Attention, metalheads and mask enthusiasts! Prepare your face paint and earplugs, because the “Soul Of A New War Machine” tour is about to make your eardrums regret their existence. MUSHROOMHEAD and FEAR FACTORY, two bands that have collectively used more masks than a CDC convention, are teaming up for a fall extravaganza that promises to be louder than your neighbor’s leaf blower and twice as confusing.
Yes, Cleveland’s favorite masked marauders MUSHROOMHEAD are hitting the road with industrial metal pioneers FEAR FACTORY. And because one masked band isn’t enough, they’ve brought along Chinese Mongolian progressive metal outfit NINE TREASURES. That’s right – we’re going from industrial to progressive to… whatever NINE TREASURES is doing. It’s like a musical United Nations, but with more face paint and fewer resolutions.
The tour kicks off in New Haven, CT at Toad’s Place – a venue name that perfectly encapsulates what your ears will feel like after the first song. From there, it’s a whirlwind tour across America, hitting all the usual suspects: dive bars, converted warehouses, and that one place in Ohio that always smells like regret and spilled beer.
MUSHROOMHEAD’s latest offering, “Call The Devil,” dropped last August via Napalm Records. It features the triumphant return of guitarist Dave “Gravy” Felton, who’s back after a 12-year hiatus. Apparently, he was busy perfecting his gravy recipe, which explains why his guitar skills are now more savory than ever. The album was produced by Steve “Skinny” Felton (no relation, but probably related in the grand scheme of things) and mixed by Matt Wallace, who apparently hasn’t learned his lesson after working on MUSHROOMHEAD’s iconic album “XIII.”
In a recent interview, Steve “Skinny” Felton compared MUSHROOMHEAD to Quentin Tarantino movies. Because nothing says “heavy metal” like comparing your band to a director known for non-linear storytelling and excessive violence. He’s not wrong, though – both involve masks, blood, and a dedicated fanbase that will defend them to the death.
Meanwhile, FEAR FACTORY is gearing up for their new album in 2026. Their latest lineup includes Milo Silvestro, who replaced original singer Burton C. Bell. Milo’s journey to FEAR FACTORY is the stuff of metal dreams – he posted a cover video on YouTube, and Dino Cazares slid into his DMs. It’s like “American Idol,” but with more cyber-metal and fewer tears.
Milo, ever the humble Italian, says he never dreamed of fronting FEAR FACTORY. “This wasn’t even my dream,” he said, apparently unaware that most people’s dreams don’t involve screaming into a microphone while wearing futuristic armor. He’s been working hard to nail Bell’s vocal style, because nothing says “respecting legacy” like trying to sound exactly like the guy you replaced.
Dino Cazares, the only original member left, seems pleased with the new lineup. He’s been teaching Milo everything from stage performance to handling online criticism. Because if there’s one thing FEAR FACTORY fans are known for, it’s their gentle, constructive feedback on social media.
The tour promises to be a spectacle of industrial might and progressive confusion. Will MUSHROOMHEAD’s masks melt under FEAR FACTORY’s heat? Will NINE TREASURES bring the Great Wall of China on stage? Will Milo remember all the lyrics, or will he have to check his phone mid-song like every other millennial?
One thing’s for sure – this tour will be loud, it will be chaotic, and it will probably involve at least one band member getting lost in their own mask. But hey, that’s metal for you. So grab your tickets, your earplugs, and maybe a map, because this fall, the “Soul Of A New War Machine” is coming to a city near you. And it’s bringing enough face paint to make a clown convention jealous.
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.
