Fear Factory return to Fremantle on the last show of the Australian tour and the band were in top form! Touring in support of their latest album “Genexus”, the veteran industrial metal legends showed no signs of slowing down despite an injured guitar player and some changes in the lineup.
First band to take to the stage was Perth band Make Way For Man. Now for those of you with your head in the sand, these guys have been making large waves in the last couple of month commanding the stage with mind boggling energy and pace. The band were here to get the early punters moving with their crushing sound, taking tracks from this years release “Evolve Repair”. The band had astounding delivery with that guitar tone and drumming, from a first timers prospective these guys are destined for big things so watch this space.
Melbourne band Circles were the main support and have been on the entire tour with Fear Factory. Again another different band with a strong melodic focus while occasionally jumping into some complex and grooving heavier moments, this band is definitely one to watch as they have been making some noise over east. Progressive in nature, their performance definitely caught some interested punters as they warmed up the Fremantle crowd. Lead vocalist Perry Kakridas takes control and never really shows any signs of fading with a formidable vocal range and the rest of the band on a mission. I don’t know if it’s just me but it was pointed out that in sections it was reminiscent of sSevendust, now I will most likely be shot down for this comment. Taking tracks from 2013’s “Infinitas” and 2011’s “The Compass” to name a few, Circles really made an impression on me and I’m sure I wasn’t the only one.
Fear Factory have had a special relationship with Western Australia over the years, Fremantle in particular so it was great to see the industrial legends return to the port city once again. Touring on the back of their latest effort, “Genexus”, the band played a few new tracks along with a mixed selection of older cuts.
The 4 piece metal act made their way onto the stage to an almost deafening roar and victorious applause with an injured Dino Cazares taking a seat for the entire set with a moon boot as the band ripped straight into “Demanufacture”. Burton C. Bell and the rest of the band proved yet again why they continue to be at the cutting edge of heavy industrial metal and as a side note, Burton’s vocals were savage and on point for the set with only two times that I noticed a strain on some of the higher notes. Bassist Tony Campos of Static-X fame was bouncing around the stage and genuinely look like he was having the time of his life. Burton announced that tonight the band would be bouncing from record to record and with that it was a complete trip down memory lane for many long time fans with set highlights that included “Edgecrusher” “Pisschrist” and “Martyr”.
“Powershifter” and “Archetype” were the only songs from the post millenium era to be played while “Soul Hacker”, “Regenerate” and “Anodized” represented the latest from “Genexus”. All 3 were released as singles and as great as they were, it would of been great to hear some of the other new tracks which are some of the band’s strongest material in years. Fear Factory have a long running affiliation and soft spot with Perth and in particular Fremantle and let’s be honest, they don’t disappoint with a solid rendition of “Replica” under their collective belt and as fast and furious as it started, it was over with a crowd that was left beaten and over joyed!
