Soul of a New Machine (Soul Of A New Machine - Fear Factory)

Member Name: Frankingsteins

Product:	Soul Of A New Machine - Fear Factory
Date:	08/07/08 (8 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Innovative death metal with excellent use of melody.

Disadvantages: Some tracks fail to stand out.

The first full-length Fear Factory album to be officially released (the true debut 'Concrete' was postponed until 2002), 'Soul of a New Machine' is also one of the band's finest works, their only true album as a death metal band before defining their industrial sound in 'Demanufacture.' Even at this early juncture as a band heavily influenced by the likes of Napalm Death and Godflesh, Fear Factory experimented with industrial and melodic aspects, and the alternation between harsh growls and haunting clean vocals was a novel idea for death metal at the time, one that works exceptionally well here.

The guitars and drums are affected somewhat by the weak production that robs them of the devastating impact they perhaps deserve, but they sound more natural and human than on the band's subsequent efforts. The use of film and voice samples is a little awkward and unnecessary, especially the interruption in 'Crisis,' but all the same this serves to date the album in quite a nice way. Unlike many grind-style albums that feature all too many throwaway tracks, the only frivolous one here is the sound-effect-laden minute of 'Natividad,' the rest is excellent.

1. Martyr
2. Leechmaster
3. Scapegoat
4. Crisis
5. Crash Test
6. Flesh Hold
7. Lifeblind
8. Scumgrief
9. Natividad
10. Big God/Raped Souls
11. Arise Above Oppression
12. Self Immolation
13. Suffer Age
14. W.O.E.
15. Desecrate
16. Escape Confusion
17. Manipulation

Summary: Fear Factory's first album (1992).