So when you are working on a new record, do you listen to previous records you’ve made?
Probably not. You know, for me it’s just not very productive to look back too much and that’s just kinda it you know ,I’ve just really settled into a routine where I guess I’m getting kind of old you know, but my lady, she gets up in the morning and goes to work and I get up and make some coffee and (laughing) that sounds so stupid! I sit on the porch with the dogs and just sit there and play guitar and work on songs and I’ve got a bunch of people in the area that I collaborate with and I don’t know, Gainesville’s one of those towns where everybody is in like three bands, so really everyone’s in a band with everyone else, like everybody just works on stuff together. It’s fun, you know. Our sound guy for Hot Water Music, he has this little warehouse studio and we just go in there and get lost for hours, cranking up the amps and seeing what we can do, it’s a lot of fun!

And then you go back home and make dinner and blend into normal life like anyone else.
Yeah, I mean we kind of laugh about it, half laugh, it’s depressing getting old, but we are pretty mellow, you know I have a 16 year old kid and I go to high school football games and right now, it’s Thursday night and this is… god I sound old, it’s Thursday night and that’s the night I go out and have my pool league, so I’m actually standing out the front of the pool hall right now, our league starts in about 20 minutes. It’s my Thursday night out, woohoo!!!

Now I want to talk about ‘Exister’ the new Hot Water Music record, it’s the first release for the band in over 8 years. It has been too long, but I think all that happened in between had to happen for this to be the album it is. It was a rollercoaster that you know better than anyone, how did it feel banding together to write this record?
Well, as far as the record goes it honestly was the most fun I’ve ever had in a studio and it just was a totally awesome experience, I mean listening to Bill Stevenson for so long and getting in the studio and realizing we were connecting on our thoughts and all of us seeing things the same way and after all of these years having the band, all of us in the same room. There was hesitation. Everybody was just like ‘I can’t wait to play this riff for you and see what you do to it, you know it was like that! It was like you… couldn’t wait to get in that room and just make some noise together. When we walked into that studio we all had big smiles on our faces and we just had a blast, we just had an absolute blast and I mean we walked out of the studio talking about when we were going to be able to get in for the next one, I mean it just was awesome.
It just felt like we made it back to where we came from. Like we were making a record because we wanted to, not because anybody else wanted us to, we were in that room because that’s what felt right, you know it was just killer and it’s hard to explain.

That feeling, particularly after so many ups and downs with grudges and regret in between records, it’s great to hear that it was such a positive experience for you all.
You know, you’ve got to have faith in each other to be in a band that lasts for this long, almost 18 years, you’ve really gotta have a lot of faith in each other and you’ve got to have a lot of trust in each other and one of the biggest things to learn is when to give somebody their space to be a person. You just can’t work every day, at some point you’ve got to go home and hang out with your family and you know that moment comes at different times for everybody and luckily we’ve been able to do it so long that we’ve got these connections where we can take those breaks and still know we’re family and we’re still going to be able to come back together. It takes a lot!

18 years and still to make music it’s a massive achievement, especially when you’ve all got so much going on with other projects, I’m sure it’d be easy to get distracted with these other projects.
It’s crazy but we’ve always had a special connection in this band. When we started it we were teenagers and we grew up together, we’ve seen each other go through hell and we’ve all helped each other get through everything and I don’t know, it’s different at that point, isn’t it?

And Hot Water Music is more than just a band, it’s your family now.
Yeh. That’s why we always break up (laughing) it’s why we’re always breaking up. When we start arguing over the band and everybody’s stressed out over business, like we’ve broken up twice and it’s been the same reason both times, it’s like ‘Hey, I don’t want to argue with you all the time, I’m just exhausted. I want to go home’ and we will pick this up some later time. I mean breaking up is the best thing we’ve ever done and we’ve done it twice and it just helps put some perspective on things, like what’s the important thing in this and to us it’s being able to keep doing it together and to give each other room. The long term is always the most important thing, not like ‘oh we have to strike it big’, it’s always been, how do we run the marathon and not the sprint, you know?

So the band breaking up was to keep those friendships more so than disbanding for the music?
Oh god yeah. It’s a hard thing for everyone to understand I’m sure, it’s not the kind of thing that happens every day but I don’t know, sometimes you take a step back just so you can put everything back in it’s perspective you know, like travelling, this sometimes you feel like you’re in a tunnel. It’s always just what’s in front of you and you never are anywhere you know what I mean? Like the world’s just flying by and it’s easy to loose perspective, it really is, and as much as you’re having fun all the time, by the time you get home after a six month tour and your son is like ‘So what happened? Tell me some stories’ you’re like, I can barely even process all that right now, it really scrambles you up, so after 10 years when one guy steps up and says ‘hey I need to go home’ it’s like everybody’s trying not to be that guy that admits that he’s just exhausted, everyone is trying to not be that guy, but as soon as one person says it, it’s like yeah we are all exhausted and we do need to take a break and make sure we’re doing this for the right reason you know.

