Former Fear Factory vocalist Burton C. Bell recently discussed the creation of the band’s landmark 1998 album Obsolete. He also explained why he will not perform the record in its entirety with his own band.
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Released in 1998, Obsolete became Fear Factory’s most successful album. It peaked at No. 77 on the Billboard 200 and has sold over 406,000 copies in the United States. The album was certified gold in both the U.S. and Australia. It is a full concept album set in a dystopian future. The story centers on the character Edgecrusher, who leads a rebellion against an oppressive machine-controlled society.
Bell left Fear Factory in September 2020 after 31 years with the band. The current lineup features guitarist Dino Cazares, vocalist Milo Silvestro, bassist Tony Campos, and drummer Pete Webber. That lineup has been performing material from Obsolete.
When asked about the pressure of following up the massive success of 1995’s Demanufacture, Bell detailed the high expectations from management and the label.
“You’re not wrong,” Bell said. “There was a lot riding on it. There was a lot of pressure — not just pressure we were putting upon ourselves, but pressure from management...