FEAR FACTORY guitarist Dino Cazares spoke to Aussie Heavy about his search for a replacement for the recently departed FF singer Burton C. Bell. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): “There are some really great people out there – men and women. So there are men and women [singers] in the running, who will get this position.
“There is a lot to this,” he continued. “You can’t find just anyone to step in and think they’ll be able to handle it. You really need to find someone who is willing to commit to FEAR FACTORY, someone who must know that he will be on the road for a while; we are going to travel the world. This may not happen right away, due to numerous COVID restrictions; some places have it [worse] than others. Whoever takes the job has a lot to learn, great shoes to fill. “
He was asked what kind of attributes he looks for in a new singer. FEAR FACTORY, Dino said: “Someone who knows how to be a good leader on stage, someone who knows how to command a crowd. It’s just on top of the talent. Of course, the one I choose will be talented. But it’s not just vocal talent; there are other talent too. There is security with your position – mentally secure – of not being insecure, taking care of your throat, being able to lead a crowd, getting along with others, being a team player, and so on. “
Cazares went on to say that he would “certainly” encourage the new FEAR FACTORY singer to bring his own elements into the sound of the group. “But the majority must be the FEAR FACTORY mold, because we’ve already created a style, ”he says.” Of course, we can always develop this style – I’m always open to that, of course; one hundred percent. But they will also have to accept that sometimes ideas are sidelined. Some ideas are fair, like, “No, that’s not going to work”. But it comes with experience, and it comes with someone who’s talented that way, that you can’t take it personally.
“It was one of the things when we were a group FEAR FACTORY that no idea was stupid; we have tried everything, ”he explained.” Because you never know – some of the craziest ideas might turn into something great. “
Last month, FEAR FACTORY released their first new song in over five years, “Disruptor”. The track will appear on the band’s next album, “Continuum of Aggression”, due June 18 via Nuclear explosion registers.
“Continuum of Aggression” features Cazares and Bell alongside the drummer Mike Heller. It was produced and designed by Damien Rainaud (DRAGON STRENGTH, ONCE HUMAN), with keyboards by Igor Khoroshev (ex-YES), and programming on two songs by a long-time collaborator Rhys Fulber (FRONT LINE ASSEMBLY). “Continuum of Aggression” was mixed by a premier rock and metal producer Andy Sneap (MEGADETH, ENGAGEMENT KILLSWITCH, TRIVIUM), who also mixed FEAR FACTORYprevious album from 2015 “Genexus”.
Last September, Bell issued a statement officially announcing his departure from FEAR FACTORY, saying he “can’t align” with someone he doesn’t trust or respect.
Bell later told Kerrang! magazine he broke up with FEAR FACTORY was a long time coming. “I’ve been concerned about this for a while,” he said. “These lawsuits [over the rights to the FEAR FACTORY name] just dumped me. Egos. Greed. Not just members of the group, but the lawyers involved. I just lost my love for it.
“With FEAR FACTORY, it’s always been, like, ‘What ?!’ You can only take too much. I felt 30 years old was a good race. These albums with which I made FEAR FACTORY will always be there. I will always be a part of it. I just felt it was time to move on. “
In a hurry to know if there is a chance of reconciliation with FEAR FACTORY down the line, Burton says, “I’m done. I did not speak to Dino in three years. I have not spoken Raymond [Herrera, drums] and Christian [Olde Wolbers, bass] longer than that, and I have no intention of doing so. I’m just moving on with my life. “
In October, Dino issued a statement in which he stated that the door for Burton come back to FEAR FACTORY would not “stay open forever.” The guitarist also revealed that Burton “Lost his legal rights” to the FEAR FACTORY name “after a long legal battle” with Herrera and Olde Wolbers. “I had the opportunity to do something right, and felt that getting the name in full was the right thing for both of us to do, so after almost four years we can continue as FEAR FACTORY, to make more records and tour, ”he said.” This is why it is sad to hear that he has decided to quit and in my opinion for the issues he has it looks like it could have been fixed. ”
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