And talking about that exhaustion, I mean you just said you’ve finished a second record for the year which I’m sure will have it’s own tour, is each project like a break from the other?
I don’t know. For me personally I feel like I’m usually doing my best work when I just keep going and I’m constantly trying to experiment with different kinds of sounds and songs and I’m still a huge music fan too so I’m listening to new records every day and being like ‘that’s fun I’m going to try something like that’. For me I just like to keep busy and keep writing and it’s when I actually take a break that I start stumbling a little bit and you allow yourself to get lazy and you get out of your routine and sometimes it’s hard to get that pen moving on the page, but when it’s just kind of a routine that empty page isn’t as scary to me, you know and it’s more like ‘I’m just going to have some fun writing some songs’ and honestly I probably write more songs that nobody hears than the one’s that they do, I write more bad ones than good ones and I try to have fun with it and I’m still learning, I’m still a student you know?

You can read the rest of the interview here.

Already booked:
08.06. Rome – Circolo degli Artisti (Italy)
09.06. Pinarella di Cervia – Rockplanet Club (Italy)
10.06. Maribor – Klub Gustaf (Slovenia)
12.06. Sursee – Kulturwerk 118 (Switzerland)
13.06. Geneva – L’Usine (France)
14.06. Biarritz – Atabal (France)
15.06. Clisson – Hellfest (France)

BRUJERIA live:

PUBLISHED on February 11, 2012.
UPDATED on February 19, 2012 – Slovenia date added.
UPDATED on February 25, 2012 – Switzerland show added.
UPDATED on March 5, 2012 – Six Fours Les Plages show added.
UPDATED on March 25, 2012 – Sureee show added.
UPDATED on May 11, 2012 – Clisson added.
UPDATED on May 19, 2012 – Geneva show added.

Your new album, The Industrialist, is coming out June 5, and it’s supposed to be a concept album. What’s that all about, and how did you guys decide to do a concept album?

Well, we’ve always been doing concept records ever since the early days, from Demanufacture, Obselete, Digimortal and so on, but this time we decided to take it a little bit further. We’ve always been presenting the concept of man versus technology and man versus machine. The past records have been about the perspective of the human, but this one is about the automaton, which is a robot.

The concept is about his perception, what the automaton sees, what he feels and what he learns. He’s basically a robot that collects memories and stores them. He’s fighting for his life, and for other automatons. We as humans built the automaton to help us for everyday life, but he basically turns against humans. And that’s what the story is about.

Do you think the music also is a story in itself, as in, the songs are linked to each other?

They are roughly linked to each other, yes. Burton wrote the whole story to fit with the order of the songs. So they are linked together. Musically I believe I tried to capture the soundtrack of what I saw visually in my head. I tried to write the soundtrack to the story. That’s basically what the album does.

The previous album, Mechanize, was your first album since your return to the band. This one is coming out almost exactly two years after that. Would you say it was easier for you to write this one, because you’ve been with the band for a couple of years?

Well, every project I worked on, I’ve tried to put as much as I possibly can. I dedicate myself to the project, and nothing really is too difficult for me. There are times where we go through small periods of writer’s block, but for me, I don’t really go through that too much. So it comes pretty quickly. Me and Burton started Fear Factory in 1989, so Fear Factory is in me. Every other band that I play in, you can hear my style, and you can hear Fear Factory in everything I do. So, this record was easy, not easier than the last record.

On that previous album, I believe you used 8-string guitars. On this album, have you tried anything new in terms of your gear, or have you stuck to the same thing?

I basically still use the 8-string guitar and the 7-string guitar. On the majority of the songs, it’s the 7-string, but a handful of songs have the 8-string. So yeah, I basically used the same stuff, Ibanez guitars with Seymour Duncan Blackout pickups, going to Line 6 Pod HD direct into the computer.

With 8-string guitars, I sometimes think guitarists don’t really make use of the extra strings. What makes you decide you have to use an 8-string instead of a 6-string?

For me, it’s the lower tuning and the tension. If I wanted to tune my 7-string lower, I have to get the thick strings, and the tension would be really sloppy. So for me, using the baritone 8-string definitely helps out with the tension on the low strings. Obviously you want to try to be heavy. I only use the 8-string on the slower songs. When I use it to play fast, it doesn’t always come out that great. So I only use it on the slower songs. For me, I can do a lot more harmonies, a lot more octaves with the low F to the higher strings, and it opens up my playing quite a lot. I use a lot of harmonies on the songs, and the 8-string works perfectly for that purpose.

There were quite a few lead guitar parts and solos on the Mechanize album, which was something new for Fear Factory. This time, what was your songwriting approach?

