Editing Fear Factory (section)

===First return and ''Archetype'' (2002–2004)===
{{main|Archetype (Fear Factory album)}}
{{More citations needed section|date=December 2014}}
{{Quote box|width=25%|When you look up the definition of the word, Archetype, it's the actual model from which everything else is copied. Fear Factory is that in my opinion, and Archetype is a defining moment for us. Listen to this record, and you'll know exactly where all these other bands came from.<ref name="LS">{{cite web |url= http://www.loudside.com/music/artists/id/25/ |title= Biography |access-date= March 15, 2007 |publisher= Loudside.com}}</ref>|Burton C. Bell |align= right}}

Over time, tensions within the band developed between Dino Cazares and the other members, particularly Burton C. Bell and Raymond Herrera. When asked about the breakup in May 2002, Cazares made claims and allegations against Bell and the other members, stating that Fear Factory could continue without Christian Olde Wolbers and that he and Raymond Herrera were primarily motivated by money.<ref name="Blab1">{{cite web |author= Krgin, Borivoj |url= http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=3437 |title= EXCLUSIVE: DINO CAZARES Speaks Out On FEAR FACTORY Split – May 13, 2002 |access-date= March 14, 2007 |publisher= [[Blabbermouth.net]]}}</ref> Herrera responded to these allegations on behalf of the other band members, saying that Cazares was motivated by money and emphasizing Olde Wolbers' influence on the band's sound.<ref name="Blab2">{{cite web |author= Krgin, Borivoj |url= http://www.blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=359 |title= Ex-FEAR FACTORY Drummer RAYMOND HERRERA: "DINO CAZARES Is Just A Bitter, Bitter, Fat Man" – May 20, 2002 |date = December 24, 2001|access-date= March 14, 2007 |publisher= [[Blabbermouth.net]]}}</ref> According to Herrera, the other band members would often come up with new ideas they wanted to incorporate into Fear Factory's sound, but their suggestions were dismissed or openly ridiculed by Cazares, causing a rift between him and the other members that ultimately led to the band's breakup.  In the same interview, Herrera also revealed that Cazares had attempted to control the direction of the band by manipulating their business management and record company, and had openly lied to the other members about his actions.<ref>{{cite web|title=FEAR FACTORY's HERRERA: We're Better Off Without DINO CAZARES|date = May 2, 2003|url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=11702|publisher=BlabberMouth}}</ref>

Herrera and Olde Wolbers reunited later in 2002 and laid the foundations for the return of Fear Factory. Cazares was then permanently out of the band. Bell was approached with their demo recordings and was impressed enough to rejoin the band and Fear Factory was re-formed. Olde Wolbers switched to guitar and [[Byron Stroud]] of [[Strapping Young Lad]] was approached to join the band as a bassist. He was a member from 2003 until 2012. The bassist would also be in a side project with Bell called City OF Fire.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.metallian.com/fearfactory.php |title=Fear Factory biography |website=Metallian.com |date=7 January 2023 |access-date=8 January 2023}}</ref> Cazares continued recording and performing with his side project called [[Asesino]], a Mexican [[deathgrind]] band. In 2007, he also started a new group called [[Divine Heresy]].

Fear Factory made its live return as the mystery band at the Australian [[Big Day Out]] festival in January 2004, followed by its first American shows since re-forming on the spring [[Jägermeister]] tour with [[Slipknot (band)|Slipknot]] and [[Chimaira]]. The new lineup's first album ''[[Archetype (Fear Factory album)|Archetype]]'' was released on April 20, 2004, through new record label [[Liquid 8 Records]] based in [[Minnesota]]. With ''Archetype'', Fear Factory returned to an alternative, industrial, metal sound; the album is generally considered to be a strong 'return-to-form' record, if not a particularly innovative effort, with most of the trademark elements of the band firmly in place.

Videos were shot for the songs "[[Cyberwaste]]", "[[Archetype (Fear Factory song)|Archetype]]", and "Bite the Hand That Bleeds"; the latter featured on the [[Saw (soundtrack)|''Saw'' film soundtrack]]. The band performed on further tours with [[Lamb of God (band)|Lamb of God]] and [[Mastodon (band)|Mastodon]] in the US and with [[Mnemic]] in Europe. The new Fear Factory has largely abandoned the direct "Man versus Machine" theme prevalent on earlier releases in favor of subjects such as religion, war, and [[corporatism]].