Metal Bulletin Zine: Fear Factory: The Renewal of the Machine -- A Legacy of Innovation, Turmoil, and Rebirth

In the big world of heavy metal music, Fear Factory have carved out a legacy that is as enduring as it is tumultuous. Formed in Los Angeles, California in 1989, the band pioneered a fusion of industrial sound and extreme metal that put them in a rather unique niche. While albums like Demanufacture and Obsolete are considered classics, behind the scenes, their struggles and internal conflicts, legal battles and personal sacrifices sometimes took the band to what seemed to be the end. Many times the news from the metal press led readers to think that the end had perhaps finally arrived.

The Dawn of a Machine

In various interviews guitarist Dino Cazares has explained what motivated Fear Factory like: “Burton and I just wanted to make something never heard before,” Dino says. “We wanted to sound like the future, like machines taking over, but with a human element." Burton’s voice was the perfect vehicle for the job because it was aggressive yet melodic. "That was the magic," Dino says. “We were just a couple of kids with big dreams. We spent nights in the studio, pushing ourselves to the limit, trying to create something revolutionary. I remember the first time we played ‘Replica’ live—seeing the crowd’s reaction, that’s when I knew we’d made something special.”

Their debut, Soul of a New Machine (1992), was raw and experimental, but it did more than enough to give real insight into what was being built. Demanufacture (1995) truly established their legacy and fans recognized it as a great album immediately. As Burton has said about this period, “When we recorded Demanufacture, I felt like we were capturing something that would change the game forever. But I also knew that it wouldn’t come without pain.”

The Human Cost Begins to Show

As Fear Factory’s popularity increased, so did the pressure and problems. Burton’s vocal health began to decline. “I pushed myself too hard,” Burton admits softly. “Performing those intense vocals night after night, I started to feel the toll. I remember a night in Europe when I nearly lost my voice mid-show. That scared me. I realized I couldn’t keep this pace.” He has spoken about a particularly difficult moment for him. “I was singing ‘Linchpin,’ and suddenly my voice just cut out. I had to fake it for a few seconds until I could recover. That night, I knew I was pushing my body too far, and I had to make a tough choice, continue risking permanent damage or step back.” Moments such as that really affected Burton on many levels, forcing him to reflect.

The toll on the band was personal and it was rather scary. “There were nights I’d lie awake questioning everything. Feeling like I was losing myself, losing my voice, my passion. The sacrifices—being away from my family, my health—sometimes it felt like I was carrying a heavy weight I couldn’t bear anymore.” At the same time, Dino was coming to grips with the situation. “I remember seeing Burton backstage after a show during the Obsolete tour,” Dino says, “and he looked exhausted, like he’d been through a war. I pulled him aside and told him, ‘You need to take care of yourself, man. No show is worth your health.’ But I knew he was already fighting a lot internally.”

The Breaking Point

The cracks in their relationship widened. By 2020, Burton’s patience wore thin. “It was a long, painful decision,” Burton says quietly. “I loved the band, but I couldn’t keep fighting a losing battle. The legal battles, the egos, everything was draining me. I realized I had to walk away before I lost myself completely.” He remembers the moment he told Dino: “It was during a phone call. I told him, ‘I can’t do this anymore. I’m done.' I was devastated. I felt like I was abandoning a part of my soul. But I knew I had to protect what little sanity I had left.”

For his part, Dino admits, “It was heartbreaking. I remember feeling like I’d lost a brother. Seeing Burton hurting, knowing I couldn’t fix it, that was the hardest thing. I still love him, and I hope someday we can heal those wounds.” For Burton, those were tough days: “After I left, I’d sit in my studio, staring at the wall. I felt like I’d lost my purpose. That’s when I realized I needed to find myself again, away from the chaos.”

Behind the Headlines: Personal Anecdotes The legal battles and disputes over the band’s name and rights have been well-publicized, but behind those headlines are raw, personal stories. Burton shares one that sticks with him: “After a show in Japan, I sat backstage alone, tears streaming down my face. I realized I’d sacrificed my health, my voice, my happiness, all for Fear Factory. And at that moment, I knew I had to step away for good.”

