Fear Factory is an American industrial/groove metal band from Los Angeles t… Read Full Bio ↴Fear Factory is an American industrial/groove metal band from Los Angeles that formed in 1989. Over the course of their career they have evolved from a succession of styles, combining death metal, groove metal, with industrial metal. Fear Factory proved to be enormously influential on the metal scene in the mid- to late-1990s. The band disbanded in March 2002 following some internal disputes, but reformed later in 2002 without founding member Dino Cazares, adding bassist Byron Stroud, and casting then-bassist Christian Olde Wolbers as guitarist.

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.

Slave Labor
Fear Factory Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

My chains are paper thin, and they're welded with ink
Sealed inside a legal trap, so tight with a leak
A contract with the devil for a life of disdain
Seeping in the limelight at attention, slave!

I blame myself

God, help me pour this gas on me

I need to drown in flames to be free
Help me pour this gas on me
Help me pour this gas on me

God help me pour this gas on me [Repeat x4]

Chocking on the product for the mass to consume
The flocks of mindless sheep that have been corporately groomed
Ignorance through apathy like drones in the hive
A slave on the trail, a willing conformed disguise

I blame myself

God, help me pour this gas on me
I need to drown in flames to be free
Help me pour this gas on me
Help me pour this gas on me

[Repeat x11]
I sold my soul

God, help me pour this gas on me
I need to drown in flames to be free
Help me pour this gas on me
Help me pour, this gas on me

[Repeat x4]
God help me pour this gas on me

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Fear Factory's song "Slave Labor" describe the feeling of being trapped in a corporate world that seems to stifle personal growth and freedom. The chains are thin and made of paper, yet they are welded with ink, suggesting that legal agreements and contracts are binding and difficult to escape. The language of being "sealed inside a legal trap" reinforces this idea further. The life of disdain being referred to is potentially the feeling of being trapped in a cycle of working to live, and living to work, in a profession or industry that is unfulfilling or doesn't allow for creativity or independence.

The refrain "God, help me pour this gas on me, I need to drown in flames to be free" suggests that not only is the singer unable to escape their current situation, but feels they must destroy everything in order to find themselves again. The command for help comes not to any human entity, but instead to God, meaning that the feeling of being trapped is so intense that only a higher power can save them. The repeated line with the reference to drowning in flames also suggests that the singer wants to become engulfed in their own passion or creativity, despite it potentially being destructive.

The next stanza suggests that people have become too accustomed to consuming without questioning or examining the source material. The "mindless sheep" are a metaphor for people who have been mindlessly groomed and manipulated by corporations, leading to a lack of empathy and independent thought. The final line of "a willing conformed disguise" suggests that society values people who fit into a mold, rather than those who exist outside of it.

Line by Line Meaning

My chains are paper thin, and they're welded with ink
Even though my chains are flimsy, they are bound by a contract that is as solid as ink.

Sealed inside a legal trap, so tight with a leak
I am trapped inside a legal system so air-tight that there seems to be no way out.

A contract with the devil for a life of disdain
In my pursuit of a better life, I made a deal that has turned out to be disastrous.

Seeping in the limelight at attention, slave!
Despite the fame and attention, I have to bend to the will of others and act like a slave.

I blame myself
I alone am responsible for this predicament.

God, help me pour this gas on me
I need to start afresh, and the only way to do that is to start with a clean slate by destroying everything I have built so far.

I need to drown in flames to be free
I need to completely start anew and create something, even if it means sacrificing everything I have or being reduced to ashes.

Chocking on the product for the mass to consume
The quality of my work is deteriorating as I continue to pander to the masses with their unquenchable thirst for more.

The flocks of mindless sheep that have been corporately groomed
People are being brainwashed and groomed to think and act in a certain way that is suitable for corporate agendas.

Ignorance through apathy like drones in the hive
People have become so indifferent and complacent in their thoughts and actions that they resemble mindless drones in a hive.

A slave on the trail, a willing conformist's disguise
Despite having the illusion of freedom, I am still a slave to societal and corporate norms, hiding behind the mask of conformity.

I sold my soul
I gave up everything for a chance at success and now regret the price I have paid for it.

God help me pour, this gas on me
I am desperate for a fresh start and will stop at nothing, even if it means self-destruction.

