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1[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/rsz_fear-factory_2288.jpg]]
2->''We will never see the end,\
3We will never be the end.\
4All of my life I felt discarded,\
5Never feeling a part of it.''
6-->"Linchpin"
7
8Fear Factory is an American metal band. Formed in 1989, they are well-known for their signature style, which combines death metal, groove metal, thrash metal and industrial metal. They had a large impact on the metal (and "metalium", if you are picky) scene from the mid-90s and onwards, with Machine Head, Chimaira, Music/DevinTownsend, Music/{{Disturbed}} and Mnemic all citing them as an influence.
9
10They disbanded in 2002 due to internal disputes, but reformed later that same year without guitarist Dino Cazares, a founding member. They disbanded again in 2006, only to reform ''again'' in 2009 with a new lineup, including the returning Dino and drummer [[Music/{{DarkAngel}} Ge]][[Music/{{Death}} ne]] [[WesternAnimation/{{Metalocalypse}} Hog]][[Music/DevinTownsend lan]]. This lineup put out a comeback album ''Mechanize'' in 2010 and extensively toured to support it. Gene and Byron departed in 2012 and were replaced by Mike Heller (Malignancy) and Matt [=DeVries=] (ex-Chimara). Dino and Burton had been working on a new album before this point on their own, bringing in John Sankey (ex-Devolved, ex-Light The Torch) to help program the drums for it. This album was released in 2012 as ''The Industrialist''. Matt left in 2015 and was replaced by Tony Campos. A new album, ''Genexus'', was released that same year.
11
12Not long after the release of ''Genexus'', a lawsuit was brought on by former drummer Raymond Herrera and former bassist Christian Olbe Wolbers over the rights to the "Fear Factory" name. A planned new album, originally titled ''Monolith'', was shelved for a few years. Burton would also suddenly depart from the band in September 2020. However Dino would re-work and finish the planned album with Bell's original vocal tracks intact, which would eventually release in June 2021 as ''Aggression Continuum''.
13
14In 2023, Dino announced that the band had found a new vocalist in the form of Milo Silvestro. They then embarked on their first US tour in several years.
15
16Not to be confused with ''Series/FearFactor'', NightmarishFactory, or the ''VideoGame/DonkeyKongCountry1'' track of the same name.
17
18'''Current lineup'''
19* Dino Cazares – guitars, backing vocals (1989–2002, 2009–present)
20* Tony Campos - bass, backing vocals (2015-present)
21* Milo Silvestro - lead vocals (2023-present)
22* Pete Webber - drums (2023-present)
23
24'''Former members'''
25* Burton C. Bell — lead vocals (1989-2020)
26* Raymond Herrera – drums (1989–2009)
27* Christian Olde Wolbers – bass (1993–2002), guitars (2002–2009), backing vocals (1993-2009)
28* Byron Stroud – bass (2003–2012)
29* Gene Hoglan – drums (2009–2012)
30* Matt [=DeVries=] – bass (2012-2015)
31* [[Music/{{Malignancy}} Mike Heller]] – drums (2012–2023)
32
33
34'''Former live members'''
35* Dave Gibney – bass, backing vocals (1989–1991)
36* Andy Romero – bass (1991–1992)
37* Andrew Shives – bass (1992–1993)
38* John Bechdel – keyboards, synthesizers, samples (1998–2004)
39* Steve Tushar – keyboards, samples (1996–1997, 2004–2005)
40* John Morgan - keyboards, samples (1997)
41* Jessie Sanchez - bass (2014)
42
43'''Studio albums'''
44* ''Soul of a New Machine'' (1992)
45* ''Music/{{Demanufacture}}'' (1995)
46* ''Obsolete'' (1998)
47* ''Digimortal'' (2001)
48* ''Archetype'' (2004)
49* ''Transgression'' (2005)
50* ''Mechanize'' (2010)
51* ''The Industrialist'' (2012)
52* ''Genexus'' (2015)
53* ''Aggression Continuum'' (2021)
54
55'''Other notable releases'''
56* ''Fear is the Mindkiller'' (1993): A remix EP, containing remixed songs from ''Soul of a New Machine.''
57* ''Remanufacture - Cloning Technology'' (1997): Contains remixes of songs from ''Demanufacture.''
58* ''Messiah'' (1999): Soundtrack album for ''VideoGame/{{Messiah}}''; contains tracks from ''Soul of a New Machine'', ''Demanufacture'', ''Remanufacture'', and ''Obsolete''.
59* ''Concrete'' (2002, recorded 1991): Originally intended to be Fear Factory's debut album, the recordings were shelved until Roadrunner Records released it to fulfill contractual obligations owed by the band.
60* ''Hatefiles'' (2003): A compilation of rare, unreleased, and remixed tracks. Notable for containing a couple of tracks from ''Demanufacture'' with the rejected mixes by Colin Richardson.
61* ''Recoded'' (2022): Contains remixes of songs from ''Aggression Continuum''.
62* ''Re-Industrialized'' (2023): A reissue and remastering of ''The Industrialist'', with the controversial programmed drums replaced by live drumming from Mike Heller, new mixing of Dino's guitar tracks, and several new bonus tracks.
