In a recent tell-all with Story Mode, the legend himself, former FEAR FACTORY drum-banger Raymond Herrera (also known for composing epic bangers for video games, TV, and even those fancy “transmedia” things 🙄), spilled the tea ☕️ on his *almost* legendary collab with none other than MEGADETH.
Apparently, back in the ancient times of 2006, when FEAR FACTORY was slumming it on tour with MEGADETH, Ray thought it would be HILARIOUS 😂 to hit up Dave Mustaine (the orange-haired overlord of MEGADETH) with a “totally rad” idea. “Hey Dave,” Ray probably said, “I’m making a video game soundtrack, and I REALLY need your song on it. Like, REALLY REALLY need it. Gimme the instrumental version or your precious recording session files, pleeease?” And Dave, bless his heart ❤️, actually agreed. He handed over the goods for ‘Symphony Of Destruction’ from the prehistoric ‘Countdown To Extinction’ album. Can you imagine? 🤣
Ray, bless his cotton socks, went on to say: “So we mixed it for, like, two whole weeks. Then I tracked down Dave, all excited, like a puppy 🐶 with a new toy. ‘Dude, I remixed your song! Wanna hear it?’ We were stuffing our faces at catering, and I played it for him. And guess what? He HATED it! 🤣 But I, in my infinite wisdom, assured him that ‘gamers’ would totally dig it (because, you know, gamers have such refined taste 💅). I even offered to pay for everything, and promised we wouldn’t use it if he still hated it. And somehow, SOMEHOW, he actually approved it! But, oh man, he was NOT happy.” 🤣😂🤣😂
Flashback to 1996: Ray realized he could make BANK 💰 off licensing FEAR FACTORY‘s music for video games. So, like any self-respecting capitalist, he started Herrera Productions (later morphing into the even cooler 3volution Productions). He became a “cross-genre composer-producer,” whatever that means 🤔, and worked on games for all the big shots: Microsoft, SEGA, Sony, Electronic Arts, Ubisoft, THQ, Midway, Capcom, Namco, Atari, Majesco… Basically, if it had a joystick, Ray was probably involved. 😎
Now, let’s be real. Raymond‘s drumming WAS kinda important to FEAR FACTORY‘s sound back in the day. You know, the first 15 years or so. They even played with the big boys like BLACK SABBATH, SLAYER, IRON MAIDEN, and, of course, MEGADETH. But then, drama! FEAR FACTORY imploded in 2006, only to be resurrected in 2009 with a new lineup. And now, the only OG member left is Dino Cazares, shredding away like it’s still 1995. 🤘
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.
