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After many years of building and earning respect from their fans, Fear Factory plans on keeping every last one of them. (Something that a lot of other bands out there do not understand.) Still telling the story of how machine will one day overcome the creation of man and the battle that takes place, Digimortal has more of a Matrix theme talking about memory implants and cloning humans.

Coming off their huge success of gold record, Obsolete, many fans, including myself, did not know the direction of the band due to the many songs off of Obsolete that made it to radio. Songs like "Descent," "Resurrection," and a remake of "Cars" was a huge success for the band.

Nothing but props goes out to drummer Raymond Herrera. This could be the most challenging record he has ever done with his signature double kick. Bassist Christian Olde Wolbers is heard more by bass driven riffs to mix things up and guitarist Dino Cazares infamous crunchy riffs will leave you stunned. Also coming back was producer Rhys Fulber. Fulber added more samples into the mix giving songs more texture and an industrial feel to them.

The songs "Invisible Wounds (Dark Bodies)," and "(Memory Implants) Never End," have the best chance to make it to radio. These songs catch Burton C. Bell doing a little more singing than screaming and the music is catchy. However, probably the biggest disappointment on the disc was the song "Back the Fuck up." This song feature B-Real from Cypress Hill rapping along to the onslaught of metal and it doesn't fit. Burton also tries his hand at rapping and to not much avail, it doesn't work.

I think this song was added due to a possible side project featuring Wolbers and Herrera of Fear Factory teaming up with Deftones guitarist Stephan Carpenter and B-Real of Cypress Hill.

Overall, with songs like "Linchpin," "Hurt Conveyor," and "Acres of Skin" will silence anyone's cries of "sell-out" because these boys have stayed true to their roots and metal fans all over, which makes me respect the band even more. Songs off of Digimortal could easily be featured on the Matrix 2 soundtrack in the near future!

Until next time, later freaks!

By T-Bone