Track Listing

1. Slave Labour
2. Cyberwaste
3. Act Of God
4. Drones
5. Archetype
6. Corporate Cloning
7. Bite The Hand That Bleeds
8. Undercurrent
9. Default Judgement
10. Bonescraper
11. Human Shields
12. Ascension
13. School

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #20167 in Music
• Released on: 2004-04-19
• Number of discs: 1
• Format: Explicit Lyrics

CD Description
On their fifth studio album (their first since guitarist Dino Cazeres' departure) bassist Christian Olde Wolbers takes over on guitar with Strapping Young Lad member Byron Stroud taking bass. 'Archetype' the follow up to 2001's 'Digimortal' sees a return to Fear Factory's earlier more instrument heavy sound. Whilst the electronic influence has been reduced,bass drum and guitars have been brought to the forefront toproduce a rawer sounding effort than more recent works.

Customer Reviews

A wickedly impressive return to form
After the disaster that was the last album ‘Digimortal’ and the departureof charismatic guitarist Dino Cazares, expectations were not very high forthis comeback by Cyber Metallers extrordinaire Fear Factory. No need toworry though, after hearing ‘Archetype’ it’s as if their last two recordsnever happened. Close in style to the band’s masterpiece ‘Demanufacture’,it blows the Nu Metalisms of the last two albums clean out of the water.The moving of Christian Olde Wolbers to guitar and the introduction offormer Strapping Young Lad bassist Byron Stroud have reinvigorated theband, and in some style. Listen to the lead-off song ‘Cyberwaste’, one ofthe most brutal songs the band have released since their DeathMetal-styled debut; massive double bass runs, enormous riffs, even ablastbeat and Burt Bell’s ultra-angry vocals on top. It’s classic FF andcould have come straight from ‘Demanufacture’. The rest of the albumcontinues in the same vein, albeit nothing else is quite as extreme, butthe intensity is the highest it’s been for years. The only exceptions arealbum proper closer ‘Ascension’ which is an ethereal electronic track, anda cover of Nirvana’s ‘School’ which stays pretty close to the original.All in all, anyone who reckoned that Fear Factory were doomed afterCazares left should take a listen to ‘Archetype’ and see how much betterthey are without him. Awesome stuff.

A return to form
Being the biggest fan of Demanufacture, I was hoping by some small chance that Fear Factory, with their new line up, produce something that may even slightly match the aformentioned album. Well having bought the Archetype today, I have been more than suprised, Fear Factory seem to have done 'a Machine Head' and released an album that goes back to the bands' roots and then times them by ten. This screamed Soul Of A New Machine straight at me when i put it on, whereas Soul had its moments, this captures the great rawness and heaviness that Soul had and then adds the factors from previous albums (frankly i don't know how this album was produced, somehow its polished as hell but hasn't lost any of the rawness of the original Factory material, a firm slap on the back to the producer). This made me very happy, True, I enjoyed Digimortal and Obsolete but they lost the heaviness that this album rightly brings back.
If you decide to buy this, it needs more than a few listens like any good record, its not groundbreakingly new, but it sure as hell kicks some serious ass.
Buy It and Love It 5*

The Soul of this Machine has definitely improved!
Archetype is arguably one of the years most anticipated albums of the metal/industrial genre. With the band reforming minus guitarist Dino Cazares (he was allegedly the cause of the break-up), many critics and fans alike were apprehensive about the new album, especially after their previous album, Digimortal was disappointing compared to their other offerings.
Fear Factory, with a line-up of Burton C. Bell (vocals), Raymond Herrera (drums), Christian Olde Wolbers (switching from bass to guitarist), and new boy Byron Stroud (bass, and formerly of the awesome Strapping Young Lad) a lot is riding on this album. But fans should not worry, for this is Fear Factory's best offering to date, and a top contender for one of the albums of 2004. In even eclipses their 1995 classic, Demanufacture, which many people consider to be one of the greatest metal albums of all time (me for one - I even have the front cover tattooed on my leg). Opening song 'Slave Labour' is I superb, with Raymond's double bass and Christian's guitar going full throttle instantly. Burton's vocals are as usual excellent switching from his menacing growl to his melodic vocals, its no surprise that many bands now copy this, although never beating Burton (a certain band called Slipknot spring to mind). Next song 'Cyberwaste' is Fear Factory at their heaviest, with a superb anthem-like chorus we can all sing along to ("Nothing! You Say! Matters! To Us! F**k You!), and surprisingly is their first single from the album, as usually they seem to have their most accessible songs released first - I can only think this that their new record label, Liquid 8, must be giving them more say than their previous label, Roadrunner.
The best songs are in the middle of the album, with 'Drones' and 'Undercurrent' being the best I have ever heard. Title track 'Archetype' is a scorcher too, with the lyrics having a stab at their former band mate ("The infection has been removed/the soul of this machine has improved"). Fear Factory also portray their softer side, with 'Bite the Hand that Bleeds' and 'Human Shields' really pushing Burton's vocal range to the limit. The album closes with a cover of Nirvana song 'School', and they actually make the song better, which is what they always do with their cover songs ('Dog Day Sunrise' and 'Cars' by Head of David and Gary Numan respectively).
Having been a huge fan of Fear Factory since the beginning I can honestly say that this is a superb album - the best of their career so far. For me the best thing has always been the vocals - no one does it quite like Burton C. Bell and no one has come close. I recommend this album to anyone, even if you don't like the genre of music, you will like this album. Welcome back Fear Factory!