with the release of FF new album Mechanize, a look back to their still standing achievement is overdue. Soul of a New Machine was Fear's first studio album, released in 1992. a re-released version of it is out with remastered songs(honestly, i've listened to both types, and they sound exactly the same) and it also comes with their EP Fear is the Mind Killer which is just remixes and demos of stuff like Scapegoat. i personally have the original 1992 release that is rare as fuck these days(go to ebay, buy for $0.99 lol) and mine had to be special ordered from ENGLAND. anyway, the album itself is a huge masterpiece. everysong up until the last 3 are great. and the only reason the last 3 arent great, is because they're too short. this album paved Fear Factory's way into the hearts of metal fans everywhere with its death metal and melodic scores. this album was, quite literally, before its time. if you ever hear someone say a certain band(like Atreyu.....little fags) pioneered the Melodic Death Metal genre, tell them to go fuck themselves because these guys were THE FIRST to do it, on this album. every song flows flawlessly and even adds aspects of life. Crash Test has to do with the mistreatment and testing of animals, Scapegoat deals with Guitarist Dino Cazares trial in Canada for something he did not commit, and Big God/Raped Souls deals with the government. some of the songs even feature tidbits from Full Metal Jacket. lines like, "hey soldier, do you know who's in charge here? Mother Fucker" in the song Crisis, and "i want more life........fucker" in the song Flesh Hold. Scapegoat even has a line from Dino's court appearance. Burton C. Bell does an outstanding job in his vocals. and Raymond Herrera meets each drum beat perfectly. unfortunately, at this time Christian Olde Wolbers wasnt in this album on Bass, even i forget his name, but i think it was Alex.:confused: anyway, this album is a great accomplishment. 5/5