FEAR FACTORY Cancels Australia/New Zealand Tour Due To 'Recording Commitments'

According to Australian concert promoter Blue Murder Touring, the new band calling itself FEAR FACTORY — featuring original FF members Dino Cazares (guitar) and Burton C. Bell (vocals) alongside bassist Byron Stroud (who played on the last two FEAR FACTORY albums in addition to touring and recording with STRAPPING YOUNG LAD and ZIMMERS HOLE) and legendary drummer Gene Hoglan (DETHKLOK, STRAPPING YOUNG LAD, DARK ANGEL, DEATH, TESTAMENT) — has cancelled its previously announced Australia/New Zealand tour due to "recording commitments." Blue Murder says in a statement, "We apologize for the inconvenience caused by this decision, but ask that ticket holders contact their point of purchase for ticket refunds."

This announcement affects the following dates:

Aug. 18 - Capitol - Perth, Australia
Aug. 20 - Tivoli - Brisbane, Australia
Aug. 22 - Enmore - Sydney, Australia
Aug. 23 - Palace - Melbourne, Australia
Aug. 24 - HQ - Adelaide, Australia
Aug. 26 - Transmission - Auckland, New Zealand

As previously reported, the new FEAR FACTORY lineup (pictured below) has released the following statement regarding the cancellation of its previously announced European tour:

"On behalf of FEAR FACTORY, [we are] writing to each and every one of you to relay important information regarding the FEAR FACTORY concerts between June 21 through August 15. We regretfully are informing you that we are postponing these dates in Europe to schedule for later dates.

"These particular dates are being postponed in order that we, as FEAR FACTORY, may finalize the writing and recording of our new music. We are aware that this album will be a very important recording for each of us in FEAR FACTORY. That this album has to be sonically incredible for each and every one of you who are sincerely interested in listening to this latest creation.

"In order for FEAR FACTORY to create the album of our career, we must focus and work diligently to engineer our rhythms of mechanical death. We feel that rushing to release this recording will not be beneficial to the craft of our manufacturing.

"In this parting statement, please understand that postponing these dates is not for any other reason than to create the album that FEAR FACTORY fans are anxious to hear."

In a June 14, 2009 appearance on the nationally syndicated radio program "Speed Freaks", FEAR FACTORY drummer Raymond Herrera — who is not part of the above-mentioned lineup — stated about the group's current status, "[Guitarist Christian Olde Wolbers and I are] actually still in FEAR FACTORY. There's a big legal battle going on right now. Essentially, what's happened is Dino and Burt have become friends again and they decided to start a new band, and furthermore, they decided to call it FEAR FACTORY. They never communicated with us about it, and they're acting like there was never any contract, but there's four members that are Fear Factory Incorporated — which is the four of us — so it's almost like them two against us two, so it's kind of a stalemate. Moving forward, I don't know what's gonna happen with the trademark, so to speak. It's kind of a weird situation, but it's not a situation that we created that was weird."

Regarding why Christian and Raymond aren't involved with the new FEAR FACTORY lineup, Bell told U.K.'s Metal Hammer magazine, "It's like a business and I'm just reorganizing. After time, you realize what's important and what's not important, and after talking to Dino again, it just felt good and it felt right."

When asked if he knew straight away that he wouldn't include Christian and Raymond in the new FEAR FACTORY lineup, Burton said, "It's part of the organization. We learned some things and we have a really good rapport with Byron, and Gene is an amazing drummer. Dino and I, as the founders of FEAR FACTORY, we thought, 'Hey, let's try this, a different flavor.' Because wherever me and Dino go, it'll still be FEAR FACTORY, I believe."

Dino added, "I've had many projects in the past and I've played with some of the best drummers in this form of music, from Roy Mayorga to Nick Barker, Tim Yeung, Joey Jordison, and now I'm playing with the king of this genre. How could I pass that up? How could anyone pass up a chance to play with Gene Hoglan?"

Dino's tenure with FEAR FACTORY ended in March 2002 after Bell announced his departure from the group, allegedly telling his bandmates at the time, "Look, guys, I'm not into it anymore, I don't wanna play in the band anymore, I don't wanna play with you guys, and I especially don't wanna play with you, Dino."

FEAR FACTORY eventually reformed without Dino and released two more studio albums, 2004's "Archetype" and 2005's "Transgression".

ARKAEA — the new band featuring Wolbers and Herrera alongside vocalist Jon Howard (THREAT SIGNAL) and bassist Pat Kavanaugh (THREAT SIGNAL) — will release its debut album, "Years In The Darkness", on July 13 via E1 Music (formerly Koch Records).

Pictured below is FEAR FACTORY's 2009 lineup (left to right): Burton C. Bell (vocals),Gene Hoglan (drums),Byron Stroud (bass) and Dino Cazares (guitar)