Editing Fear Factory (section)

===''Soul of a New Machine'' (1992–1994)===
{{more citations needed section|date=December 2014}}
{{Main|Soul of a New Machine}}

Fear Factory shopped the ''Concrete'' demo to various labels, and was rejected by a number of well-known metal record labels, such as [[Metal Blade Records|Metal Blade]], [[Earache Records|Earache]], [[Nuclear Blast]] and [[Peaceville Records]]. Eventually, after presenting the demo to then-[[Sepultura]] lead vocalist [[Max Cavalera]], Max was so impressed that he recommended Fear Factory to [[Artists and repertoire|A&R]] representative [[Monte Conner]], of the then-death-metal-focused Roadrunner Records label, which offered the band a recording contract.<ref name="FFF" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Trapp |first=Philip|title=Dino Cazares Recalls All the Metal Labels That Turned Down Fear Factory |url=https://loudwire.com/dino-cazares-fear-factory-labels-rejected-demo/ |access-date=2022-06-05 |website=Loudwire |date=July 22, 2021 |language=en}}</ref> While the band signed the contract, it has since become controversial because of Roadrunner's treatment of the band during the events surrounding its 2002 breakup. This was reflected in the first album ''Archetype'' (2004), which was released following the band's re-formation. The opening song with lyrics by Burton C. Bell, "Slave Labor", was direct about the band's feelings on the matter. After working with numerous bassists, Andrew Shives was hired as a live bassist prior to the release of ''Soul of a New Machine''.

Released in 1992, ''Soul of a New Machine'', which was recorded with producer Colin Richardson, gave the band greater exposure in the music scene. The sound of the album presages the mixing of metal genres which would soon be called [[alternative metal]]. The production combined Bell's harsh and melodic vocals, Herrera's machine-like drums, the integrated industrial samples and textures and the sharp, down-tuned, rhythmic, death metal riffs of Dino Cazares. Cazares and Herrera wrote all the music. Because the band had no bass player, Cazares played both guitar and bass on the recording. Jason Birchmeier of AllMusic called the album "groundbreaking" and said that "it ushered in the '90s alternative metal era".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/soul-of-a-new-machine-mw0000112438|title=Soul of a New Machine – Fear Factory {{!}} Songs, Reviews, Credits|last=Birchmeier|first=Jason|website=AllMusic|language=en-us|access-date=October 21, 2019}}</ref>

To promote the album, Fear Factory embarked on extensive U.S. tours with [[Biohazard (band)|Biohazard]], [[Sepultura]], and [[Sick of It All]]. During this period, sampler-keyboardist [[Reynor Diego]] joined the group. An album tour of Europe with [[Brutal Truth]], then [[Cannibal Corpse]], [[Cathedral (band)|Cathedral]], and [[Sleep (band)|Sleep]], followed. The next year, they hired [[Front Line Assembly]] member [[Rhys Fulber]] to remix some songs from the album, demonstrating the band's willingness to experiment with their music. The results took on a predominantly [[industrial music|industrial]] guise, and were released as the ''[[Fear Is the Mindkiller]]'' [[Extended play|EP]] (1993). ''Soul of a New Machine'' and ''Fear is the Mindkiller'' were released (2004) as a package in a new re-mastered reissue by Roadrunner Records.

In 1994, Andrew Shives was forced to leave the band.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/fear-factory-mn0000167320/biography|title=Fear Factory {{!}} Biography & History|last=Huey|first=Steve|website=AllMusic|language=en-us|access-date=October 21, 2019}}</ref> Cazares recorded both the guitar and bass for the entire album. In November the same year, the band met Belgian Christian Olde Wolbers through [[Evan Seinfeld]] of Biohazard. Wolbers auditioned for Fear Factory's permanent bassist.<ref name="FFF" /> Wolbers joined the band immediately since the band's tour was starting in two weeks.