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BURTON C. BELL, CHRISTIAN OLDE WOLBERS, RAYMOND HERRERA

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS

No Related Genres

More Genres

No Artists Found

More Artists Load All

No Albums Found

No Tracks Found

07Bite the Hand That Bleeds

Genre not found

Artist not found

Album not found

Search results not found

Song not found

Comments from YouTube:

@Riffhunter84

14y↑196

This song is a MASTERPIECE

@king0fsaiyanz18

1y↑3

2022 and I'm still banging my head to this song! Also I hope you're doing well

@tommyjacksonjr3145

1y↑2

Well it's 2023 now so.... I'm here...

Waiting for Cyberwaste 🤘🤘🤘🫣🫣🫣🫣🫣🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁🤘🤘🤘🤘☔

Damn the bottom dropped out of the metal bucket. Literally.... Fudge! 🤘

@joshuabaldwin8751

31w↑1

Totally agree with Riffhunter..... nuff said 🤘🤘🤘🤘

@timrowe9002

26w↑3

This album is a masterpiece

@Mechimmortal

5y↑65

This song hits so fuckin hard, it's a shame the band doesn't acknowledge its existence.

@karnagefails333

1y↑9

We do. And it still fucking kicks ass

@RC-hv1yx

1y↑13

Does anybody know why? I noticed this whole record isn’t on Spotify. It’s like one of my favorite metal albums of all time too.

@jaymzhetfield6001

1y↑2

@R C Dino didn't write it, but I thought he now ha rights to any and everything that's FF.

@davec3901

50w↑2

Well if Dino owns the rights to this he probably has raw feelings about it. It's a cool tune though.

@biddergick2890

37w

@@jaymzhetfield6001That's fucking gay Dino is a bitch, no wonder he will always be seen as a mediocre guitarist with his shitty sausage fingers.

6 More Replies...

@j.vinton4039

6y↑52

That intro keyboard gives me goosebumps.

@jugsgalore843

3y↑15

Even up to todays standards, this is one of the best metal songs ever!!

@leslie4046

3y↑57

My fave album of theirs. This whole album is insane.

@EpikusMusic

2y↑4

First album I heard by then. Then Demanufacture, then later, Mechanize.

@shanemcginnis3163

1y↑1

Annnnd it’s not on Spotify….

@jacobcarlson8799

41w

Or Apple Music. Surely due to the legal battles between Dino and the rest of the band.

@TheMetalAllfather

48w↑12

They somehow put out their best album in the entire catalog, without Dino. I never got how, but Christian is a monster guitar player either way.

@Renegade666

12y↑6

shame they wont play any of this album anymore...its such an underated gem!

@MeLikeyMetal

15y↑9

First song I heard by them. Had me hooked from the first double bass hit.

@gbuhnoezqayusioehf

6y↑33

Good music never gets old

@bricentdoble7852

2y↑25

this song was on repeat back in the day, all day

@geordiesaid225

1y↑2

and still is haha

@MrShawnMelton

8y↑80

one of the few songs that really satisfy me when i just need something really fucking metal

@ma4252

So All this drama and leaks etc are likely just the outcome of overhazing older millenials on job, requiring more than 40 hours a week to have less than the elders. All the while using fancy new age spy tools to fool and entrap most of us into foreign wars or mental health. All we wanted was living wages on 40 hours or less, with the ability to own stuff like our parents. Social contract is broken. When the first millenial turned 40 we shut the fcking sht down. Globally exploiting and hijacking their drill psyops to ultimately change the world for the above demands. A bigger allowance. Privacy and freedoms from big tech. Legalization of choice to put what we want in our bodies. The mazonne line was hit. Most of us didnt have homes or living wages at age 40. Now chaos insues. Greedy elder bastards. This is on them. We were born into this sht. Hopefully the world never ever goes back to normal until guys like me have respect and dignity of the aforementioned. Otherwise bring on whatever may come and lets all suffer. Something we are clearly better at.

@MrThreeSix

9y↑139

i'll never forget this song, first track of this album, fucking mental

@Daedricsoulslayer

3y↑2

First album I bought of them

@danieltown2471

2y↑1

Same!

@herrschaftszeiten5033

2y↑1

Aaaaight!!

@ma4252

@madskrillz2

2y↑1

@Daedricsoulslayer me too. I was 16 and listening to this at 6am on the way to school 😂.

