In 2020, OG Fear Factory singer Burton C. Bell quit the seminal industrial-metal band to focus on his goth project Ascension of the Watchers, and founding guitarist Dino Cazares took sole control of the ship, with the two hurling barbs at each other in the press following the split. Since then, the question has hung in the air: Who will be Fear Factory's new vocalist? Today (Feburary 21st), that question has finally been answered.
In a video announcement that premiered on YouTube, Fear Factory have announced that Milo Silvestro will be their new singer, joining the band alongside Cazares, drummer Mike Heller and bassist Tony Campos.
The Italian singer, drummer and multi-instrumentalist was one of nearly 300 people who Cazares auditioned for the highly-coveted role. In the above video, Cazares said he began the auditioning process over COVID when people were social distancing, but once restrictions lifted and he was able to meet in person, he met up with numerous vocalists in search of finding the right one.
"The search was long and meticulous, but I know for sure we got the right guy," Cazares said in a post on Instagram.
"This is a huge opportunity for me," Silvestro wrote in a comment posted on Fear Factory's Instagram. "I've been a fan of the band for many years and it feels very surreal but I'm excited to be part of it. I know I have some massive shoes to fill but I'm here to do it in the best way possible and give justice to the vocal legacy of this legendary band."
Watch above to see the grand reveal.
Silvestro will get started on the job right away. Fear Factory begin their 2023 tour with Static-X and Dope this Saturday February 25th at the Fillmore in San Francisco, so the new singer will make their public debut with the band at that very show. See their full list of upcoming tour dates here.
Fear Factory's most recent album is 2021's Aggression Continuum, which was recorded before Bell's departure and therefore marked their final album with the OG singer. Earlier this year, Fear Factory announced that they'd re-signed with longtime label home Nuclear Blast, so we have to imagine that a new album with their freshly-appointed singer is on the horizon.