Dino recalls a night during the Obsolete tour when he saw Burton struggling to sing. “He was pale, exhausted, and trying to hit those high notes,” Dino says. “I remember pulling him aside and saying, ‘You’re more important than any show. Take care of yourself, or you’ll lose everything.’ It broke my heart to see him like that.”

Fan stories also reveal the emotional toll. One longtime fan recounts meeting Burton backstage in 2019: “He looked exhausted, like he’d been through hell. He told me, ‘I love this band, but it’s killing me. I don’t know how much longer I can keep doing this.’ That moment really hit me.”

The Nightmare of the Legal Battles Another aspect that should be taken into account in the story of Fear Factory is the legal battles. Things got extremely nasty, to say the least. There are different versions of the story, but as Fear Factory became more successful there were more problems related to the business entity of the band. Dino has given his version of these problems.

"A lot of tension came around the writing process of [2001's] 'Digimortal' because the record label wanted us to be a more commercial band. They wanted to bring in outside producers to help us write these radio songs. I wasn't having it, I was against it, the other three were for it. There was a battle on that record - that was behind the scenes. Eventually, on tour in 2002, it blew up between me and Burton [C. Bell, vocals], we've gotten into an argument, we've gotten into a fight... I thought we patched it up, but apparently, he felt otherwise, so we decided to quit the band in 2002. We quit, the band broke up, I went on to do other things...

"Next thing you know, they decided to put the band back together [in 2003] but without me. I was never asked to leave, I was just cut out of the rebranding of Fear Factory. They put out two records - [2004's] 'Achetype' and [2005's] 'Transgression.' I put out 5 records. I was pretty busy, and I'm actually kind of thankful to be out of the band at the time because I wouldn't have been able to do all these other accomplishments.

"I was able to prove I was able to go out and start my own band and be successful and do other styles. I had Brujeria, Asesino, Divine Heresy - so that's a lot of records, a lot of music I put out at the time. So I was thankful to be out of the band. Then I came back into the band in 2009."

Anyway, at some point bassist/guitarist Christian Olde Wolbers and drummer Raymond Herrera were out of the band, and Dino and Burton began to talk again. "Burton and I ran at each other at a concert and he asked for my phone number - I gave him, he gave me a call, and he wanted me to come back with the band, and what did I think about that. "I said, 'I don't know, I have to think about it.' Months go by, he said, 'I wanna put all four members of the band back. The classic lineup that most people know.' I said, 'I don't know...'

Burton said he will come to California so we could talk to the other two members because he had some problems with them. This was before I came back to the band. He wanted to work out those issues with them. One of the issues was that - and I'm quoting Burt's words here, 'Raymond was having an affair with Christian's wife, who was managing the band at the time.' So he wasn't happy about that and he wanted to address this issue before he moved further with these guys."

"A part of the thing was he wanted them to fire her and go with a different record company, and have me back into the band. They disagreed on all of these three things. That was when the first lawsuit came about - Burton sued those guys in court to bring them to a negotiation table. So we all sat down, negotiated that Burton and I would be the sole owners of the trademark, and those two guys would be paid a percentage every month. Later on down the line, the other two members ended up suing us for a breach of contract because we got ripped off in Australia during the Soundwave Festival. Because of that, we got into the breach of contract lawsuit, sued by them for one million dollars. I had to go bankrupt, I didn't have any money to pay that. And then I ended up going to trial in my bankruptcy because Ray and Christian were trying to say that my bankruptcy was filed fraudulently."

"But I beat them in court and I was able to regain my half of the trademark, and it didn't necessarily work out for Burton that way because his half of the trademark went off for auction. You had to bid on it, anybody could do it. I happened to be the highest bidder, I won it, that's how I regained the name."

