The American heavy metal band Fear Factory recently had a music compilation titled Linchpin released preemptively and not to their knowledge according to Therp. The album was released by Warner Brothers and X5 Music Group earlier this week and features a compilation of Fear Factory works from their first four albums Demanufacture, Soul of a New Machine, Obsolete, and Digimortal. Fear Factory was surprised and was not aware that the compilation was going to be released. The music compilation is named after the band’s most streamed and downloaded song “Linchpin.”

Guitarist Dino Cazares of Fear Factory cleared up confusion around the album in a recent tweet:

Warner Music Group made a compilation of songs from our first 4 albums titled “Linchpin” It does not have songs from anything after Hatefiles(2003).Its on Spotify and Amazon. Enjoy

— Dino Cazares (@DinoCazares) April 29, 2019

Yeah we had no input https://t.co/g8A3Et8zA4

— Dino Cazares (@DinoCazares) April 30, 2019

No plan for a statement and the company’s have every right to do it https://t.co/JRM20G1aPj

— Dino Cazares (@DinoCazares) April 30, 2019

Fear Factory got their start in music in 1989 and was absolutely essential in shaping the heavy metal movement in the 90s. A few years after their formation the group signed onto Roadrunner Records where they released their debut album titled Soul of a New Machine. The highly experimental album is very unlike the sound of their more recent albums as Fear Factory was trying to find its sound. It features many different sub genres of metal and its variety is interesting to listen to. The album explores themes of technology and its relationship to society. This concept would play a large role in their future albums. Fear Factory’s second album Demanufacture was critically acclaimed and often cited as one of the band’s best albums to date. The album features highly technical drumming and impressive guitar lines that pull the listener in.

Throughout the confusion, Fear Factory has remained good natured and didn’t seem to take much issue with the release. The band announced that later in 2019 they will release a new album which will be exciting to hear.

Linchpin Track List:

01. “Linchpin”
02. “Cars” (Gary Numan cover)
03. “Replica”
04. “Edgecrusher”
05. “Shock”
06. “Demanufacture”
07. “Invisible Wounds (Dark Bodies)”
08. “Self Bias Resistor”
09. “Resurrection”
10. “Scapegoat”
11. “Scumgrief”
12. “Zero Signal”
13. “Martyr”
14. “A Therapy For Pain”
15. “Crisis”
16. “Dark Bodies” (demo)
17. “Dead Man Walking”
18. “Full Metal Contact”
19. “Damaged”
20. “New Breed”
21. “Pisschrist”
22. “Soulwomb”
23. “Terminate”
24. Body Hammer”
25. “What Will Become”