I believe the songwriting on this record is much more definitive of Fear Factory. Mechanize was a record on which Gene Hoglan was playing drums with us. There was a lot more of thrash element in certain parts of the album. But on this record, our approach was that we used a drum program on the computer. Basically, me and Burton decided to take control of creating the record ourselves, of course, with the help of Rhys Fulber, our producer. But in the beginning, we decided to do it ourselves so that it would be more of us, more of Fear Factory, and less thrash. A lot less guitar solos, but very ripping, very fast and hard-hitting. I think this record is more classic Fear Factory.

I do agree with that, because it does sound like classic Fear Factory. But I was going to ask you about the drummer thing. You programmed the drums on the album, but what’s the situation when you’re on tour. Who’s your live drummer?

It’s called a Mac computer. He’s our drummer [laughs]. No, but seriously, we have a live drummer. His name is Mike Heller, and he is in a band called Malignancy. He is playing all the songs and doing a great job. I think right now we are tighter. We feel like a really tight unit right now. We’ve got Matt DeVries on bass. He was the guitar player in Chimaira, but he’s playing bass for us. For Fear Factory, we always wanted our bassist to be like a second guitar player. So Matt pretty much does everything I do, and it definitely makes us really tight on the low end part. Then you’ve got Mike Heller on drums who’s a very tight drummer, very technical and just super solid. I think our band right now, me, Matt and Mike are very tight with each other. Very locked.

Speaking of these changes, obviously Byron Stroud was the bassist and Gene was with you guys. You did so many shows after Mechanize was released. You toured everywhere, on your own and with Metallica as well. So do you feel like it’s a big change for you with these two guys now not in the band?

No, not at all. I didn’t feel like it was a big change at all. I mean, of course we miss them as friends, because we toured with them for the last three years, but everybody does their thing. Byron is playing in 3 Inches Of Blood now and Gene is playing in .. every band [laughs]. Gene is one of those drummers that everybody needs. You’re lucky if you get him, you know what I mean? Right now he’s doing Testament, he’s doing Dethklok, he’s doing a lot of stuff. But I do believe we have really good, solid players in Mike Heller and Matt DeVries. The band sounds really tight and solid, and I’m really happy about it. I wouldn’t pick shitty musicians.

And then of course, there’s your vocalist, Burton. I think his clean vocals have been getting better and better, and this is the best he’s sounding. Of course, he’s always been good when it comes to the aggressive style of vocals. Do you feel that as well, about his clean vocals?

We really paid attention to vocals on this record. We wanted to make sure that he sounded the best. We wrote songs in his more natural key, if you know what I mean. Everybody has a certain pitch that they can hit. If it’s too high, you can’t reach it. So we not decided not to go that high, and we kept everything within his vocal range. I think that was a very, very comfortable and natural range for him, and that’s why he sounds the best in that range.

Coming back to your gear, you still have other bands like Divine Heresy and Asesino. Does your setup and gear change from Fear Factory to those bands?

It changes. I’ve used different stuff on recordings. For some of the Divine Heresy stuff, I’ve used a Marshall and a Peavey 5150 together. I’ve used the 6505 on some recordings with Asesino and Divine Heresy, but the majority of my stuff for Fear Factory is through Line 6. It has got more of a digital tone, and it has a certain responsiveness and tone that suits Fear Factory.

The album comes out pretty soon, so what are your touring plans for the rest of the year?

We’re on tour right now [laughs]. We started two weeks ago in South America, and now we’re doing this US tour. And then when we’re done, we fly to Europe to do a bunch of festivals with Metallica and a bunch of bands. Then in July we start the Shockwave Tour, which is a run through US and Canada, and it goes into August. In September, we go to Australia, New Zealand, Japan and October to December, we’ll be going back to Europe for the headlining tour. So we’re pretty much all booked up all year.

That sounds great, man. The final question I have for you is, you’ve also been known to be a producer, taking care of bands in the LA area and stuff like that. Have you been doing any of that lately, or did you just not get the time?

I don’t have the time at all. I’m trying to finish the next Divine Heresy record and the next Asesino record, so that’s where a lot of my time has been going lately. Ever since I finished the Fear Factory record, I started working on the other ones. So that’s my main goal, because both Divine Heresy and Asesino have a strong following in their own little genre. Asesino is the hardcore Latino genre of music, and we’re strong. With Divine Heresy, we’ve got a fan base as well. So I have to finish those records.