@kingdiamondeyes9332

6y↑55

ashamed to admit this is my first time hearing this song but damn it's good

@discostoo

3y↑4

Still listening 2 years later? I hope so. :)

@playa_bolivianav8283

2y↑7

better late than never

@jsioux056

2y↑4

F yeah.

@LucasRodrigues-tm8os

45w

@@jsioux056 same boat, discovered it today. insane as fuck

@murphy2223

20w↑1

Really wish this was on spotify. Amazing workout song

@dhegonusblue3806

10y↑298

one of the hardest songs to drum to in the world.. need leg day galore to keep up with this madness aha

@spacegarnaal

10y↑37

try bleed by messhugah. or crystal mountain by death, or hall of the gods by mechanism

@Skyotonic

9y↑8

Dhegonus Blue or go listen to Behemoth-Slaves shall serve or Demigod

@NoProHarrie

9y↑6

+Dhegonus Blue Seen Gene Hoglan play this, Freaking solid!

@Apxzjdx

8y↑6

+spacegarnaal Well Try Fleshgod Apocalypse. . . . . . . . . . . . . .

@CorridorOfChameleons94

7y↑4

Apxzjdx or Origin

34 More Replies...

@Maggai

2y↑5

I was so blown away back when they first revealed this song. One of the best FF songs ever. Holy crap it's so good.

@Maggai

1y↑1

@Eddard Tyrsson I'd definitely say Pisschrist is my favorite FF song. But Slave labor is also great, one of the best imo, it would be in my top 10. But lots of classics would be ahead of it.

@jlherbert44

12y↑2

By far my favourite Fear Factory song.

@RenegadePlague

15y↑75

So it makes me feel good that there are 2000 people and counting that love this song as much as me!

@souravgarg2873

4y↑4

And people are still listening to it in 2020!

@insertmetalusernamehere

3y↑4

@Sourav Garg and 2021

@Poor_Mans_Burnt_Ends

3y↑1

Now 2021

@orrinthrashergaming638

12 years later. 7,000 people who appreciate good Metal. 🐐

@Paegan1983

2y↑2

2022 brothers…. Keep the faith

3 More Replies...

@cazh611

14y↑7

Badass song by a Badass band....Can't wait to see them tomorrow night live in Knoxville,TN....

@louiscsanko3673

3y↑1

I know it was 10 years ago, but i have Time Travel Powers, and I'm going back to that show tonight🤘

@CWeaveLyrical

1y↑4

Still think this is one of their BEST albums regardless of the lineup.

@peterpimmelmann3330

7y↑134

The kind of song that makes you think about your place in life

@kotarock4328

3y↑1

We are just grains of sand. How do we make a difference, rather than suicide mentality.

@cannabotch2280

2y↑5

Stare yourself down in the mirror

@SirPraiseSun

1y↑6

yes always been this way but more relevant than ever post 2020 era

@nayaosbourne4086

8y↑2

One of my most favorite bands! \m/ Awesomeness!!

@badpeq

14y↑7

one of the best of Fear Factory, 5 stars

@patjordan6183

1y↑20

The whole record is flawless

@Jashin_Geh

1y↑2

Agree 1000000%

@mbudd85

15y↑9

The tour they did for the release of this album was straight out BRUTAL, I saw them when they hit the Electric Factory in Philly, it was one of the best show's I've ever been to.

@MunacoPictures

Mastodon & walls of Jericho opened this tour right??

@JELazarus

2y↑1

I saw them a night or two later at 9:30 club in DC. If I remember correctly, the opening acts were Chimera and 40 Below Summer. If I got the right show. . . And it was fucking great.

@user-nj3zd9cl4l

20w

electric factory is an awesome venue. it is the perfect size. fear factory was my first ever concert and i will never forget that show. it was at the Croc rock in Allentown in 06.

@seabornekarmabrandonchaney3073

2y↑1

One of the best intros to a album imo🤘
I remember jamming this in the mid 2000's🔥

@JJRamos14

14y↑1

i dont listen to metal much,but these lyrics and the ferocity in the music help get the message across so well.its great

@louiscsanko3673

3y↑1

Listen to " Self Immolation " from First Fear Factory album, [Soul of a new Machine"]🤘

@crystalskylight9327

6y↑2

I love this band so much

@hiltz0007

4y↑1

saw this performed live. amazing. knew it was something special first time i heard!

