Former Fear Factory singer Burton C. Bell addressed his thoughts on the band’s latest single in a recent conversation with Rock Talks. The discussion centered on Fear Factory’s newly released track “Roboticist,” the band’s first release featuring new vocalist Milo Silvestro and drummer Pete Webber. Bell revealed he has not listened to the song and has no plans to seek it out.
“I have not heard it. I got no comment,” Bell said. “I have a feeling it sounds like Fear Factory. So that’s all I’m gonna say.”
Bell went on to clarify that his disinterest extends beyond just the new single, noting he has avoided all of the band’s recent output since his departure.
“I’ve never seen any videos [of Fear Factory with Milo],” he continued. “I don’t watch that stuff. So I have no comment. I really have no interest to. That’s the honest truth. I’ve moved on.”
Bell’s indifference stands in stark contrast to the significance of the moment for the band he helped build. “Roboticist” represents far more than a routine single drop. The circumstances surrounding its release help explain why Bell’s reaction has drawn so much attention.
Fear Factory released “Roboticist” on August 29 via Nuclear Blast, marking the first time in the band’s 35-year history that a song did not feature Bell on vocals. The track is also the recorded debut of Silvestro and Webber. Both had already spent roughly three and a half years touring with the band before finally appearing on a studio release.
The single dropped at 2:14 a.m., timed deliberately to coincide with the fictional moment Skynet becomes self-aware in the “Terminator” film franchise. The timing underscores the band’s continued embrace of its machine-themed identity even as its lineup evolves.
Bell officially exited Fear Factory in September 2020, stating at the time that he could not align himself with someone he did not trust or respect. Silvestro stepped into the vocalist role in 2023, inheriting a catalog long inseparable from Bell’s voice. Webber took over on drums that same year.
Guitarist Dino Cazares, the band’s sole remaining original member, has spoken positively about the transition, previously saying that Silvestro “shines” on “Roboticist.” The song has already been folded into the band’s live sets, debuting during the opening night of their “Cybernetic Domination” European tour in Poznań, Poland, the same day the track was released.
