So, Burton C. Bell, the guy who used to scream at robots 🤖 in Fear Factory (before they presumably unionized and demanded better working conditions), has been blabbing to Post-Punk.TV (which, let’s be honest, sounds like a channel your grandpa accidentally finds while trying to watch Fox News). Apparently, he left Fear Factory back in the ancient times of 2020 because…reasons. He said, and I quote (because BLABBERMOUTH.NET transcribed it, so it MUST be accurate), “It was time for me to do other things.” Groundbreaking stuff, Burt! Truly, a philosophical revelation for the ages. 🙄
Bell went on to whine about how venturing out on his own is “scary” and “frightening.” Oh, boo-hoo, Burton! Try facing down a horde of rabid fans demanding you play “Replica” for the millionth time. THAT’S scary. He even admits to hearing voices in his head! 🗣️ Maybe those voices are telling him to reunite with Dino and give the people what they want: more industrial metal anthems about dystopian futures and existential dread. But no, he’s gotta “follow his heart” and pursue his “artistic path.” Which, judging by the fact that I’m writing about it, is clearly setting the world on fire 🔥.
Then comes the gem of the interview: he admits to experiencing “failure on a daily basis.” Well, duh! We all fail daily, Burt. I failed to make a decent cup of coffee this morning. But instead of whining about it, I chugged the bitter sludge and moved on. Maybe he should try that instead of releasing solo material that nobody asked for. He also has a “mantra”: “heavy, groovy, dark and moody.” Wow, so original! That describes, like, 90% of all metal bands ever. But hey, at least he’s consistent. Consistent-ly mediocre, that is. 😜
He claims his new song, “Savages” (dropping May 30th – mark your calendars, people! Or don’t. Whatever), “fits the criteria of every band he’s ever liked.” So, it’s derivative? Got it. And the next song, “Cold Lazarus,” will apparently sound “familiar, but kind of new.” So, it’s uninspired? Double got it! 🤦♂️ This is the kind of profound insight that makes you question the very fabric of reality. Is anything truly original anymore? Or are we all just recycling the same tired tropes over and over again? Deep thoughts with Burton C. Bell.
He’s “super excited” about his upcoming tour in Australia. Good for him. Maybe the kangaroos 🦘 will appreciate his new material more than we do. He’s also “just staying creative,” which is code for “I’m desperately trying to stay relevant.” Being an artist, he says, is about “expressing yourself through your visions and from what you see and how the world affects you.” Translation: “I’m gonna write a bunch of pretentious lyrics about my feelings and hope someone buys it.”
Oh, and let’s not forget his solo singles: “Anti-Droid” and “Technical Exorcism.” Because nothing screams “cutting-edge artistry” like songs about robots and exorcisms. And he covered Rammstein’s “Du Hast” in 2023. Because, you know, nothing says “I’m forging my own path” like covering a song that’s already perfect. 🙄
He even has a backing band! Featuring guys from bands you’ve probably never heard of. But hey, at least they’re backing *someone*. And let’s not forget his impressive resume of collaborations with the likes of Geezer Butler, Al Jourgensen, and even members of Journey! Because nothing says “industrial metal icon” like hanging out with the “Don’t Stop Believin'” guys. 🤣
He’s been in Ascension of the Watchers and City of Fire, bands so obscure they make Spinal Tap look like the Beatles. And, of course, he’s the co-creator of Fear Factory, the band that actually made him famous. You know, the one he abandoned to pursue his “artistic vision.”
Fear Factory, we’re told, “created a sound that revolutionized extreme metal.” Sure, Jan. They were good, don’t get me wrong, but “revolutionized”? Let’s not get carried away. And Burton’s “innovative scream/sing dichotomy” was totally groundbreaking…in 1995. These days, it’s about as innovative as wearing Crocs in public. 👟
The article then goes on to list a bunch of Fear Factory songs that are apparently “modern metal anthems.” I’ll let you be the judge of that. And it mentions that “Demanufacture” and “Obsolete” are “genre-redefining works.” Again, debatable. But hey, at least “Obsolete” went gold! That’s gotta count for something, right?
Apparently, Burton’s lyrics were inspired by Orwell, Bradbury, “Blade Runner,” and other sophisticated sci-fi and fantasy works. So, he’s basically a metalhead nerd. No surprise there.
Fear Factory toured with Metallica, Slipknot, Korn, Megadeth, and Ozzy Osbourne! Which is cool, I guess. But they also took out System of a Down and Static-X as support acts. So, they’re basically responsible for the nu-metal apocalypse. Thanks, Burt! 🤦♀️
And finally, after years of band member turmoil and legal issues (mostly involving Dino, let’s be honest), Burton left Fear Factory in 2020. Because he couldn’t “align” himself with someone he didn’t trust or respect. Which is a fancy way of saying, “I couldn’t stand Dino anymore.” He’s since been replaced by some Italian dude named Milo Silvestro. Good luck to him. He’s gonna need it. 🍀
So, there you have it. The saga of Burton C. Bell: from industrial metal icon to solo artist searching for relevance. Will he succeed? Probably not. But hey, at least he’s having fun. Or at least, he’s pretending to have fun. And that’s what really matters, right? 🤪
Chord F. Discord, the Beethoven of Buffoonery, is a self-taught expert in music who once claimed he could “play the kazoo in four languages.”
Born in Crescendo, Indiana, Chord’s first brush with fame came when he accidentally entered a yodeling contest thinking it was a pie-eating competition—and won both categories.
Chord F. Discord: proving that laughter, much like a poorly tuned ukulele, is truly universal.
