FEAR FACTORY Frontman Bans Bandmates From Studio During Recording Of Swan Song

As widely expected, FEAR FACTORY recorded an as-yet-untitled song for the upcoming Terminator game during their final recording session as a group on Tuesday, March 12th at American Studios in Hollywood with producer Rick Will (i.e. INCUBUS, SKINDRED, NO DOUBT). At frontman Burton C. Bell's request, none of the other bandmembers were present in the studio when he laid down his vocals for the track, a stipulation that is believed to have been specifically intended to keep guitarist Dino Cazares away from the sessions in the wake of the deep-rooted resentment that Bell is presently harboring towards the axeman. Look for the results of this last-ever collaboration—described by those who have heard it as “half-assed FEAR FACTORY”—to surface sometime in August.

Meanwhile, Cazares appears to have bounced back from FEAR FACTORY's split more quickly than expected, and is presently in the process of auditioning prospective drummers and vocalists for his brand new project, which will follow a heavy and aggressive direction yet sound substantially different from FEAR FACTORY. Although no names have yet been mentioned as Cazares' potential bandmates, it is believed that Dino is looking for relative unknowns to fill the drummer, bassist and vocalist slots in the as-yet-unnamed group, with a particular emphasis being placed on finding a singer that is both creative and stylistically versatile.

In other related news, former FEAR FACTORY sticksman Raymond Herrera has reportedly turned down an opportunity to audition for the drummer slot in SLAYER recently left vacant by the departure of Paul Bostaph (who has since joined SYSTEMATIC),thus putting an end to the rampant Internet speculation that he would link up with the Los Angeles kings of thrash following FEAR FACTORY's untimely break-up.

As previously reported, Herrera is expected to make several death metal-style recordings for Relapse Records (following the drummer's successful appearance on PHOBIA's Return To Desolation CD last year),some of which may or may not feature Cazares, who is said to have expressed interest in contributing to the projects in the songwriting/performing capacity.