LIVE: FEAR FACTORY with Vanta – Fremantle | Walyalup, 19 May 2026

LIVE: FEAR FACTORY with Vanta – Fremantle | Walyalup, 19 May 2026
Metropolis Fremantle, Western Australia
Reviewed by Josh Ainsworth
Photography by Luke Baker

When a touring band with the name Fear Factory gets listed at a venue, you can immediately narrow down the audience attire theme to a basic colour; black – if you were expecting anything else then you went to the wrong gig. Fans of the 90s spawned band were represented by all age demographics and to be honest, they now sit in that realm of bands where if you went to a gig in their early years it’s almost a guarantee you are coming back for a repeat visit each and every time they come. Think Slayer, Rammstein, Slipknot, Static X, Metallica, Lamb of God… for the tour-starved plebs of Perth when a band of this status comes to town; you go. Childhood memories unlocked, familiar faces seen, and just a good time had. Fear Factory have been coming to Oz since the days of the Soundwave and Big Day Out festivals, and the band have also supported other major metal acts in that time, drip feeding their niche of the genre when they could.

Openers Vanta:

As with quite a few bands from the era, Fear Factory have cycled through a member list more akin to a rock band from the 80s, with fame, tragedy, money and politics all playing a part in keeping a good thing going. For most in the mosh pit, the classically known lineup of Dino Cazares, Burton C. Bell, Raymond Herrera, and Christian Olde Wolbers is no more, with “new” faces behind the guitars and drums sending out pulsing metal riffs that hit like a blacksmith’s hammer. Only Cazares remains from that iconic album showing of the band, however this hasn’t meant the stage show has suffered. In fact, if you asked around, punters were happy to come and support knowing it was just going to be Dino on stage reminding them why they fell in love with songs like Demanufacture, Replica, Linchpin, Shock and others from the mid-90s albums, but honestly would have left new fans of the current product. Aided by the fact the band was also on soundtracks for cult films like Mortal Kombat, Resident Evil and Saw, they also featured on several gaming soundtracks when it almost felt like metal and computer games were a predestined duo. Starting to feel old yet?

But not all of this show was a reunion tour. Plenty of new hits have come from the band since the naughties, and with regular tours and album releases the current format of Fear Factory aren’t afraid to reset your pacemaker with some of the most pulsing, clinically addictive and heavy as fuck riffs. A sound that instantly makes you pay attention, Fear Factory have harnessed the power of what is now commonplace amongst the modern metal band brethren; 7 and 8 string guitars, dropped tuning, metronomic double bass drumming, and unrelenting riffs, yet somehow remain instantly recognisable and defined. Songs like Disruptor and Regenerate landed just as welcome as the instant roar that came from the opening notes of Industrial Discipline and Powershifter, and when Invisible Wounds rang out with its single note intro teaser you could genuinely see Cazares having fun with the crowd. In fact, it almost felt like a singalong at points, with the band clearly enjoying the love coming back from the crowd.

Metropolis Fremantle has pretty decent vantage points from all levels, and despite a somewhat small “moshpit” area, you could appreciate the show however you felt like it, really; standing at the bar, seated on a balcony, head nodding at floor level or going bonkers front of stage. No animosity, just good energy from good people getting their ear drums recalibrated by one of metal’s truly stalwart mainstays, and I dare say they will all come to see them the next time too… once they can hear again.

 

 

Category: Live Reviews, Photo Galleries