Factory 81
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1997 |
| Defunct | 2003 |
| Headquarters | Detroit, Michigan , United States |
| Products | Music albums, singles |
Factory 81 was a nu metal ensemble originating from Detroit, Michigan, active between 1997 and 2003.
Biography
The name "Factory 81" was inspired when Nathan Wallace wore a shirt featuring that patch, which the group found intriguing and chose as their band name.
Their only full-length release, Mankind, debuted in 1999 under Medea Records. Although it initially failed to chart, the album saw a re-release through The Orchard in 2000 and subsequently by Universal Motown Republic Group within the same year. In 2001, the independent label Mojo Records issued another reprint of the album. Additionally, Factory 81 recorded a rendition of Cypress Hill's "Insane in the Brain" for the compilation Take a Bite Outta Rhyme: A Rock Tribute to Rap, which achieved position No. 195 on the Billboard 200 chart.
In November 2000, Factory 81 embarked on a tour alongside Mudvayne, Kittie, and Apartment 26. The band signed a contract with Jive Records but exited the label in 2002. After bassist Kevin Lewis and drummer Andy Cyrulnik left in 2003, Factory 81 officially disbanded.
Years later, in 2017, Bill Schultz and Kevin Lewis reunited to form Minus Knives with vocalist Brandon Espinoza and drummer Greg Wroblewski.
Musical style and influences
According to AllMusic, Factory 81's sound combined elements of "stomp-paced metal" with "'new school' hardcore," often described as mosh metal. Their influences included genres such as jazz, fusion, and world music, along with inspiration from Tool. Their musical style has been likened to that of Deftones, while Nathan Wallace’s vocal delivery, incorporating rap elements, drew comparisons to Zack de la Rocha of Rage Against the Machine.
Band members
Discography
Studio albums
- Mankind (1999)
- Factory 81 (2019)
Demos
- Crawl Space (1997)
- Demo 1 (1998)
- Demo 2 (1998)
- Midwest (2006)
Singles
- Nanu (2000)