@brandoania

15y↑3

one of the best fear factory songs ever!!!

@Chuloloc

14y↑2

Awesome. One of my favorite songs on Archetype. Hail Fear Factory.

@yeetthefeetpls5850

2y↑4

Not really sure why this album isn’t on Apple Music or Spotify, because it’s one of their best

@moviebobspantycollection4151

2y↑1

It's because the band doesn't own the rights to this album. Or Transgression.

@jackbloodlust

10y

Foda demais essa música..

@LASHORASFINALES

13y↑1

ESTA ES UNA DE LAS ROLAS MAS CHINGONAS

@mememetal666

48w↑1

Had low expectations when I first heard about this album since dino wasn't in it... but boy was i wrong.... it's one of their best records, christian did a great job.

@dkrockeraq2786

12y↑1

Es uno de los mejores grupos de metal industrial que scuchado

@sicMurderdoll

14y↑3

What an awesome song... Its my favourite of Fear Factory

@SilentSynergyMusic

13y

never EVER had a bigger chalenge to play behind drums at first It looked pretty easy but it took me almost 3 months to get my feet into condition to play those triplets with left foot and high speeds love it !!!

@MRorPA

11y

Gotta love that chorus!!!

@russelltucker9941

I never get old for classic fear factory I've seen them 7 or 8 times in my life.

@MrThreeSix

9y↑35

always loved those synths ever since i was a kid

@jake2195

13y↑1

amo esta cancion ¡¡¡¡

@alessandrobernardi9258

5y↑2

Playing this on your way to work makes you really think about your own life...

@HCGSeth

GOD HELP ME POUR THIS GAS ON ME! 🤘🏼🤘🏼

By far their best album, its so good and so rare that barely any songs pop up on Pandora Radio 😱😱😱

@menchi69

12y

fear factory at its best i love this cd

@carlospizarro6984

3y↑1

I used to download music through Ares, and I remember that in those days I had almost the complete Archetype album downloaded. Within this tracks, I remember that Slave Labor always shock me in the way it ended: with an almost unbelieveble cut in the middle of the last "god help me pur this gas-". It wasn't until a few years ago that I listened it in YouTube and was struck that it had a different ending, completing the whole phrase.

@gimilkhad16

5y↑4

Slave Labor is forever ingrained in my subconscious since 2004. It's always there, lurking in the back of my mind, waiting to assault a steering wheel, a desk, whatever my idle hands come in contact with.

@KindaKevin

13y↑20

Burtons vocals are very inspirational ! :D

@theokbadguy2

Absolute masterpiece.... yet not available on Pandora.

@williammortel4283

I enjoy this track so much and so does the album archetype rock on 😈😈😈

@palehorse6853

I saw these guys back in 05 with Children of Bodom and Lamb of God, they played a lot of this album. I blasted this one at work....almost put my fist through a diamond plate door!

@Loonaticx

What an awesome show that must have been. I can't even imagine, but I'm sure you will never forget it

@Unofficial1998

14y↑1

This is the very soul of industrial metal.

@tuffnugly454

13y↑1

Excellent quality man! \m/

@NickyHendriks

12y

Still their best album!!

@badpeq

14y↑4

This song is brilliant. The lyrics, vocals, drums, rythm, everything, it's powerful and transmits a subtle message. Why wasn't a video produced? It surely deserves it.

@whatroads4x4

Damn its been more than ten years since i heard this song. The drumssssss are fine 👌

@TheShredder203

13y

fear factory always has sexy drum beats

@DigitalTragedy

Great album!

@LogikVision

11y

2013 still rocking out to their music! FF never gets old!

@snackxmachine

12y↑1

"God, help me pour this gas on me. I need to drown in flames to be free." Awesome lyrics

@Josh-ln8pi

This was my batter ditty (aka my walk up song) while playing minor league baseball. How could it not intimidate the pitcher and pump me up beyond belief at the same time!? 😈

@tapoutorbleedout09

13y

whoa! I got introduced to them when Mechanize came out and its one of my fav albums -- this cd seems awesome too, any other fans of "Mechanize" out there that can recommend other good cds by them?

@GopherHockey689

This song is legendary.

@moicg8523

I love this song!

