mankind review from dynamic rock:

Factory 81 is one of many incredibly talented bands from the state of Michigan, incorporating a sound that is a mix between aggro, emo, nu-metal, and rap-core. They have garnered a huge following through constant play and their debut release "Mankind" through Medea Records which is known for promoting talented bands from the Michigan area. They are about to re-release their debut cd through a larger label and then introduce some newer material as they set to take over the music scene.

Dark, aggressive, intense, and emotional are just a few words used to describe the music that pours forth from the four individuals that make up Factory 81. Talented, intricate, and dynamic are other accurate descriptions as Factory 81 unleashes their sound with furious drumbeats, aggressive bass lines and clever riffs, altogether which flows extremely well within their intelligent song structures. The music is fairly tempo-laden with a very aggro approach. The only problem is that the riffs seem to be overridden by the bass and drums most of the time and do not contain enough variances or experimentation. Also, the overall sound seems to maintain an almost raw, metallic edge that needs to be worked on.

Contrasting quite nicely in the vocal department is the lead singer whose range includes beautiful melodies, lighter-edged rap-singing and vicious snarls and half-raps accented by the backing vocals, which are either melodic or dark and aggressive. The lyrics are well done in an honest and straightforward manner depicting important real-world issues as the emotion is easily expressed through Nate’s vocals. Overall, nice vocal range with a unique sound that reminds me of a cross between De la Rocha of RATM and Maynard of Tool.

This debut cd by Factory 81 is an amazing cd that starts out with a bang and ends explosively but has some lapses in between. "Nanu" starts the cd out with clever guitar clicks and then kicks in with aggressive riffs and powerful vocals and beats. "Peace Officer" starts out in about the same manner as "Nanu" and is another highly aggressive and intense song interspersed with melodic vocals as the song continues to build until its powerful ending. "14 Left" is an intense song with rap-like choruses and melodic singing, very emotional vocals. "Ephedrine" features a combination of rap-like vocal attacks, melodic harmonies, accentuated by a nice chorus. "Diary of a Serial Killer" is fairly straightforward until it kicks in with some memorable guitar riffs and great vocal interplay. "Cheese Wheel" is probably the most memorable song because it features catchy choruses, some scratching, clever riffs, and is more on the lighter, melodic side. "Sludge" ends the cd as it started, with a dark, aggro approach, very aggressive with powerful snarl-like vocals.

Factory 81 possess too much musical talent and potential to remain undiscovered by the majority of the public for much longer. Everything from the vocals and lyrics to the music and song structures are masterfully done, with little improvement needed. As this band continues to play I am sure they will continue to grow into something special. The only thing that can keep this band from rising to the top is the band itself.

Final Score: 9 out of 10