Fear Factory
This Los Angeles-based band are one of the few truly innovative acts in death metal, mixing industrial-style electronic rhythms and samples with grinding guitars and harsh vocals to create their own brutal soundscape. Formed in late 1991 with the line-up of Burton C. Bell (vocals), Dino Cazares (guitar, who has an additional side project, Brujeria), Andrew Shives (bass) and Raymond Herrera (drums), the band rapidly made an impact with two tracks on the LA DEATH METAL compilation, produced by Faith No More bassist Bill Gould, and subsequently signed to Roadrunner. The Colin Richardson-produced SOUL OF A NEW MACHINE established Fear Factory as a genuine death metal force, with a good collection of songs delivered with originality and ferocity, while the band set about developing their live show on their debut tour with Brutal Truth in Europe, followed by US dates with Sick Of It All and Biohazard. FEAR IS THE MIND KILLER, a mini-album of remixes by Canadian industrialists Front Line Assembly, demonstrated further dimensions and possibilities available to the Factory sound by adding an industrial dance edge, bringing the band further acclaim.