This came out in 2001 – or at least that’s when I got it. Here’s what I said about it back then (with some minor editing):
What in the hell has happened to Fear Factory? Or perhaps I should ask: What in heaven has happened to Fear Factory?
Going by their new CD Digimortal, this L.A. death-metal foursome have become Christian rockers. I kid you not. Granted, they’ve explored questions of faith in the past on tracks like Resurrection and Pisschrist. But they’ve never put a cross on their albums before — and maybe I’m reading too much into that cover art, but it sure looks like the Shroud of Turin on a circuit board to me. Either way, there’s no mistaking the inspiration behind lyrics like, “Do not surrender my god to anyone or this body will become carrion,” and “I was lost, but now I’m found.” Thankfully, singer Burton C. Bell and co. haven’t turned the other cheek musically. Digimortal delivers all the Slayerish sledgehammer slam, techno-metal riffage and fire-beathing vocals of their three previous albums. Still, no matter how hard they thrash — and the odd demonic track like Back the F— Up — it’s tough to think of this as the devil’s music any more.
