Digimortal [LP] by Fear Factory (Vinyl 180g, Mar-2007, Roadrunner/Cargo Records)

$

26

Album Notes:

Fear Factory is an American metal band that formed in 1989 and has released eight full-length albums. Over the course of their career they have evolved from a succession of styles, frequenting industrial metal with flavors of death metal, groove metal, and thrash metal. Fear Factory proved to be enormously influential on the metal scene in the mid- to late-1990s. Fear Factory disbanded in March 2002 following some internal disputes, but reformed later that year without founding member Dino Cazares, adding bassist Byron Stroud, and casting then-bassist Christian Olde Wolbers as guitarist.

In April 2009, a new lineup was announced with Cazares returning and Gene Hoglan as drummer. Bell and Stroud reprised their respective roles, and the band completed a seventh studio album entitled Mechanize. Former members Christian Olde Wolbers and Raymond Herrera (both playing in Arkaea) disputed the legitimacy of the new lineup, and a legal battle is underway from both parties. Fear Factory released their eighth studio album entitled The Industrialist in June 2012. Over the years, Fear Factory has seen changes in its members, with Burton C. Bell being the only consistent member since 1989.

The band has performed at three Ozzfests as well as the inaugural Gigantour and has had singles in the US Mainstream Rock Top 40 and albums in the Billboard Top 40, 100, and 200. The band has sold more than 1 million albums in the US alone.

Digimortal is Fear Factory’s fourth studio album, released on April 24, 2001 by Roadrunner Records. It is a concept album and a sequel to Obsolete, their previous album (which was a continuation to Demanufacture) and the final part of a trilogy. This was the band’s last album before officially breaking up in March 2002. Although Digimortal was not a commercial success, this was not given as reason for the band’s breakup, instead citing frontman Burton C. Bell’s desire to “form a band that’s more indie-rock-oriented”. Fear Factory would officially reform in 2003, however, to begin work on their next album, Archetype. Digimortal was the last to feature founding guitarist/songwriter Dino Cazares for eight years until his return to the band in 2009.

Concept:

While the band had initially decided to detour from their concept-based records, Digimortal would continue were Obsolete left off. Conceptually, the record contains a futuristic story about man and machine merging into one. The surviving humans and the machines realize they have to depend on each other if they are going to continue on. The title of the album is actually short for “Digital Mortality”.

Reception:

Digimortal was a commercial disappointment compared to the band’s previous record. While its single “Linchpin”, managed to chart, the album had only sold a reported 152,000 copies by March 2002. Digimortal received generally positive reviews. College Music Journal (4/9/01, p.17) called the album “Demented disco” and that “Digimortal is cybercore: digitized, overdubbed metal with crunchy, machine-like production”. Q magazine (5/01, p.108) gave the album 3 stars out of 5 and called it “Ethereal and breathtaking”. Fan reaction was mixed, with some alienation stemming from the album’s melodic simplicity and its nu metal influence.

Personnel:

Band Members

Burton C. Bell: vocals

Dino Cazares: guitar

Christian Olde Wolbers: bass

Raymond Herrera: drums

Others:

John Anonymous: pre-production

Robert Breen: assistant engineer

Huey Dee: pre-production

Rhys Fulber: producer

Tom Jermann: artistic director

George Marino: composer

Mike Plotnikoff: mixing, technical engineer

Oscar Ramirez: assistant engineer

Billy Sherwood: vocal arrangement

Paul Silveira: engineer

Malcolm Springer: pre-production arranger

Neil Zlozower: photography

B-Real: composed track 8

Track List:

All songs written and composed by Fear Factory except track 8, written by B-Real.

Side A:

1. What Will Become?   [3:24]

2. Damaged   [3:03]

3. Digimortal   [3:04]

4. No One   [3:37]

5. Linchpin   [3:25]

6. Invisible Wounds (Dark Bodies)   [3:54]

Side B:

7. Acres of Skin   [3:55]

8. Back the Fuck Up (ft. B-Real)   [3:10]

9. Byte Block   [5:21]

10. Hurt Conveyor   [3:42]

11. (Memory Imprints) Never End   [6:48]

     Total length: 43:20                           

The Digimortal [LP 180 Gram Vinyl] by Fear Factory is factory-sealed new. It has never been played and has always been kept in its original packaging. The LP is not a promo or cutout. There are no marks or punches of any kind. All our CDs and vinyl are new! If you have any questions or want to see additional photos, just email us.

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