FEAR FACTORY vocalist Burton C. Bell is “putting the finishing touches” on his vocals for the band’s forthcoming new album, which is due in the summer via Nuclear Blast Entertainment.
The album is being recorded in part at NRG Recording Studios in North Hollywood, California with longtime producer/collaborator Rhys Fulber and engineer Mike Plotnikoff. The effort will be mixed by acclaimed British producer Andy Sneap, who has previously worked with MEGADETHKILLSWITCH ENGAGE, EXODUS, TESTAMENT and ACCEPT, among many others.
Speaking about what FEAR FACTORY is trying to accomplish with its forthcoming album, the band’s first since signing with Nuclear Blast, guitarist Dino Cazares said: “It’s still just to be who we are. We are ‘cyber metal,’ whatever you wanna call it, but it’s still a lot of the killer riffs, killer double bass, Burt’s beautiful, melodic vocals. Conceptually, it’s always still futuristic, man-versus-machine type of thing, but, you know, we thought we’re gonna keep it real, keep it what we are and who we are.”
Asked about how it feels to be celebrating the 20th anniversary of FEAR FACTORY’s classic “Demanufacture” album in 2015 with only two members of the band’s classic lineup remaining in the group, Dino said: “The two main members are in the band right now. The soul of the machine is still intact, and that’s me and Burton. And I don’t think anything has changed, really.”
He continued: “Every album we do always has to have something a little different. From the beginning, from the first album, ‘Soul Of A New Machine’, it was very death metal inspired, [with] a little bit of industrial. The second album, ‘Demanufacture’, the classic album… Every record changes. ‘Obsolete’ was a big difference, you know what I mean?! But my right hand is still there, the passion is still there, Burt’s killer melodic vocals are still there. So I think that’s all that matters.”