Mushroomhead, Fear Factory, und Cotter

Lead singer Jeffrey Nothing, drummer Skinny and keyboardist Shmotz are the only consistent members of Mushroomhead since its formation in 1993, they have seen various line up changes over the years yet their alternative metal sound has not varied greatly. Their music has a traditional heavy metal sound merged with influences of experimental genres such as techno, new age and even hip hop at times. They have named Pink Floyd, Pantera, Nine Inch Nails and Rammstein as major influences on their music and style.

The band has released all seven of their major albums on the Dirty Hands label, their first appearance on the US album charts came in 2003 with 'XIII' which peaked at #40. Their highest charting position to date is the 2014 album 'The Righteous & The Butterfly' which debuted at #20 and also topped the US Indie and Hard Rock charts.

The band is known for having an ongoing feud with Ohio metal band Slipknot mainly induced by their fan bases. There are similarities with the two bands stage personas including the use of masks and costumes. It seemed to conclude in 2009 after both sides stated in interviews they had no problem with each other and claimed the feud was mainly down to their fan bases' loyal nature. In 2010 when Paul Gray of Slipknot died Mushroomhead responded with a post on their Myspace page reading: "R.I.P. Paul Gray, This feud needs to end. Much Love and Respect to the guys in Slipknot".

Formed by vocalist Burton C. Bell, percussionist Raymond Herrera, and ex-Douche Lord guitarist Dino Cazares, Fear Factor utilises a whole host of metal and sonic soundscape as an outlet for their pessimistic view of modern society. The band contributed two songs to the L.A. Death Metal compilation, which resulted in signing with Roadrunner Records who released their debut album “Soul of a New Machine” in 1992. The album featured new bassist Andrew Shives, allowing Cazares to play guitar on tour and was followed by the electronically experimental EP “Fear Is the Mind Killer”, featuring remixes by Rhys Fulber and Bill Leeb and marking the arrival of Reynor Diego.

Prior to the band’s sophomore album of new material “Demanufacture” in 1995, Shives was fired from band and replaced by Christian Olde Wolbers. Similar to its predecessor “Demanufacture” was followed by another remix project entitled “Remanufacture (Cloning Technology”, this time Fear Factory tried their hand at electronic remix contributions along with a number of techno-orientated artists.

Following Diego’s departure and Steve Tushar arrival and a number of side-projects including Cazares and Herrera’s Brujeria, and Nailbomb, Fear Factory returned in 1998 to released their third full-length “Obsolete”. The album marked the band’s biggest success to date, with an accomplished alternative metal style within a growing hybrid market. Following appearances on several film and video game soundtracks including “Mortal Kombat” and “Test Drive 5”, and shows at Ozzfest 1999, Fear Factor’s fan base swelled ahead of their fourth studio album “Digimortal” in 2001.

The album proved to be their most commercially popular reaching the Top 40 of the Billboard 200, however marked the departure of Cazares, with Wolbers moved to guitar and Byron Stroud hired to fill the bass spot. After being dropped by Roadrunner subsequent to the tumultuous line-up, Fear Factor released a set of original 1991 recordings under the title “Concrete” in 2002. The band soon singed with Liquid 8 who issued their 2004 album “Archetype”, followed in 2005 by the relentless “Transgression”.

Fear Factor then went on a hiatus to allow old wounds to heal, returning in 2009 when Bell and Cazares had made peace with one another. With the help of Byron Stroud on bass, Gene Hoglan on drums, and the continued membership of Herrera and Wolbers, the band released the album “Mechanize” in 2010 and the concept album “The Industrialist” in 2012.