In April 2009, a new lineup was announced with Cazares returning and Gene Hoglan as drummer. Bell and Stroud are both reprising their respective roles, and the band completed a seventh studio album entitled Mechanize. Former members Christian Olde Wolbers and Raymond Herrera (both currently playing in Arkaea) dispute the legitimacy of the new lineup, and a legal battle is underway from both parties. The band has performed at three Ozzfests as well as the inaugural Gigantour and has had singles in the US Mainstream Rock Top 40 and albums in the Billboard Top 40, 100, and 200. The band has sold more than 1 million albums in the US alone.
Act of God
Fear Factory Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Blood that life beaten and bound
An act of mercy, a scene pain
There is no difference
It's all in your name
This act of god
Fires of hate scourge through the sky
Lost in your darkness, burned by your flame
Forced to believe it's all in your name
This act of god
Honesty's heresy in this holy war
Contradiction and affliction hardening my heart
My heart
Life conflicts with open decay
Death restricts enlightenment
Love is paradise hate is insane
There is no difference it's all in your name
This act of god
Honesty's heresy in this holy war
Contradiction and affliction hardening my heart
My heart
This act of god
This act of god
Holy war
Holy war
Honesty's heresy in this holy war
Contradiction and affliction hardening my heart
My heart
The lyrics of Fear Factory's song Act of God are filled with themes of conflict, pain, and destruction. The opening lines, "In my eyes stagnation surrounds, blood that life beaten and bound," suggest a lack of progress and movement in life, and the knowledge that life can be cruel and painful. The phrase "an act of mercy, a scene pain" is an oxymoron, suggesting that sometimes the kindest thing can also be the most painful. The lines "There is no difference, it's all in your name" suggest that labels and identity can be arbitrary and ultimately meaningless.
The chorus repeats the phrase "This act of god," emphasizing the idea that sometimes events can be out of our control and we must accept them as they come, even if they are painful or devastating. The references to "lights of fate" and "fires of hate" suggest that there are larger forces at work in the world beyond our understanding, while the lines "Lost in your darkness, burned by your flame, forced to believe it's all in your name" suggest a sense of powerlessness and feeling trapped in a world that can be cruel and unrelenting.
The verses continue the theme of conflict and contradiction, with phrases like "honesty's heresy in this holy war" and "contradiction and affliction hardening my heart." The lines "Life conflicts with open decay, death restricts enlightenment" suggest that there are always forces at work in the world that threaten to prevent growth and progress. Ultimately, the song suggests that we are all subject to the whims of a higher power, and that we must learn to navigate the pain and suffering that comes with it.
Line by Line Meaning
In my eyes stagnation surrounds
I feel stuck in life and see no progress
Blood that life beaten and bound
I feel defeated and trapped in life
An act of mercy, a scene pain
I see the world as both compassionate and brutal
There is no difference
The world is indifferent to our suffering and joy
It's all in your name
Our experiences and struggles are shaped by our own actions and choices
Lights of fate brighten my eyes
I feel hopeful for my future
Fires of hate scourge through the sky
I see anger and aggression in the world
Lost in your darkness, burned by your flame
I feel consumed by the negativity around me
Forced to believe it's all in your name
I feel powerless and resigned to fate
Life conflicts with open decay
I see life struggling against decay and destruction
Death restricts enlightenment
Death limits our understanding of life and the universe
Love is paradise hate is insane
Love brings joy and fulfillment, while hate is irrational and destructive
This act of god
The events and circumstances of life can feel like an uncontrollable force
Honesty's heresy in this holy war
Telling the truth can be seen as betraying one's side in a conflict
Contradiction and affliction hardening my heart
The contradictions and struggles of life can make me emotionally numb and callous
My heart
My emotions and feelings
Holy war
A conflict of ideas or beliefs that is seen as sacred or righteous
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BURTON C. BELL, CHRISTIAN OLDE WOLBERS, RAYMOND HERRERA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
JOE BLOGGS
I've been listening to rock and metal for over 30 years & this is THE supreme metal track. If a 10,000 horsepower turbocharged engine could make music, then this would be it. THIS is metal; cold, mechanical, perfectly choreographed & precise raw energy. Absolutely EPIC.
B-Double
Easily one of their heaviest tracks. This and Collapse off of Aggression Contiuum are their 2 most brutal songs imo
Eggers Eggers
Sphere: Heretech.
Eric Draven
Great fkn song indeed but I wouldn’t call it supreme.
Jimbo Thompson
Agreed, I blast this in my car regularly
Rory Reef
Sheeeeeeit!
Nekrist 666
Fear Factory's “Archetype" will always be a nostagic album from my teenager years. 🤘🏻🖤
Dan Krist
Love this song.
passionateintrovert
Almost 10 years later and that chorus is still one of the best things I've ever heard.
Drummer95
Came here to find this comment.