The Industrialist is the eighth studio album by American heavy metal band Fear Factory, released on June 5, 2012.^[1][2][3][4]

A remixed and remastered version of the album, titled Re-Industrialized, was released on June 23, 2023, featuring live drums recorded with Mike Heller, who appears on the band's subsequent albums.^[5]

The Industrialist marks the band's return to the concept album.^[4] Burton C. Bell said about the album, "the protagonist (The Industrialist) is the incarnation of all industries in the form of an automaton. The mechanical, technological, and scientific advances through the industrial age led to the creation of The Industrialist. In the story, the automaton becomes sentient as it collects memories with each passing day. Through observation and learning, it gains the will to exist. What was meant to help man, will eventually be man's demise."^[6] According to Cazares, the title was taken from a documentary the band saw about the people who developed "the engines for war machines", and God Eater was a name Bell saw on a toybox while traveling.^[7]

The album was recorded with Bell and Cazares as the only two credited members of the band, while Rhys Fulber once again produced and received additional writing credits. No live drummer was used on the album, with the band instead opting for programmed drums with help from John Sankey of Devolved, who was also credited. The band's drummer at the time, Gene Hoglan, wasn't informed of this decision and left the band after learning about the album's completion without him online.^[8]

More information Aggregate scores, Source ...

Professional ratings

Aggregate scores
Source	Rating
Metacritic	63/100[9]
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[10]
ThisIsNotAScene	6/10[11]
Sputnikmusic	[12]
Angry Metal Guy	[13]
Truemetal (IT)	92%[14]
Rock and Metal in My Blood	7.5/10[15]
Metal Underground	[16]
Brutal Resonance	8/10[17]
Lamb Goat	5/10[18]
Ultimate Guitar	8.5/10[19]
Metalitalia (IT)	6/10[20]
Metal Fan (NL)	80%[21]
Reflections of Darkness	7/10[22]
Team Rock	[23]

Close

The album has received generally positive reviews from music critics and band fans. Gregory Heaney of AllMusic gave the album a mixed response with a rating of 3 out of 5. Heaney felt that The Industrialist brought absolutely nothing new, stating "anyone hoping for more of the same old Fear Factory will find a lot to love about The Industrialist, those who have been hoping for something different might find that the album isn't quite what they were looking for."

Fear Factory

• Burton C. Bell – vocals, co-production, composing, lyric writing, vocal arrangement, arrangement
• Dino Cazares – guitars, bass, drum programming, drum writing, drum arrangement, co-production, composing, arrangement

Additional personnel

• Rhys Fulber - production, enhanced soundscape programming, keyboard arrangement, additional vocal arrangement, vocal editing, arrangement (2-7 & 10)
• Mike Heller - live drums (2023 "Re-Industrialized" version)
• Logan Mader – additional tracking, digital editing, additional vocal arrangement, vocal editing, guitar recording, bass recording, additional vocal recording
• Greg Reely - mixing, mastering
• Joey Blush - additional keyboard programming, production on "Blush Response (Difference Engine remix)"
• Damian "The Frog" Rainaud – additional keyboard programming, assistant engineering, drum editing
• Alan "Ace" Bergman – guitar tech
• Brian Harrah – additional guitars
• John Sankey - drum programming, drum writing, drum arrangement
• Anthony Clarkson - artwork