Oh boy, are you guys ready for some epic nostalgia? 🤯 FEAR FACTORY just celebrated the 30th anniversary of their iconic album “Demanufacture” with a killer headlining concert in Bogotá, Colombia, and I’m still trying to pick up the pieces of my blown mind. The setlist was a love letter to the album, with the band playing all 11 tracks, including “Demanufacture”, “Self Bias Resistor”, “Zero Signal”, and “Pisschrist”. And because they’re nice guys, they even threw in some encore goodies like “Shock”, “Edgecrusher”, and “Martyr”. I mean, who needs a time machine when you can just attend a FEAR FACTORY concert, right? 🕰️
The concert, which took place on July 18 at Ace Of Spades, was a testament to the band’s enduring legacy and the timeless appeal of “Demanufacture”. I mean, can you believe it’s been 30 years since this album dropped? It feels like just yesterday I was rocking out to “Replica” and “Body Hammer” in my parent’s basement, trying to perfect my metalhead scowl in the mirror. 😂 Fan-filmed videos of the show are available on YouTube, courtesy of El Expreso Del Rock, so you can relive the magic from the comfort of your own home (or parent’s basement, let’s be real).
The Making of a Classic
In a 2021 interview with Cuartel Del Metal, FEAR FACTORY guitarist Dino Cazares reflected on the initial response to “Demanufacture” when it was first released in 1995. “Some people didn’t realize that it was real,” he said. “Some people thought it was electronic drums — programmed drums. Some people thought my guitars were sampled. Because it was such a tight record, it was so mechanical sounding in some ways, so people thought it wasn’t real.” Yeah, I can imagine. I mean, who needs human musicians when you can just program some robots to play your instruments, right? 🤖
But in all seriousness, “Demanufacture” was a game-changer, and its influence can still be felt today. Cazares noted that the album’s production, courtesy of Rhys Fulber and Greg Reely, was a major factor in its success. “The mixing of the record definitely took it to a new level,” he said. “When Rhys Fulber and Greg Reely mixed the record, it was mindblowing, that it set the standard for that type of music.” And let’s not forget the vocals – Burton C. Bell’s distinctive style has inspired a generation of metal vocalists.
Then and Now
Fast-forward to the present, and FEAR FACTORY is still going strong, despite some lineup changes over the years. The current roster features Cazares, Milo Silvestro on vocals, Tony Campos on bass, and Pete Webber on drums. Silvestro’s addition to the band was officially announced in February 2023, and they’ve been touring together ever since. Their latest album, “Aggression Continuum”, was released in June 2021 via Nuclear Blast Records, and it’s a testament to the band’s continued relevance in the metal scene.
But it’s not all sunshine and rainbows – in September 2020, Burton C. Bell announced his departure from the band, citing ego clashes and creative differences. “It’s been on my mind for a while,” he told Kerrang! magazine. “These lawsuits [over the rights to the FEAR FACTORY name] just drained me. The egos. The greed. Not just from bandmembers, but from the attorneys involved. I just lost my love for it.” Yeah, I can imagine. I mean, who needs all that drama when you can just rock out and have a good time, right? 🤷♂️
Anyway, if you’re a FEAR FACTORY fan, you owe it to yourself to check out their latest tour dates and get ready to rock out to some of the most iconic industrial metal anthems of all time. And if you’re not a fan, well, what’s wrong with you? 🤔 Just kidding – sort of. 🤘🎸🔥
Chord F. Discord, the Beethoven of Buffoonery, is a self-taught expert in music who once claimed he could “play the kazoo in four languages.”
Born in Crescendo, Indiana, Chord’s first brush with fame came when he accidentally entered a yodeling contest thinking it was a pie-eating competition—and won both categories.
Chord F. Discord: proving that laughter, much like a poorly tuned ukulele, is truly universal.