Dino summarizes the situation with legal battles this way: "It's been crazy, very stressful, definitely put strains on our relationships, probably one of the reasons why Burton is not here. He stated that in his departure speech that he blames the jurisdiction system, he blames the other three members - me, Christian, and Raymond, he takes no responsibility. In reality, it's all four of our responsibility. It's all four of the things that we had to go through. So we all played a big part in the blame for what happened here." As to his relationship with Raymond or Christian, he says that there is no relationship: "I don't know what Raymond is doing right now, I haven't spoken to him in maybe 18 years. It's been a long time. Sure, we saw each other in court but it was like a battle.

Dino seems to believe that things could have different with Burton: "It still boggles my mind the way Burton decided to quit the band, all the drama he caused in media was all uncalled for. He didn't need to do that, he didn't need to quit. But for whatever reason, those are his decisions."

The Human Cost of Reinvention

In 2021, Dino Cazares announced a new lineup with vocalist Milo Silvestro, which was a decision driven by necessity. “Milo’s energy is incredible,” Dino states. “He’s a true fan who understands what Fear Factory is about. He’s talented, dedicated, and he learned our songs by listening to Burton. If you close your eyes, you’d think it’s him singing.”

Milo remembers his feelings: “It was like a dream come true. I grew up listening to Fear Factory, and now I was standing on stage singing their songs. Every show gives me chills. I feel like I’m carrying the torch for something legendary.”

Their first headlining show at the Whisky A Go Go in May 2023 was an emotional milestone. “Walking onto that stage, I felt overwhelmed,” Milo says. “I thought, ‘This is everything I ever wanted and I don’t want to let anyone down.’”

Dino admits, “It’s about healing. We had to accept that change is necessary. I still love the band, but I also know that evolution is vital for survival.”

Burton’s Personal Rebirth

Meanwhile, Burton C. Bell has been carving out his own artistic path. His singles “Anti-Droid” and “Technical Exorcism,” released in 2024, reveal a darker, introspective side. “Making my own music,” Burton explains, “has been incredibly freeing. I finally found my voice again, not just as a singer but as an artist.”

He ponders the impact of his solo work: “After I released ‘Anti-Droid,’ I got messages from fans telling me it helped them through dark times. That’s the real reward—knowing my art can connect with others and make a difference.”

Things have not been easy for Burton: “Leaving Fear Factory was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. I mourned that band. It’s like losing a part of my identity. But I knew I had to do it to find peace and rebuild myself.” Burton says about a solo show in Los Angeles: “I was nervous, but when I saw the crowd singing along to my new songs, I felt a wave of relief. That’s why I make music—to connect, to survive, to be true to myself.”

The Human Toll of the Machine

The stories of Burton and Dino reveal the human cost of Fear Factory’s legacy. Burton’s voice, once the scream of the dystopian world of Fear Factory, now focuses on pain and perseverance. “I’ve moved on,” Burton explains. “I cherish what we created, but I had to let go of the past to find peace.”

Dino also summarizes the story so far: “I still love Fear Factory,” he says, “but I realize now that growth means evolving, sometimes painfully. We had to tear down the old to build something stronger.”

Their stories illustrate that behind the songs there are human beings fighting, suffering, and surviving through the decades.

What Is Next In 2025, Dino Cazares confirms the new album, their first with Milo Silvestro, will arrive in 2026. “We’re tuning lower and exploring new sounds,” Dino states. “It’s about redefining ourselves without losing what makes us Fear Factory.”

For Burton, the future is bright with solo projects. “I want to inspire others,” he says. “To show that even in darkness, there’s hope—that we can all find our voice again.”

And so, the machine continues to roll on, with creativity, with reinvention, with pain. Fear Factory is more than just a band. It has become a story that grabs our attention, the drama, the fighting, the splits, the reunions, the reinvention as their fans await to see what Fear Factory with a new vocalist will sound like. Do we want them to sound the same? Do we want them to sound different? Either way, we're about to find out.

Fear Factory - Replica [OFFICIAL VIDEO]