FEAR FACTORY live:

Tour Dates:
02.06. Rottmanshagen – Rotti Rockt Festival (Germany)
25.06. Limoges – CC John Lennon (France) + MADBALL
14.07. Verona – Verona Hardcore Fest 5 (Italy)
03.08. Augsburg – Kantine (Germany) + MADBALL
25.08. Meer – Akkerpop (Belgium)

Previous dates:
21.01.2012 Oberhausen – Turbinenhalle (Germany) + EMP PERSISTENCE TOUR feat. SUICIDAL TENDENCIES, BIOHAZARD, TERROR, WALLS OF JERICHO, LIONHEART, CRUSHING CASPARS + NASTY + STILL SCEAMING + RATFACE
28.01. Almere – Podium De Meester (Netherlands)
11.02. Goes – t’Beest (Netherlands)
24.03. Sint-Niklaas – OJC Kompas (Belgium)
31.03. Sarstedt – JUZ Klecks (Germany)

THE SETUP documentary:

PUBLISHED on December 29, 2011.
UPDATED on February 05, 2012 – more dates added.
UPDATED on February 19, 2012 – Sint-Niklaas show added.
UPDATED on February 25, 2012 – Verona date added.
UPDATED on April 8, 2012 – Limoges show added.
UPDATED on May 12, 2012 – Augsburg added.
UPDATED on May 18, 2012 – Meer added

Booked so far:
06.07. Roskilde – Roskilde Festival (Denmark)
07.07. Torgau – In Flammen Festival (Germany)
09.07. Ingolstadt – Eventhalle Westpark (Germany)
10.07. Wien – Viper Room (Austria)
11.07. Pecs – Rockmarathon Festival (Hungary)
12.07. München – Backstage (Germany)
14.07. Alperstedt – Stoned From The Underground (Germany)
15.07. Dour – Dour Festival (Belgium)
04.08. Motala – Motala Hardcore Fest (Sweden)
07.08. Berlin – Bi Nuu (Germany)
08.08. Warsaw – Progresja (Poland)
09.08. Jaromer – Brutal Assault (Czech Republic)
10.08 Köln – Underground (Germany)
11.08. Derbyshire – Bloodstock Open Air (Great Britain)
12.08. Ieper – Ieper Fest (Belgium)
13.08. Saarbrücken – Garage (Germany)
14.08. Marburg – KFZ (Germany)
15.08. Cham – LA Cham (Germany) + JASTA
16.08. Luzern – Schüür (Switzerland) + JASTA
17.08. Dinkelsbühl – Summerbreeze Festival (Germany)
18.08. Theix – Motocultour Festival (France)

CROWBAR live:

PUBLISHED on March 18, 2012.
UPDATED on March 23, 2012 – Brutal Assault added.
UPDATED on April 1, 2012 – Alperstedter See bei Erfurt and Dinkelsbühl dates added
UPDATED on April 8, 2012 – more dates added.
UPDATED on April 15, 2012 – more dates added.
UPDATED on April 20, 2012 – Ingolstadt and Munchen shows added.
UPDATED on April 28, 2012 – Marburg, Motola and Warsaw shows added.
UPDATED on May 11, 2012 – more dates added.
UPDATED on May 18, 2012 – Cham show added.

Also on the bill were TOUCHE AMORE, and NIGHT SINS.

More videos coming soon.

DEFEATER:

CODE ORANGE KIDS:

BIRDS IN ROW:

PUBLISHED on May 5, 2012.
UPDATED on May 16, 2012 – CODE ORANGE KIDS added.
UPDATED on May 18, 2012 – DEFEATER added.

2 dates have been already confirmed:
20.07. Schloss Holte-Stukenbrock – Serengeti Festival (Germany)
21.07. Copenhagen – HC Showdown (Denmark) + TRAPPED UNDER ICE
22.07. Cuxhaven – Deichbrand Open Air (Germany)
22.07. Oberhausen – Devilside (Germany)
23.07. Drachten – Iduna (Netherlands)
26.07. München – Free & Easy (Germany) FREE SHOW
27.07. Bausendorf-Olkenbach – Riez Open Air (Germany)
28.07. Sarnthein (Bolzano/Bozen) – Rock In Dusty Valley (Italy)
29.07. Vimercate – Arci Arcopolis (Italy)
31.07. Graz – Explosiv (Austria)
01.08. Stuttgart – Universum (Germany)
02.08. Schweinfurt – Alter Stattbahnhof (Germany)
04.08. Enschede – Geuzenpop (Netherlands)
07.08. Bydgoszcz – Estrada Stagebar (Poland)
10.08. Torgau – Endless Summer Open Air (Germany)
12.08. London – Underworld (Great Britain)

IGNITE live in São Paulo, 2007:

IGNITE live at Bizarre Festival 2001:

PUBLISHED on January 20, 2012.
UPDATED on March 3, 2012 – more shows added.
UPDATED on March 11, 2012 – Sarnthein show added.
UPDATED on MArch 24, 2012 – Oberhausen and Bausendorf-Olkenbach shows added.
UPDATED on May 11, 2012 – more dates added.
UPDATED on May 18, 2012 – London added.