Fear Factory and Darkest Hour

Formed by vocalist Burton C. Bell, percussionist Raymond Herrera, and ex-Douche Lord guitarist Dino Cazares, Fear Factor utilises a whole host of metal and sonic soundscape as an outlet for their pessimistic view of modern society. The band contributed two songs to the L.A. Death Metal compilation, which resulted in signing with Roadrunner Records who released their debut album “Soul of a New Machine” in 1992. The album featured new bassist Andrew Shives, allowing Cazares to play guitar on tour and was followed by the electronically experimental EP “Fear Is the Mind Killer”, featuring remixes by Rhys Fulber and Bill Leeb and marking the arrival of Reynor Diego.

Prior to the band’s sophomore album of new material “Demanufacture” in 1995, Shives was fired from band and replaced by Christian Olde Wolbers. Similar to its predecessor “Demanufacture” was followed by another remix project entitled “Remanufacture (Cloning Technology”, this time Fear Factory tried their hand at electronic remix contributions along with a number of techno-orientated artists.

Following Diego’s departure and Steve Tushar arrival and a number of side-projects including Cazares and Herrera’s Brujeria, and Nailbomb, Fear Factory returned in 1998 to released their third full-length “Obsolete”. The album marked the band’s biggest success to date, with an accomplished alternative metal style within a growing hybrid market. Following appearances on several film and video game soundtracks including “Mortal Kombat” and “Test Drive 5”, and shows at Ozzfest 1999, Fear Factor’s fan base swelled ahead of their fourth studio album “Digimortal” in 2001.

The album proved to be their most commercially popular reaching the Top 40 of the Billboard 200, however marked the departure of Cazares, with Wolbers moved to guitar and Byron Stroud hired to fill the bass spot. After being dropped by Roadrunner subsequent to the tumultuous line-up, Fear Factor released a set of original 1991 recordings under the title “Concrete” in 2002. The band soon singed with Liquid 8 who issued their 2004 album “Archetype”, followed in 2005 by the relentless “Transgression”.

Fear Factor then went on a hiatus to allow old wounds to heal, returning in 2009 when Bell and Cazares had made peace with one another. With the help of Byron Stroud on bass, Gene Hoglan on drums, and the continued membership of Herrera and Wolbers, the band released the album “Mechanize” in 2010 and the concept album “The Industrialist” in 2012.

Originally comprised of vocalist John Henry, guitarist Mike Schleibaum, bassist Raul Mayorga, and drummer Matt Maben in 1995, the group's debut release was the 1996 EP “The Misanthrope”. Marked by its creeping tempo, Darkest Hour’s subsequent release, the single “Paths of Despair” found its way on to East Coast Empire Records’ “The Harder They Come” compilation. Following the release of the 1999 EP “The Prophecy Fulfilled” on Art Monk Construction, the band signed with M.I.A. Records, who issued their debut full-length “The Mark of the Judas”. Unfortunately the label went bust shortly after the release, which meant both promotion and distribution for “The Mark of the Judas” was limited.

Despite this, Darkest Hour managed to catch the attention of Victory Records, who issued the group’s sophomore full-length “So Sedated, So Secure” in August 2001. Led by the single “An Epitaph”, after the album’s release Paul Burnette arrived on bass and Scnhleibaum’s friend Mike Garrity assumed lead guitar responsibilities. Adopting a more melodic death metal style, Darkest Hour’s third and fourth LPs “Hidden Hands of a Sadist Nation” and “Undoing Ruin”, represented a development in skill and confidence. The latter release was the band’s first to enter the Billboard 200, after which the group appeared on the 2005 metal documentary “Metal: A Headbanger’s Journey”.

The critically-acclaimed “Deliver Us” arrived on Victory in 2007, debuting at No. 110 on the Billboard 200. It was followed by “The Eternal Return” in 2009, which topped the U.S. Heatseekers Chart and was supported by dates on the 2009 Summer Slaughter Tour. Following ten years with Victory Records, the band announced they had signed with E1 who issued Darkest Hour’s seventh studio album “The Human Romance” in 2011. Earning rave reviews from the critical press, the record was followed by their eponymous and most successful to date, in 2014.