Fear Factory

Fear Factory
Fear Factory performing at the DNA Lounge in 2013
Background information
Also known as	Ulceration (1989-1990)
Origin	Los Angeles, California, United States
Genres	Industrial metal groove metal nu metal thrash metal death metal
Years active	1989–present
Labels	Roadrunner Liquid 8 Calvin Candlelight Nuclear Blast
Associated acts	Brujeria Asesino Ascension of the Watchers The Clay People Arkaea Front Line Assembly Gary Numan Zimmers Hole Spineshank Strapping Young Lad Divine Heresy Threat Signal Phobia City of Fire Chimaira Silent Civilian Six Feet Under Spineshank System Divide Testament Dark Angel Static-X Soulfly
Website	www.fearfactory.com
Members	Burton C. Bell Dino Cazares Mike Heller Tony Campos
Past members	David Gibney Andy Romero Andrew Shives Christian Olde Wolbers Byron Stroud Matt DeVries Gene Hoglan Raymond Herrera

Fear Factory is an American heavy metal band that was formed in 1989. During the band's career, they have released nine full-length albums and have evolved through a succession of styles, including nu metal, death metal, groove metal, and thrash metal. Fear Factory was enormously influential on the heavy metal scene in the mid-to-late 1990s. Fear Factory went on hold in March 2002 following some internal disputes, but reformed later that year without founding member Dino Cazares, adding bassist Byron Stroud, and previous bassist Christian Olde Wolbers as guitarist.

In April 2009, a new lineup was announced. Cazares returned as lead and rhythm guitarist, and Gene Hoglan as drummer. Bell and Stroud reprised their respective roles, and the band completed a seventh studio album titled Mechanize. Former members Christian Olde Wolbers and Raymond Herrera—both of whom were playing in Arkaea—disputed the legitimacy of the new lineup, and a legal battle from both parties was begun. Fear Factory released its eighth studio album, The Industrialist, in June 2012. Their latest album, Genexus, was released in August 2015.

Over the years, Fear Factory has seen changes in its members, with lead vocalist Burton C. Bell being the only consistent member since 1989. The band has performed at three Ozzfests and the inaugural Gigantour. Their singles have charted on the US Mainstream Rock Top 40 and albums on the Billboard Top 40, 100, and 200, and they have sold more than a million albums in the U.S. alone.

Fear Factory was formed in 1989 under the name Ulceration, which the band agreed would "just be a cool name". In 1990, the name "Fear Factory" was adopted to reflect the band's new death metal sound, which was influenced by early British industrial metal, industrial music, and grindcore yet remained rooted in a conservative extreme metal approach; a facet of the band's music that resulted in its wider music audience appeal.