From their trademark staccato riffing and industrial trimmings to frontman Burton C Bell’s aggressive-melodic vocals, Fear Factory were way ahead of the game when they released their classic Demanufacture album 20 years ago – and Genexus demonstrates how firmly tethered to the cutting edge Fear Factory remain. The best-sounding album of their career by some margin, this is a precise and vicious rush of syncopated kick drums, sci-fi keyboard surges and eerie but infectious vocal hooks, all underpinned by guitarist Dino Cazares’ flawless attack. In less capable hands, the likes of Anodized and Soul Hacker would be sterile, robotic and cold, but whether due to Bell’s chest-rattling delivery or the simple fact that they still sound utterly unique, Fear Factory exude real authority, resulting in their finest album in two decades and a timely reminder that when man and machine collide, the outcome can be both joyous and devastating.
