Fear Factory is an American industrial metal band formed in Los Angeles in 1989. The band has released eleven studio albums and is known for blending industrial metal with elements of groove metal, death metal, and alternative metal, alongside a mechanical, rhythm-focused sound and a contrast between harsh and clean vocals. Its lineup has changed frequently, with guitarist Dino Cazares as the only constant member after vocalist Burton C. Bell left in 2020.
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Fear Factory is an American industrial metal band formed in Los Angeles in 1989. The band has released eleven studio albums and is known for blending industrial metal with elements of groove metal, death metal, and alternative metal, alongside a mechanical, rhythm-focused sound and a contrast between harsh and clean vocals. Its lineup has changed frequently, with guitarist Dino Cazares as the only constant member after vocalist Burton C. Bell left in 2020.
The band initially formed under the name Ulceration before briefly becoming Fear the Factory and then shortening the name to Fear Factory. Early members included Cazares, drummer Raymond Herrera, vocalist Burton C. Bell, and bassist Dave Gibney. Cazares and Herrera were central to the early songwriting, and Cazares also performed bass on early recordings.
Fear Factory’s early demo material showed influences from bands such as Napalm Death and Godflesh and helped establish their fusion of extreme metal styles with industrial textures. The band’s early recordings were noted for combining growled and clean vocals, which later became a defining feature of their style. In 1990, they contributed tracks to the L.A. Death Metal Compilation and performed their first live show.
In 1992, after recording early material with producer Ross Robinson that later became the controversial release “Concrete”, Fear Factory released their official debut album “Soul of a New Machine” through Roadrunner Records. The album helped the band gain an underground following through touring with acts such as Biohazard, Sepultura, and Sick of It All. The remix EP “Fear Is the Mindkiller” followed in 1993.
The lineup stabilized in 1994 with Bell, Cazares, Herrera, and bassist Christian Olde Wolbers. This so-called classic lineup released “Demanufacture” in 1995, which is widely regarded as the band’s breakthrough. It was followed by extensive touring and further exposure through the inclusion of songs such as “Replica” and “Zero Signal” in video games and film soundtracks, including “Mortal Kombat” and “Carmageddon”. The remix album “Remanufacture - Cloning Technology” was released in 1997.
In 1998, the band released “Obsolete”, a concept album set in a dystopian future dominated by machines. It became the band’s most commercially successful release and included tracks such as “Descent” and a cover of Gary Numan’s “Cars”, which featured Numan himself. The album was supported by major tours and festival appearances including Ozzfest.
The follow-up album “Digimortal” was released in 2001 and continued the band’s mainstream-oriented approach but did not match the success of “Obsolete”. Internal tensions led to the band’s breakup in 2002 after Bell’s departure. During this period, material recorded earlier was released as “Concrete”, and the compilation “Hatefiles” appeared later.
Fear Factory reformed in 2003 without Cazares, who was temporarily replaced by Wolbers on guitar, while Byron Stroud joined on bass. This lineup released “Archetype” in 2004 and “Transgression” in 2005. “Archetype” was often viewed as a return to the band’s earlier style, while “Transgression” included a more experimental and stylistically diverse approach, featuring tracks such as “Echo of My Scream”, “New Promise”, “Supernova”, and a cover of “I Will Follow”.
The band went on hiatus in 2006 while members pursued other projects. In 2009, Bell and Cazares reformed Fear Factory with new members, including bassist Byron Stroud and drummer Gene Hoglan, though Herrera and Wolbers disputed their exclusion and legal disputes followed. This lineup recorded “Mechanize”, released in 2010.
Further albums included “The Industrialist” (2012), a concept album that incorporated programmed drums, and “Genexus” (2015), which was released after signing with Nuclear Blast. During this period, Tony Campos became the bassist. The band toured extensively and continued to perform material from earlier eras, although internal disputes and legal issues persisted.
By 2020, Bell left the band, leaving Cazares as the sole original member. The album “Aggression Continuum”, featuring Bell’s recorded vocals from earlier sessions, was released in 2021. The single “Disruptor” preceded the album’s release.
In 2023, Fear Factory introduced new vocalist Milo Silvestro after an audition process involving over 300 candidates, along with drummer Pete Webber, later confirmed as a permanent member. A revised edition of “The Industrialist” titled “Re-Industrialized” was released in 2023, featuring re-recorded instrumentation and additional tracks.
As of the 2026, Fear Factory has continued activity with a new lineup and began work on its eleventh studio album in 2025, with release planned for 2026. The band has also been announced for touring alongside groups such as Mushroomhead, Nine Treasures, Darkest Hour, and Brotality.
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fear_Factory
Studio albums
Soul of a New Machine (1992)
Demanufacture (1995)
Obsolete (1998)
Digimortal (2001)
Archetype (2004)
Transgression (2005)
Mechanize (2010)
The Industrialist (2012)
Genexus (2015)
Aggression Continuum (2021)
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…shrink me down again