age old story and nobody tells that story quite like Industrial Metal icons FEAR FACTORY. Picture if you will, it's summer 1999. You're on your way to go see The Matrix and you've just been introduced to probably the heaviest thing you've ever heard at the time, with a “Machines have taken over” concept to the entire album. The SciFi nerd within you is thrilled and headbanging. You then immediately go to the record store to buy said album after the movie.
What's that? What are record stores you say? Shit...I... keep forgetting what year it is. Time...slips. Ya know?
Fear Factory is easily one of my favorite bands. I can throw on any of their albums and listen start to finish (with one exception...lookin' at you Transgression).
Band : Fear Factory
Album: Obsolete
# of tracks: 10 (15 w/ Digipak)
Of all their records OBSOLETE is the first one to feature a fully formed concept written by then vocalist, founding member and the “Dry Lung Martyr” himself, Burton C. Bell. With cover and interior art design by the mixed media LEGEND Dave McKean, the story revolves around the Human Revolution leader, Edgecrusher as he seeks to free humans from the Machines who have taken over the planet. It paints a vividly bleak picture of Humanity's future after becoming overly reliant upon technology and rendering the human race...obsolete.
I had a hard time picking what are, in my opinion, the best tracks of the 10 (15 if ya snag the snazzy digipak; and trust me you want to). So here they are in chronological order.
Shock is how you kick off a record. With a loud and powerful statement of musical intent. A pounding, industrial aural assault that sets the stage for Edgecrusher's internal dialogue through out the album. “Welcome to my world, Headfirst to the earth With my sights on the goddamn killswitch! I've become a fuse, Charged with attitude, Fixed and dilated by my anger”
Speaking of aural assault, look out for that monster of a bass drop at 00:33.
Damn near blew a speaker in my car the first time I played it! Raymond Herrera's drums are unrelenting all through the song. Combined with Dino Cazares' thick, crunchy riffs to amplify and illustrate the protagonists feeling of determination in his purpose.
“I will be the power surge, Shock to the system, Electrified, Amplified, Shock to the system”
“Due to the graphic nature of this program, Listener Discretion is advised”
I dig the fuck outta the way Edgecrusher starts. From the lo-fi spoken word warning, to the record in reverse scratching of DJ Zodiac, to the Taka-THOOM of the initial drum drop, this song SLAPS. The tempo is driving even when it shifts to just Burton's vocals and the rich full sound of Christian Olde Wolbers on a stand up bass. That bass-line is a perfect contrast to the crashing grooves of the rest of the song. Where the first track gave us insight into the mind of the protagonist, this track depicts the dire circumstances of this dystopia and the uphill battle ahead
“The purist, non-conformist Jaded subhuman terrorist, From flesh to steel and, Blood to blade, I fight to exist, A rival of justice,
Extreme rush of hatred, Survival in a twisted world, Where nothing is sacred”
The beginning of Hi-Tech Hate feels like a volatile situation that is building and building until it finally boils over. At this point in the story anti-war protests erupt outside of the heavily guarded Securitron base and a man with a megaphone begins to speak...
“These weapons of mass destruction, Around our world, threat to us all, Operated by fears, cold over years, Systematic death, terminal breath!”
The relentless pace of the drums and the galloping guitar riffs both serve the underlying feeling of urgency present in this song. Burton's notorious vocal ferocity is on full display with lyrics very reminiscent of Black Sabbath's War Pigs “Leaders of our time just stand behind, An arsenal to end us all, Fighting a war, we can't ignore, Destined to fall, cowards to all” Just as poignant now as it ever was.
Securitron (Police State 2000) sounds like a huge police robot receiving orders and being brought online to seek out and capture all rogue elements “Invade and encompass, to judge and dissect, Witness and persecute, to serve and protect” The opening sample hearkens back to the song H-K (Hunter Killer) on their previous album, DEMANUFACTURE, and even has a similar theme of a soulless machine hunting it's human prey.
The stop and go blast beats evoke visions of an ED-209 type machine marching relentlessly forward. The guitar and bass work in unison to give this song an overarching, ominous, oppressive feel. While Burton's vocals oscillate from base gutturals to soaring clean melodies that bring in the distinctly human element railing against the erosion of privacy. “Where is security governed through scrutiny?Your privacy denied, organized and confined! No place to hide! No place to hide!”
Timelessness is the culmination of the album and the story of Edgecrusher. It is a distinct departure from the sound of the rest of the album. It is dark, mournful and melodic with orchestral string arrangements providing the backdrop to Burton's powerful clean vocals. It starts with an ambient, echo textured sample of Mario Savio's famous “Bodies Upon the Gears” speech from 1964. The sounds of machines can be heard grinding away in the far distance with the distinct WHUP-WHUP-WHUP of a helicopter moving from one side of the soundscape to the other. Unfortunately our protagonist has been recaptured by Securitron and the lyrics reflect his depression at having failed in his mission. “I've felt darkness Closing in on me,Chilling shadows Surrounding me... I've had the poison leak into my skin, And it corroded my heart away...Bled away! Cut away! Dark night of my soul(x4)”
The song and the main album end with a reprise of the last section of “Bodies Upon the Gears”. It is a sobering and sorrowful closing statement.
DIGIPACK BONUS TRACKS: The digipak version of OBSOLETE had an additional 5 songs.
Two of which I want to point out here.
The delightfully dark, industrial cover of Gary Numan's Cars, featuring the New Wave icon himself! Though it was never meant to be on the record, this song caught Fear Factory some mainstream attention and helped OBSOLETE become their highest selling album.
The cover of the song 0-0 (Where Evil Dwells) by elctro/noise-rock favorites Wiseblood, is arguably the heaviest song on the entire record. Sounding like it should have been on their Debut album, Soul of a New Machine.
Bonus Fun fact: Wiseblood was one of J.G. Thrillwell's bands from about '85 to '90ish. Thrillwell is the composer of both The Venture Bros and Archer theme songs.
I've talked before about the importance of song arranging on a record and I feel this importance is doubled when concerning a concept album. Not only do you have the flow of one song into the next for an enjoyable experience, but you also have the theme or narrative that must be taken into consideration.
OBSOLETE does a fantastic job of balancing the story with the flow of the music. Even with the addition of the extra 5 tracks in the digipak the album feels cohesive and engaging. Each well constructed part coalescing into a brilliant, thought provoking warning of the future...or is it now? I can't remember when...
Damn… time slips, ya know?