@DP-eb2yn

My fave album since soul of a new machine. Still a mega fan . On the metallica World magnetic tour Melbourne had Lamb of god supporting which I did appreciate. And I think it was Sydney that got fear factory . I really was shattered we didn't get fear factory. As I needed to hear Archetype and corporate cloning live . the machine gun drums live would of been titanic.

@whatroads4x4

6y↑1

when i first hear this song was more than ten years and over the years ive listened to alot metal and i gotta say
this song is by far one of the heaviest songs ive heard,!

@king0fsaiyanz18

1y↑5

Omfg the bassist is a monster!

@s2thep

2y↑1

One of the best choruses I have ever heard. That fucking snare as well!!!!!!

@pauloriquelmepara5396

2y↑4

Maravilloso fear Factory la mejor banda

@AmateurSuperFan

6y↑8

I listen to this song every single day before and after work as I slave away my life to sell my soul for stones (money), powers me to be able to withstand it (for now)

@vinaymulukutla358

2y↑1

I was absolutely devastated when Fear Factory announced their breakup in 2002. I was already disappointed with Digimortal which was a very tired sounding album (to me, although now I appreciate it more)
Then I heard they were coming back sans Dino. I had no major expectations.
When I finally heard this, I swear it felt like Dino never left. It was a complete return to form.

@johnc.hammersticks

Same , did enjoy every thing from oldest album up till obsolete, digimortal was a bit relaxed but still fear factory.

@berner

11y↑88

This is the song I use to just DESTROY any and all song that I get stuck in my head. I mean like when you've got a song that you don't even like, and the same couple of lines just repeat over and over again and it's enough to drive you mad, I will put this song on and murder the hell out of it.

@micon556

4y↑5

THIS NEEDS TO BE A PSA

@lordkiffingtonill4130

4y↑4

Love it!

@ChoseDeath

3y↑3

🤘🤘

@spiritofhalloween31

3y↑3

Can confirm. I've used this for songs I disliked when I used to work at Macy's

@ma4252

1 More Replies...

@moustachio334

1y↑1

The bassist played guitar on this album because Dino left. The bassist on this album was their best sounding one ever.

@tavita

9y↑51

I'm in to hip hop but this song right here gets me pumped up when I work out.solid song!

@tavita

@Jerzy Dziś Yeah you can't just get amp'd up no more with rap. Too slow and messes with your cadence.

@ivans.191

3y↑1

Then you'd definitely like Fear Factory's "Back da fuck up"🤘

@loranstaley1119

2y↑4

Hip hop??🤮🤮

@shakezulamicruler

This song gives me goosebumps and makes my fists ball up or take the back way home and do 90 the entire way

@josephocasio6182

This album is awesome

@Chjmajra

4y↑3

Best Fear Factory Album!
Raymond and Christian should still be in the band.

@playa_bolivianav8283

they deserve more the rights of the band

@divineg305

Love this song still!!!

@Lexa_RUSSIA_boys

10y

Мощная вещь!

@Williameagleblanket

1993 I first heard their Fear is the Mindkiller EP and been a fan ever since. 🤘🏼🎸😈😎

@KingFlexington

14y

best metal song ive ever heard!!!!

@satricon

i'll never forget the first time i heard this. i was BLOWN away! so fucking brutal

@trevordemartini6405

11y

Awesome drumming skills

@chadhanks4403

7y↑2

The music still kicks ass!!!

@Karimtarek1993

14y

Keys on this song are beyond perfect.

@arvisfletcher962

Fear factory is awesome keep on rocking guys

@josephkunath4173

2y↑1

Best album by them.

@Yourname942

3y↑1

why is this song not on Spotify? :(

@chandlerbinggraham7951

This song is masterpiece and nobody can replace you, Burton C Bell

@luisbarrera7248

6y↑1

Interesting way to make this song sound nihilistic and suicidal when its actually a song abouy standing up and take responsibility by waking up the internal fires of willpower. Well played Fear Factory. Well played.

@MarcosVAlves87

12y↑1

Wonderful!

@hakametal

15y

"My chains are paper thin and they're welded with Ink" AWSOME

@MetalArcade

3y↑1

This track still slams

@zii8568

Wtf why isn't this album on Spotify

@JackassHill

14y

I play this song just to remind me of who I really am in this fucking machine. prolly my fav song of all time. When I hear this song, the beast wakes up. Thank you FF for writing this shit. I don't care who was in the band at the time.