Fear Factory W/Sylosis & October File

Fear Factory w/Sylosis and October File

Academy 2

16/02/2010

4 and 1/2

The majority of metalheads have been chomping at the bit for three long years to see Fear Factory’s industrial themed metal assault spring back into action. February 16^th 2010 was when it finally hit the UK again. Boy, was it worth the wait.

Fear Factory’s return has been long overdue (especially when you consider legal issues pushed this back another six months), meaning the support acts faced a difficult task in winning over an expecting crowd. Pleasingly, October File played a short rousing heavy set which provided as good an introduction as you could ask for to the night’s two main attractions. Succeeding them on the stage were perhaps the highlights of the gig, Sylosis. A young, technical thrash band who have seen a huge ground swell in the past year, Sylosis continue to show the crowds why they’re set to be one of the next big names in metal. Heavy, loud and confident, expect big things, if not huge.

With that kind of introduction, Fear Factory coasted into top gear. Not that they needed such an introduction. Playing a set of classics, spread out with much awaited new material from the upcoming Mechanize, they filled the room with an industrial groove metal sound that it’s difficult for any band to mimic, never mind equal. Dino Cazeres continues to be master of the riff, dropping hook after hook without flaw and also must be the only guy in metal to receive an affectionate crowd chant of “You fat bastard.” This takes nothing away from the rest of the band, who were also exceptional.

Pretty much the perfect comeback for the prodigal sons of industrial metal, helped out, in no small part by an on form Sylosis. Both bands have albums due. Based on tonight, avoid them at your peril!