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Trailblazer in extreme music, multimedia visionary, and unconventional provocateur Burton C. Bell is celebrated as the original voice of FEAR FACTORY, a band that encapsulated themes of futuristic dread, existential despair, and unwavering defiance. He continues to delve into concepts of dystopian fears, identity, and the perils of technology in his solo endeavors. Recently, Bell unveiled the lyric video for his latest single, “Savages.” Check it out below.
“The lyrics for ‘Savages’ came to fruition the day after the chaotic presidential election,” shares Bell. “Realizing that numerous evangelical Christians ignored the flawed moral compass of a questionable candidate was astonishing. The working title seemed fitting to describe those evangelicals who consciously chose a compulsive liar, [alleged] serial adulterer, conman, convicted felon, and documented racist whose sole aim is to exploit everyone in his pursuit of power. If this represents their divine providence, then there is no savior for them now.”
Bell concludes, “‘Savages’ should be played at full volume.”
Bell is set to embark on a solo tour in Australia next month. Tour dates are listed below.
Burton C. Bell on tour:
June 11 – Brisbane – The Triffid*
June 12 – Newcastle – King St. Band Room**
June 13 – Sydney – Factory Theatre**
June 14 – Melbourne – Corner Hotel^
* With MONSTERS AROUND US
** With MORTALITY
^ With THE LAST MARTYR
In a recent chat with Andrew Haug, Bell discussed his aspirations for new music following the release of two singles in 2024 — “Anti-Droid” and “Technical Exorcism” — alongside a cover of RAMMSTEIN‘s “Du Hast” in 2023. He mentioned: “Currently, there are no plans for a solo record. We’re focused on writing songs and dropping singles. We’ll decide on an EP or full-length album when we have enough material, and if I can secure the necessary support and funding, I would definitely aim for a full release. For now, we’re adopting a hip-hop approach, releasing singles sporadically until we have enough for an album.”
“I’ve observed that when rock bands release albums, often the entire work gets overshadowed by the lead single. It all fades into the background,” he explained. “So why not draw attention to one song at a time, and when we have a collection, we can share it all together, including new material.”
Reflecting on how industry shifts over the last three decades have influenced his music release strategy, Burton remarked: “Technology has empowered artists to record and release their work independently. However, this means there’s a surge of artists today, making it challenging to stand out. I consider myself fortunate to have built a 30-year career before this era, so my name is recognized. Now, the tougher challenge is engaging with social media.”
Bell acknowledged that he has occasionally felt constrained by the musical boundaries of his previous band. “Yes, at various points,” he noted, elaborating: “It wasn’t just within the band, but throughout my life. I yearned for more experimentation than anyone else, wanting to break free from the confines we established.”
Burton also noted the unique challenges of pursuing a solo career at this stage. “It’s tough and is demanding,” he said. “But we engage in activities not because they’re easy; we choose them because they are challenging. That creates the opportunity. I feel a sense of freedom, capable of taking my music in any direction. I can compose any type of song I desire, remaining true to myself in crafting music that resonates personally, and I believe others will find value in it as well.”
Bell held his inaugural concert with his solo band on June 13, 2024, at 1720 in Los Angeles, California.
Supporting Bell at his recent performances have been guitarist Henrik Linde (THE VITALS, DREN), drummer Ryan “Junior” Kittlitz (ALL HAIL THE YETI, THE ACID HELPS), bassist Tony Baumeister (ÆGES), and multi-instrumentalist Stewart Cararas.
Bell‘s discography features numerous live and recorded collaborations with the legend Geezer Butler from BLACK SABBATH and Deen Castronovo from JOURNEY (as G/Z/R); industrial pioneer Al Jourgensen and MINISTRY; in addition to guest vocal spots with PITCHSHIFTER, CONFLICT, SOIL, STATIC-X, SOULFLY, and DELAIN, among others. He is the frontman of ASCENSION OF THE WATCHERS and CITY OF FIRE and is notably the sole musician to feature on every FEAR FACTORY release from 1992 to 2024.
FEAR FACTORY crafted a groundbreaking sound that transformed extreme metal, significantly marked by Bell‘s unique scream/sing dynamic and influences from post-punk and industrial genres. Tracks such as “Replica”, “Linchpin”, “Edgecrusher”, “Fear Campaign”, “Archetype”, “Cyber Waste”, and “Zero Signal” have become anthems in modern metal. The albums “Demanufacture” (1995) and the RIAA gold-certified “Obsolete” (1998) are hailed as pivotal works by both fans and critics alike. Themes from Orwell, Bradbury, “Blade Runner”, and sophisticated sci-fi and fantasy narratives influenced Bell‘s lyrics and concepts.
The band toured globally alongside METALLICA, SLIPKNOT, KORN, MEGADETH, and OZZY OSBOURNE, and brought up-and-coming acts like SYSTEM OF A DOWN and STATIC-X on tour in their early years. Following years of internal band conflicts and legal strife, Bell departed from FEAR FACTORY in the autumn of 2020.
The now 56-year-old Bell had remained relatively quiet musically after announcing his exit from FEAR FACTORY in September 2020. He remarked then that he could no longer “align” himself with someone he didn’t trust or respect, seemingly referencing FEAR FACTORY‘s founding guitarist Dino Cazares. Subsequently, Milo Silvestro has taken over his position in the band.
Earlier this month, Burton reflected on his choice to leave FEAR FACTORY in September 2020 after a 31-year tenure as their vocalist, opting to forge a solo career. In an interview with the Post-Punk.TV podcast, he stated: “It was indeed time for me to explore new horizons. Venturing out solo is daunting; I often question myself. Artists tend to hear conflicting voices in their heads, including my own. I think, ‘What am I doing?’ Yet I must follow my heart, as it’s guiding me to a path I genuinely wish to pursue — the artistic journey.”
Bell elaborated: “Failure is an experience that artists face regularly, but it shouldn’t dictate our lives. We must learn from setbacks. Once we do, we can say, ‘Okay, I mishandled that. I’ll approach it differently this time.’ Thus, I am advancing with my solo venture, creating music that aligns with my philosophy.
“I developed a mantra a few years back,” Burton continued. “Now that I have a [solo] band that I work with daily, they’ve started to understand my vision. The upcoming song I’m set to release, titled ‘Savages’ on May 30th, is a collaboration birthed from our band dynamic. It adheres to my mantra of ‘heavy, groovy, dark and moody.’ I believe this fits the essence of every band I’ve appreciated and has informed my musical journey. Currently, I am amalgamating all my experiences to create something new and unique, and I hope listeners will find ‘Savages’ and the forthcoming track ‘Cold Lazarus’ to evoke a sense of familiarity while feeling fresh at the same time. There’s our direction.”
Burton concluded, “I’m incredibly eager about what lies ahead, looking forward to my upcoming tour in June, heading to Australia, and excited for all that the future holds. Creativity is at the heart of being an artist, whether through music or photography; it’s about expressing oneself through personal visions and how the world shapes us.”
Photo credit: Erica Vincent
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