Artist: Fear Factory Album: Digimortal

Year: 2001
Duration: 55:13

A Critical Review of Fear Factory's Album Digimortal

If you're a fan of metal and industrial music, chances are you've heard of Fear Factory, the band that pioneered the genre of industrial metal in the '90s. Fear Factory has been one of the most influential bands in the heavier end of the industrial metal scene, and they're still going strong today. The band's fifth album, Digimortal, released in 2001, marked a turn for the band as they integrated more electronic elements in their music. In this blog post, we'll take a critical look at Digimortal, its genre, history and delve into the most innovative parts while also providing our opinion on the album.

Firstly, before getting into the tracks, let's have a brief history of Fear Factory. Fear Factory was formed in 1989 in Los Angeles by guitarist Dino Cazares and drummer Raymond Herrera. The band's sound drew from both thrash metal and industrial music to create a unique blend of heavy, futuristic groove metal. Fear Factory's first full-length album, Soul of a New Machine, was released in 1992, and the band quickly became known for their aggressive sound and politically charged lyrics.

Coming back to Digimortal, it marked a departure from the band's earlier work in some ways. While the band's first four albums mostly hewed close to the heaviness of thrash metal with industrial elements, Digimortal experimented more with electronic sounds and atmospheres. It's a harsh, uncompromising album, but with a new depth and intricacy to it with samples and beats that make the album more dynamic than any of its predecessors.

If you're looking for the highlights of Digimortal, Lynchpin, stands out as one of the strongest cuts. With its thundering drums, catchy chorus, and epic guitar riffs, Lynchpin is a standout track that fans of heavy music will find themselves coming back to again and again. Another song worth checking out is the album's opener, What Will Become? With brutal riffing and a relentless rhythm, this song sets the tone for the rest of the album with a furious energy.

One of the most innovative things about Digimortal is the way its electronic elements are integrated into the songs. The album features sampled sounds, distorted vocals, and even some moments of pure ambient electronica. This was a new direction for Fear Factory, but one that they pull off with confidence and conviction, making the music feel fresh and exciting.

As with any album, there are a few areas where Digimortal falls short. While much of the album is full of high-octane intensity, there are a few moments where the intensity dips and the songs feel like they're losing momentum. Despite this, Digimortal is a strong showing from Fear Factory in their continued evolution.

In conclusion, Digimortal is a powerful album that showcases Fear Factory's ability to evolve their sound while still retaining their essential grit and fury. The instrumentation, experimentation, and the ungodly vocals all make Digimortal a must-listen for fans of industrial and metal music. While it may not be for everyone, if you're a fan of heavy music and haven't given Digimortal a listen yet, it's well worth checking out. It's undeniable that Digimortal is one of the best industrial-metal records of the new millennium, and fans of the genre owe it to themselves to experience it.

In conclusion, Digimortal is a powerful album that showcases Fear Factory's ability to evolve their sound while still retaining their essential grit and fury. The instrumentation, experimentation, and the ungodly vocals all make Digimortal a must-listen for fans of industrial and metal music. While it may not be for everyone, if you're a fan of heavy music and haven't given Digimortal a listen yet, it's well worth checking out. It's undeniable that Digimortal is one of the best industrial-metal records of the new millennium, and fans of the genre owe it to themselves to experience it.