FEAR FACTORY's BURTON C. BELL Explains Return To 'Real' Drums On 'Genexus'

FEAR FACTORY vocalist Burton C. Bell says that the band decided to move past the drum-machine technology it used its 2012 album, "The Industrialist", in order to capture the "feeling" that only a real drummer can create in the studio and in the live environment.

Legendary extreme-metal drummer Gene Hoglan (TESTAMENT, DEATH, STRAPPING YOUNG LAD, DARK ANGEL, FEAR FACTORY, DETHKLOK) laid down the drum tracks on FEAR FACTORY's 2010 album, "Mechanize", but was dismissed from the band before the recording sessions for "The Industrialist".

Asked if it was a conscious decision to incorporate a more "natural" feel during the sessions for FEAR FACTORY's forthcoming album, "Genexus", by getting the band's drummer of the past three years, Mike Heller, to play on the CD, FEAR FACTORY singer Burton C. Bell told Metal Wani (hear audio below): "Yeah, that's right. There's something a real drummer can do, there's nuances, there's elements and feeling that a real drummer can put into it [that] a machine can't. Plus the live sounds are… The natural, live sounds are even better than samples and machines."

Hoglanrecently criticizedFEAR FACTORY for deciding to use a drum machine on "The Industrialist", saying: I don't care what kind of drum machine you use, I will kill your drum machine. If you have a drummer like myself at your disposal, yet you are gonna go with a drum machine, I don't understand the thought process behind that." He added: "I gave FEAR FACTORY the deadliest record they can ever imagine, at the time, and their efforts afterwards weren't taken as seriously. So the proof is right there."

Asked if he had anything to say in response to Hoglan's comments, Bell told Metal Wani: "I sure don't." He added: "Whatever Gene Hoglan says, I'd just rather move past it."

In a 2012 interview with ReGen MagazineFEAR FACTORY guitarist Dino Cazares defended the band's decision to embrace drum-machine technology on "The Industrialist". He said, "The songwriting process was much quicker, much more efficient, much more cost effective." He continued: "Obviously, a band like FEAR FACTORY has always embraced the technology from the beginning — we've always been open about it, we've always talked about it. We've always talked about guys like [producer] Rhys Fulber helping us out, ever since 'Fear Is The Mindkiller', which was after 'Soul Of A New Machine'. We've embraced all that." Cazares added: "Most people are saying, 'Them using drum programming is no different. It doesn't really sound any different.' You know what I mean?! They can expect it from a band like FEAR FACTORY. Again, it's very cost effective."

"Genexus" will be released on August 7 via Nuclear Blast Entertainment. The follow-up to 2012's "The Industrialist" was co-produced by longtime collaborator Rhys Fulber, along with guitarist Dino Cazares and vocalist Burton C. Bell and mixed by Andy Sneap (ARCH ENEMY, TESTAMENT, EXODUS, MACHINE HEAD). Artwork was once again handled by Anthony Clarkson.