63
64!!Tropes headed with quotes from songs by this band:
65* [[invoked]] NightmareFuel
66
67----
68!!Fear Factory Provides examples of:
69[[foldercontrol]]
70%%
71%%[[folder:Live Performance]]
72%%[[/folder]]
73%% Once some tropes that apply to this are added, it can be un-%%'d
74%%
75
76[[folder:Lyrics/Themes]]
77* AntiLoveSong: "Manipulation" and "Leechmaster"
78* BetterToDieThanBeKilled: "Freedom or Fire" - in which the protester protagonist burns himself to death rather than be taken into custody by the state police.
79* {{Cyborg}} - In ''Digimortal'', [[spoiler: when the surviving humans and machines realize that they need to depend on, rather than control, one another to survive.]]
80* CyberPunk
81* CrapsackWorld - ''Demanufacture'' and ''Obsolete'''s dystopias.
82* DarkestHour: "Descent", "Timelessness".
83* {{Determinator}}: "H-K (Hunter-Killer)", "Edgecrusher", "Smasher/Devourer", "Archetype". "H-K" gets bonus points for not only taking its title from [[Film/TheTerminator De Terminator]], but using samples of Kyle Reese's dialogue.
84* DownerEnding - In ''Obsolete'', [[spoiler: when the main character, ''Edgecrusher'', gets captured by the Securitron. It is not certain whether his words/thoughts in the song "Timelessness" are when he's in jail, or when he is in the process of being executed. And he was the leader of the resistance too, making Edgecrusher's defeat a double-blow.]]
85* GriefSong: Well, more of a grief instrumental in the case of ''Natividad'', which is dedicated to guitarist Dino Cazares' mother.
86* MoodWhiplash: The two closing tracks of ''Obsolete''; the heavy but decidedly uplifting "Resurrection" is followed by the depressing and melancholic closer "Timelessness".
87* MurderBallad: "Suffer Age" was written by Dino Cazares about John Wayne Gacy. "0-0 (Where Evil Dwells)", written about The Acid King Ricky Kasso, too.
88* NonAppearingTitle: "Demanufacture", "Replica", "Self Bias Resistor", to name a couple.
89* [[{{JustForFun/OneOfUs}} One Of Us]]: Dino and Burton are huge sci-fi nerds, which is why most of the band's lyrics have sci-fi themes. They're especially fans of the {{Franchise/Terminator}} and [[{{Franchise/BladeRunner}} Blade Runner]] movies. The "Tears In Rain" monologue is even quoted at the end of "Expiration Date", as it's written from the perspective of the replicants from Blade Runner.
90* ProtestSong: Whilst all of Fear Factory's material is basically anti-authoritarian, "Crash Test" (animal testing), "Hi-tech Hate" (arms industry), "Corporate Cloning" (music/fashion industry), "Securitron (Police State 2000)" (go on, guess), "Crisis" (the military complex) are all more specific in their targets.
91** "Fear Campaign" is essentially a huge middle finger to everyone who uses fear to get themselves obeyed.
92* ReligionRantSong: "Big God/Raped Souls", (("Liar! Big God, no God, BURN!")) and "Desecrate" from ''Soul of a New Machine'' with "Act of God" on ''Archetype'' give examples of [[GodIsEvil Type 1]]. ''Demanufacture'''s "Pisschrist" is more of a [[ReligionIsWrong Type 2]], though in the context of the album, it also talks either about the anti-machine resistance, or the machine leadership. Although you may not realize it, the ''Digimortal'' bonus track "Dead Man Walking" is a Type 2. ''Mechanize's'' "Christploitation" is a [[ScamReligion type 3]] talking about how religion is now explored and sold.
93* TheScapegoat: Well, "Scapegoat". It was written after an incident where Dino felt he had been wrongly arrested.
94* TakeThat:
95** "Archetype" (the song) at Dino. Interestingly, the band decided to play the song live again some years after Dino came back, re-directing the Take That at former members Christian and Raymond. The pre-chorus lyric of "the infection has been removed" was changed to "the infections have been removed".
96*** The song has continued to been played live since Milo joined the band, though the lyric has since reverted back to "the infection has been removed".
97** "Cyberwaste" is directed at people who [[InternetJerk use the Internet to harass others]].
98* TwentyMinutesIntoTheFuture: the concept albums worlds are left deliberately undated, and fit fairly neatly into the not-too-distant future trope.
99[[/folder]]
100
101[[folder:Media/Fan-base]]
102* GreatestHitsAlbum - Released by Roadrunner without the band's permission. It only contains songs up to ''Digimortal''.
103* NobodyLovesTheBassist: Christian is the only bassist that has actually recorded bass on an album. Usually Dino does it himself because Burton thinks it takes a guitarist to play their bass riffs properly.
104* CelebrityResemblance - Burton looks like he could be the brother of Creator/DonalLogue.
105[[/folder]]
106
107[[folder: Music/Music-related]]
108* AccentUponTheWrongSyllable: A common feature of Burton's vocal style.
