HEADLINER: FEAR FACTORY
SUPPORT: PRODUCT OF NEGLECT
DATE: MAY 25TH 2026
VENUE: THE TIVOLI
REVIEWER: MERT TYSON MEDIA
PHOTOGRAPHER: MERT TYSON MEDIA
35 years of fear indeed, and Fear Factory have unleashed ‘Cybernetic Domination’ across Australia on their first full headlining tour in a decade!
Being a child of the 80s metal scene, it was all Priest, Maiden, Slayer, Anthrax, and Metallica, with some glam mixed in for pure pleasure! We were brought up on this, as well as the black metal phase, death metal phase, and everything in between. And when the shift happened and the boat sailed, coming of age in the 90s meant the rise of more grunge, industrial, electronic dance, and experimental metal that had a new sound. Bands like Fear Factory, although earlier in my time, were approaching the end of what I loved and lived, and I didn’t want this to change. I guess I didn’t want to give them the time of day they deserved, as with many changes in my musical safe zone. Well, fast forward to Brisbane, May 26th 2026, Tivoli, and we’re seeing a band that has stood the test of time with 10 studio albums. Needless to say, they eventually won me over with Demanufacture and Obsolete; I kept coming back to this band album after album, and once they slipped through the cracks, Fear Factory ended up back on the repeat playlist. Having the opportunity to shoot this band tonight was a bucket-list gig for me.
Product of Neglect started it off with a brutal set, mixing a bit of every genre together and proving that metal is still alive and well. Harsh vocals and powerful rhythms chopped and changed their way through the set, firing up the Brissy faithful and preparing us for the main event. These guys smashed out some serious deathcore and showed us that Brisbane bands are alive and well supporting the scene. Well done lads, a killer set and a great start to a killer evening.
Fear Factory, the main event! well, from the get-go the sound was perfect and the technical ability of this band is outstanding. Drums and bass, killer backline all night. The speed, chunk, and precision of the tag team of Pete Webber and Ricky Bonazza was outstanding to watch, holding the sound and power all night. “Descent,” “Disruptor,” Killing it…Fucking JUMP!
Did I mention Fear Factory are so tight as a band? Despite the lineup changes, the current band is outstanding. Vocals clean and harsh, how Milo Silvestro does this I do not know. His sound and power are second to none, providing a mix of clean melody and precise death metal and industrial destruction all night.
The man behind that headless 7-string guitar is an absolute genius, and to see Dino Cazares live was something else. He proved why he is one of the world’s best. His innovative style, technical ability, and precision were something to behold, and he clearly was having fun on the back of this Australian tour. The man is a guitar god, and it showed last night!
Brisbane faithful, you were out in force, providing backing vocals all night, and you showed Australia that metal is not dead yet. You all were awesome, and it was great to see a packed house at the Tivoli. Outstanding moments for me “Shock” and “Linchpin” had it hitting hard!
What a night. Thank you, Fear Factory and Product of Neglect, Soundworks Touring, Hear2Zen, and everyone involved in making nights like this possible! Support and keep metal.
Mert.
