LIVE REVIEW – FEAR FACTORY – PRINCE OF WALES HOTEL, STKILDA, MELBOURNE, 27TH JANUARY 2010.
Watching the mighty Fear Factory last night in a small (capacity around 900) pub, I observed a couple of pretty profound and contrasting things, which I will relate to you now.
Firstly, they were incredibly raw and aggressive, which seems in direct contrast to their albums. I’m not suggesting they’re not aggressive on record. They are, in fact they’re monstrous at times (check out the title track of ‘Demanufacture’). But their albums are heavily produced, and quite processed sounding. An overly critical observer might say ‘overproduced’. Last night, in such an intimate setting, they simply belted it out loud, hard and heavy, and tight as a clenched fist. It was just guitar, bass and drums and Burton C Bell screaming his guts up out front. And it was simply amazing.
Another contrast I observed was this: I had seen them once before, probably six or seven years ago, at a massive concrete building called ‘Rod Laver Arena’, where the Australian Open Tennis is being played, literally as I type this. It has a capacity of around 15,000. They must have had a bad night that night. Burton seemed to be in a shitty mood, and their sound was terrible. All the other bands on that night kicked their arse. I walked away feeling mightily disappointed with their live show, being a massive fan of their albums.
Last night was a night and day difference though. They just seemed more relaxed, and the sound, whilst raw, was vastly superior. The crowd was highly responsive, and in excellent voice when displaying their approval of proceedings. Their hour and a half set was immensely satisfying, and of course the presence and playing of that monstrous powerhouse Gene Hoglan on the skins wasn’t hard to take either.
An immense set from these old masters. Fear Factory get ****.
Rod Whitfield
