Yes, Fear Factory did utilize a drum machine, particularly during the initial stages of their formation and for their early material.
When Fear Factory first began, co-founders Dino Cazares and Burton C. Bell, drawing from songs developed in a previous band they had together, incorporated a drum machine into their creative process for the nascent Fear Factory project. These foundational songs, brought over from their prior collaboration, were specifically developed and arranged with the aid of a drum machine, establishing it as a key component in their early sound.
While Fear Factory is renowned for its distinctive blend of industrial and death metal, often featuring incredibly precise and fast drumming, the use of a drum machine in their early days highlights an important aspect of their unique sonic development. This approach allowed them to craft their signature tight rhythms and mechanical precision that would become a hallmark of their sound.