Bloodstock Outdoor
Catton Hall Derbyshire
FEAR FACTORY Biography
Band Line Up:
Burton C Bell
Dino Cazares
Byron Stroud
Gene Hoglan
Fear Factory were formed in 1990 and over the course of an ever-shifting and evolving career, they have proved enormously influential. The bands nascent sound was strongly reminiscent of early Napalm Death and Godflesh combined with more straightforward death metal. It was a striking combination which formed the basis of their first international success, frontman Burton C. Bells fusion of extreme death growls and clean vocals becoming one of the common traits of mid-to-late 90s modern metal bands.
In 1991, the band began recording what was intended to be their debut album with producer Ross Robinson but, unhappy with its quality, abandoned the project. When they eventually signed with Roadrunner Records for 1992s Soul Of A New Machine, some of the songs from the Ross Robinson sessions were re-recorded. Although an intense and powerful debut and a cult favourite with fans, its extreme nature has made it the least successful Fear Factory album and the only one which can convincingly be labelled death metal. The band toured extensively in support of the it, releasing a remix EP, Fear Is The Mindkiller, in 1993, a move which hinted at their future direction.
The bands sophomore effort Demanufacture emerged in 1995, offering a slicker, more industrial sound laden with samples and futuristic electronics. It remains their definitive work and was met with universal critical acclaim and some very healthy chart positions. Ramming home their advantage and seizing the moment, the band spent the bulk of the next two years touring worldwide with acts such as Black Sabbath, Megadeth and Iron Maiden, and appeared at both the 1996 and 1997 Ozzfests. An album of Demanufacture remixes entitled Remanufacture appeared in 97 and marked the bands first foray into the Billboard 200 chart.
Their third studio album, the concept-driven Obsolete, was released in 1998 and although it included subtle developments in their overall sound, it was largely a continuation of Demanufactures industrial direction. It quickly became their most successful outing, entering the Billboard 100 chart and bagging them a headlining slot on the second stage at Ozzfest 99. Pressured to capitalise on this success, the band delivered the somewhat more accessible Digimortal in 2001, and although it proved divisive with fans, it was another significant chart success. Internally, however, Fear Factory were in trouble, with Bell departing in early 2002 and the band folding soon afterwards. The pair of releases which followed a“ 2002 Concrete, consisting of the aborted Ross Robinson recordings, and 2003 Hatefiles, a b-sides and rarities compilation “ were issued to fulfil contractual obligations and without the consent of the band.
It eventually emerged that the personal tensions within the band surrounded guitarist Dino Cazares and the remaining three members reunited without him in 2002 for their comeback album Archetype which was eventually released in 2004. The album marked a partial return to their industrial metal sound and was well-received, subsequent tours with Lamb Of God and Mastodon putting them firmly back in the spotlight. Alleged record company pressure led to the rush release of 2005 Transgression which critics seemed to either love or hate and which even the band have mixed feelings about. No such uncertainty surrounded the next cycle of touring which celebrated the bands heavyweight legacy with the likes of Darkane, Strapping Young Lad, Soilwork, Misery Index, Suffocation, Hypocrisy and Decapitated joining them on stages worldwide.
The bands Bloodstock appearance will be un-missable and this already-legendary line-up heralds the latest chapter in the remarkable story of a band whose futuristic vision has changed the face of metal forever.