109* AlbumClosure: Many albums end on the [[LongestSongGoesLast longest track]] and/or have lengthy outro sections.
110* AudienceParticipationSong
111** During the last chorus of "Demanufacture" live, Burton holds the mic up to the crowd and asks something along the lines of "WHAT [[ClusterFBomb THE FUCK]] HAVE YOU GOT?", which they proceed to answer by shouting the chorus at the top of their lungs.
112** While the band does not explicitly encourage it, the fans tend to sing along to the chorus of "Edgecrusher" live.
113** Honestly, all of their songs could be this with the right crowd, due to the simple choruses.
114* CarefulWithThatAxe: A piercing growl is heard after the long, extremely quiet (yet gloomy) intro of "Fear Campaign." Way to scare us all, Burton.
115* ClusterFBomb: Not so much in the music itself, but Burton is ''very'' sweary on stage between songs.
116* ConceptAlbum: ''Soul of a New Machine,'' ''Demanufacture,'' ''Obsolete,'' and ''Digimortal'' all tell a continuous story.
117** Although a return to the concept album format, ''The Industrialist'' follows a different story which is continued with its follow-up, ''Genexus''.
118* DeathMetal: ''Soul of a New Machine'' and ''Concrete.'' There are also trace elements of death metal in the band's other material, and Dino Cazares dabbles in the genre (and related fusion styles) almost exclusively in other projects.
119* {{Djent}}: They flirt with this genre on occasion, particularly from ''Mechanize'' onward.
120* GenreBusting: Honestly, try figuring out what kind of metal they really are. Industrial, death, and groove are always key ingredients, but so many other styles are put in as they wish that putting a label on them is impossible. Most people just call them "industrial metal" and leave it at that.
121* GenreMashup: Kind of like Bauhaus in that the sound they created is common now, but was downright out of left field when they started. Death metal, industrial metal, grindcore, noise, EBM, rap, and synthpop aren't exactly things you'd expect to hear combined, but that's pretty much exactly what Fear Factory did.
122* GenreShift: Industrial death metal to industrial groove metal. ''Obsolete'' and ''Digimortal'' also incorporated hip-hop influences.
123* GrooveMetal
124* HeavyMithril: Most of the band's lyrics focus on science fiction.
125* IAmTheBand: Dino Cazares has been the band's only remaining original member since Burton C. Bell left in 2020, though there's an argument that Burton C. Bell himself used to be this too. Burton was the only member of the band perform on all of the albums recorded before his departure, as the band made two albums (''Archetype'' and ''Transgression'') between Dino's departure and return.
126* IdiosyncraticCoverArt: Though some exceptions turn up here and there, the band's album covers usually feature a mirrored and usually symmetrical image resembling their "FF" initials.
127* IndustrialMetal: Their main genre. They have even worked with Rhys Fulber of Music/FrontLineAssembly on a few albums.
128* MetalScream: Types 1, 2, and 4. Type 2 mostly only occurred on ''Soul of a New Machine'' and ''Concrete,'' and virtually all subsequent works saw Burton moving between Type 1 and 4.
129* NuMetal: They've been lumped in with this due to the hip-hop influences on ''Obsolete'' and ''Digimortal''. They have explicitly distanced themselves from it, though.
130* PerishingAltRockVoice: Burton became more and more like this from the ''Archetype'' era onwards. People have frequently criticised him for struggling to perform his clean vocal parts live. It got especially bad during the touring cycle for ''The Industrialist'', where he would routinely sing out of tune or even ''out of key''.
131* RapMetal: "Back the Fuck Up" from ''Digimortal.'' It sure was unexpected. Half of the band also contributed to Cypress Hill's ''Skull & Bones.''
132* {{Remaster}}: ''Soul of a New Machine'' was remastered and re-released in a 2005 digipak that combined it with the also remastered EP ''Fear is the Mindkiller.''
133* RemixAlbum: ''Remanufacture -- Cloning Technology'', a remix of ''Demanufacture''.
134* {{Sampling}}: Hard to notice, but most of their earlier songs contained random samples, whether they were quotes or sound effects. Some of the songs unds they sampled were from ''Film/ApocalypseNow,'' ''Film/BladeRunner,'' and the ''Film/DemolitionMan'' arcade game.
135* SopranoAndGravel: Burton manages to do this one, all on his own. In fact, he is often regarded as, if not the TropeMaker, then definitely the TropeCodifier for this style of singing by one person in heavy metal.
136* TropeCodifier: One of the codifiers for IndustrialMetal, along with Music/NineInchNails, Music/MarilynManson, and Music/{{Rammstein}}.
137* VocalEvolution: Both inverted and subverted with Burton. He actually got ''worse'' as a vocalist over time. While he was able to sing more in a higher range from ''Digimortal'' onwards, it was something he really struggled to replicate live, especially when the band returned in 2009. It started to make people wonder whether he was getting a lot of help from studio magic on his later albums with the band. Those theories were perhaps legitimate, as he mostly avoids singing in his higher register on his post-Fear Factory work.
138[[/folder]]

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