Fear Factory’s Dino Cazares recently explained why Italian-born vocalist Milo Silvestro was chosen to replace the band’s original singer Burton C. Bell three years ago. He shared insights about the selection process in an interview with Headbangers News.
Cazares discussed Silvestro’s adaptation to professional touring and his natural grasp of Fear Factory’s distinctive vocal style.
“It’s been three years — pretty much exactly three years. [Milo Silvestro] pretty much adapted well. He wasn’t really a professional touring musician ’cause he didn’t tour a lot, but he definitely played live a lot in his local area. But as far as touring, he wasn’t really that experienced,” Cazares said. “That was the one thing that he had to learn, and he definitely learned along the way. He adapted very quickly, so that was easy.”
The guitarist emphasized how Silvestro’s familiarity with the band’s music set him apart from other candidates during auditions.
“But as far as singing and as far as knowing the Fear Factory style, he was a big fan of the band. He was definitely influenced by our past singer. So that’s how he learned pretty much how to sing heavy and melodic and do the combination of heavy growls and melodic vocals,” he continued. “That was pretty easy for him to just jump right in and sing for the band.”
Cazares revealed what ultimately convinced him that Silvestro was the right choice for Fear Factory.
“I mean, when I auditioned him, he sang 15 songs and he didn’t have to look at the lyrics. ‘Cause I auditioned other singers, and they only knew the three songs that I told him to sing. They had to look at their phone and look at the lyrics,” he said. “When Milo came in, he sang the three songs without having to look at the lyrics at his phone or nothing. He knew them right away. I’m, like, ‘Wow. Let’s try some more.’ He did more and more and more. I was, like, ‘Wow, this guy is really a big fan.’ He has the Fear Factory sound. That’s the reason why I chose him.”
Silvestro’s journey to becoming Fear Factory’s frontman began during a turbulent period for the band. This followed significant internal changes and legal challenges that reshaped the group’s future.
Loudwire reported that Silvestro is an Italian electronic metal musician who performs under the name Dead Channel and comes from a deeply musical family. His mother works as a vocal coach while his father is a professional blues guitarist and songwriter, providing him with a strong musical foundation from an early age. The vocalist began his musical journey as a drummer at age 12. He later studied classical percussion at a conservatory in Rome before transitioning to metal vocals around age 19 to channel personal struggles.
The vocalist selection process came after Burton C. Bell’s departure from Fear Factory in September 2020. This occurred amid ongoing legal disputes that had plagued the band. Metal Injection noted that Cazares resolved these legal issues around June 2020 to regain full control of the band name. After this, he shifted his focus from auditions for his solo project to finding a permanent vocalist for Fear Factory. Silvestro was ultimately selected from over 300 candidates, largely based on his Fear Factory cover videos that demonstrated his understanding of the band’s sound.
The extensive audition process that Cazares described reflects the thorough approach taken to find Bell’s replacement. Blabbermouth revealed that Silvestro has spoken about his approach to singing as Burton C. Bell’s replacement, acknowledging the influence of the original vocalist while bringing his own interpretation to the role. The new lineup features Cazares as the only original member alongside Silvestro on vocals, Mike Heller on drums, and Tony Campos on bass.
Since joining the band, Silvestro has been actively touring with Fear Factory. This marks a significant transition from his previous experience performing primarily in local venues to the demands of professional touring that Cazares mentioned. The vocalist’s background in electronic metal through his Dead Channel project has provided him with a unique perspective that complements Fear Factory’s industrial metal sound. His extensive knowledge of the band’s catalog proved crucial during the selection process.
