Speaking recently with Rock Talks, ex-Fear Factory vocalist Burton C. Bell spoke about his progress with his forthcoming debut solo album under his own name. Bell launched that project several years ago, having released a handful of singles since. Newly asked by the aforementioned publication of where that record currently stands, Bell responded [transcribed by Blabbermouth.net]:
“I’m here in L.A. finishing it up right now, recording. We have 11 songs, brand new songs. I got one more song to record — well, two more songs to finish — and then I’m gonna start shopping.”
He further clarified that none of the previously released singles will be featured on the official track listing, offering:
“It’s 10 new songs — completely new songs. I think ‘Savages‘ will be part [of it], maybe like a bonus track, because ‘Savages‘ is the first single I did with the band I’m currently working with. So I would like ‘Savages‘ to be like a bonus track.”
As for what fans can expect from the music featured on this effort, he went on to say:
“Something I wanted to do with my solo career — I did not wanna focus on one particular band or one particular genre, because I’ve not only been in Fear Factory, I was in G/Z/R, I was in Ascension Of The Watchers, and I was in City Of Fire. I’ve been guest vocalist of many different bands. I was the guest vocalist for Ministry for a couple years.
So what I decided to do was to encapsulate everything I’ve ever done. I love heavy, groovy, dark and moody music. So I’m taking all my favorite parts of all these bands and creating a whole new sound. I’m not trying to be Fear Factory, I’m not trying to be City Of Fire, I’m not trying to be The Watchers, I’m not trying to be G/Z/R. But you can hear elements of everything I’ve ever done in all the new songs… And it’s unmistakable. Once people hear the music, [they] might [go], like, ‘Whoa, what’s going on here?’ I mean, it’s still heavy, but it’s, like, oh, it’s obviously me singing. So it’s, like, ‘Okay, it sounds like Burton.’ So it’s, like, ‘Oh, this is cool.'”
When asked about potential release plans for the effort, Bell stated:
“Hopefully soon. Like I said, we’re finishing up the final recordings, and the next project is to shop it. I would like to have distribution through a label to put it out. ‘Cause doing the singles on my own, it was good — it helped me keep my name out there — but it’s a lot of work. It’s a lot of work. And having a label come in and… Maybe we’ll have some financial help from a label to where we could pay for P.R., that kind of stuff. Or maybe enough to get us on a tour.”
As for if any potential guests will make it onto the record, he offered:
“I am talking to a couple of people. A couple of people were suggested to me. I’m, like, ‘Huh, I guess so.’ I’m not gonna say any names, but there’s a couple people I’m talking to — old friends.”
