This article needs additional citations for verification .(September 2018) |
Ascension of the Watchers | |
---|---|
Background information | |
Origin | Mifflinburg, Pennsylvania and New York City |
Genres | Gothic rock, alternative rock, dark ambient, industrial rock |
Years active | 2001–present |
Labels | 13th Planet, Dissonance |
Members | Burton C. Bell Jayce Lewis |
Past members | John Bechdel |
Ascension of the Watchers is an American gothic rock band from Pennsylvania. [1] It was originally formed by Burton C. Bell (Fear Factory, G/Z/R) and John Bechdel (Ministry, Fear Factory, Killing Joke, Prong, Murder, Inc.). [2]
In October 2005, they headlined The Surfacing Tour with Bechdel's other band, False Icons, and Still Life Decay, a New York City industrial metal band that Burton has recorded with. A full-length album and some "special shows" were in the planning stages for 2007, according to an announcement Burton made on the official Ascension of the Watchers website in October 2006. In July 2018, Burton announced Ascension of the Watchers would be recording their second studio album titled Apocrypha, originally named Stormcrow. The band also announced the addition of Welsh solo artist Jayce Lewis whom also produced and mixed the new album at his studio in Wales. [3] [4] [5]
Following the departure of Burton C. Bell from metal band Fear Factory [6] due to internal disputes, Bell announced the release of his debut EP/mini album Iconoclast in June 2005 with long time friend John Bechdel originally released as 12" vinyl, the EP was written and recorded at Bechdel's home in rural Pennsylvania. [7]
In 2018, Burton C. Bell announced the recording of a new album with a working title Stormcrow. Following a successful Pledgemusic campaign, Bell teamed up with Solo artist Jayce Lewis to produce and mix the new album, during recording Pledgemusic announced a liquidation order [8] leaving the band no option but to continue, later announcing the signing to Dissonance Records with an album release date of October 9, 2020. [9]
David Warren Ellefson is an American musician, best known for his long tenure as the bassist for thrash metal band Megadeth.
Fear Factory is an American heavy metal band formed in Los Angeles in 1989. Throughout the band's career, they have released ten full-length albums and have evolved through a succession of sounds, all in their main style of industrial metal. Over the years, Fear Factory has seen frequent changes in its lineup, with lead vocalist Burton C. Bell being the only consistent member for 31 years until his departure in 2020. Guitarist Dino Cazares is the only original member still in the band. The band went on hold in March 2002 following some internal disputes, but resumed activity a year later without founding member Cazares. Previous bassist Christian Olde Wolbers replaced him as the new guitarist, and bassist Byron Stroud joined the band. In April 2009, a new lineup was announced. Cazares returned as guitarist, and Gene Hoglan as drummer. Bell and Stroud reprised their respective roles, and this lineup recorded the band's seventh studio album titled Mechanize (2010). Former members Wolbers and Raymond Herrera—both of whom were playing in Arkaea—disputed the legitimacy of the new lineup, and a legal battle from both parties had begun. Despite this, Fear Factory has since released three more albums: The Industrialist (2012), Genexus (2015) and Aggression Continuum (2021).
Symphony X is an American progressive metal band from Middletown, New Jersey. Founded in 1994, the band consists of guitarist Michael Romeo, keyboardist Michael Pinnella, drummer Jason Rullo, lead vocalist Russell Allen and bassist Michael LePond.
Archetype is the fifth studio album by American heavy metal band Fear Factory. It was the first album by the band not to feature Dino Cazares, with Christian Olde Wolbers handling both bass and guitar duties. It was released on April 20, 2004, through Liquid 8. It debuted at No. 30 on the Billboard 200 chart and is their highest charting album to date.
Heaven Shall Burn is a German extreme metal band from Saalfeld, formed in 1995. The band consists of vocalist Marcus Bischoff, guitarists Maik Weichert and Alexander Dietz, bassist Eric Bischoff and drummer Christian Bass. They are currently signed to Century Media. They have released eight studio albums, as well as a number of other records. One of their albums, Veto, entered the German album charts at number 2 in 2013, with their latest, Of Truth and Sacrifice, reaching number 1.
Demanufacture is the second studio album by American heavy metal band Fear Factory, released on March 3, 1995, by Roadrunner Records. It is the band's first album with their classic line-up, adding new bassist Christian Olde Wolbers, who performed on close to half of the album's tracks, with guitarist Dino Cazares handling the rest. Many regard it as the band's best album and a heavy metal classic. The album was certified Gold in Australia by ARIA and Silver in the UK by the BPI.
Concrete is the first recording by Fear Factory. The first album to be produced by Ross Robinson, it was intended to be Fear Factory's first release, however the album was shelved after the band declined a record contract presented to the band by Robinson. Subsequently, the album was shelved, with Robinson retaining the master tapes and the band retaining the song rights; half of which were re-recorded a year later and released on their debut album Soul of a New Machine. In 2002, Robinson sold the master tapes to Roadrunner, who subsequently released the album on July 30, 2002, though the band members have had divided opinions on its release.
Digimortal is the fourth studio album by American heavy metal band Fear Factory, released on April 24, 2001 by Roadrunner Records. It is a concept album and the final part of a trilogy that started with Demanufacture and continued with Obsolete. It was the band's last album before officially breaking up in March 2002, though they reformed in 2003.
Obsolete is the third studio album by American heavy metal band Fear Factory, released on July 28, 1998, through Roadrunner Records. It was produced by Fear Factory, Greg Reely and Rhys Fulber, the latter of whom wrote, arranged and performed all of the album's keyboard parts, and was the band's first full album to feature bassist Christian Olde Wolbers, who performed on around half of the tracks of the band's previous album Demanufacture (1995).
Christian Olde Wolbers is a Belgian musician, songwriter and producer. He is the bassist and backing vocalist of the rap metal/nu metal band Powerflo, and the bass player of the thrash metal band Vio-lence. He is also a former bassist, guitarist and backing vocalist of the industrial metal band Fear Factory, and the hardcore punk/crossover thrash band Beowülf.
Genexus is the ninth studio album by American heavy metal band Fear Factory, released on August 7, 2015. It is the third Fear Factory album since guitarist Dino Cazares rejoined the band in 2009, their first album to feature drummer Mike Heller, and the final album they released with vocalist Burton C. Bell before his departure from the band in 2020, although his vocals appear on the band's next album, Aggression Continuum, which was initially recorded in 2017 but not released until four years later. Genexus is also Fear Factory's first release through Nuclear Blast. Upon its release, the album received positive reviews from critics.
Hatefiles is a compilation album by American heavy metal band Fear Factory, released by Roadrunner Records on April 8, 2003. It contains rare, unreleased and remixed tracks. The album is notable as it contains "Terminate", the last song to be recorded with original guitarist Dino Cazares until his return to the band in 2009. Graphic designer Dave McKean's artwork is also used.
Armored Saint is an American heavy metal band formed in Los Angeles, California in 1982. Since 1990, the band has consisted of John Bush on lead vocals, Joey Vera on bass, Jeff Duncan on guitar and the Sandoval brothers on drums and guitar, respectively. Of the current lineup, Bush and Vera are the two constant members. To date, the band has released eight studio albums, one EP, two live albums and one compilation album.
The discography of Fear Factory, an American heavy metal band, consists of ten studio albums, three compilation albums, two remix albums, one demo album, one video album, five extended plays, twenty-one singles and thirteen music videos. Fear Factory formed in 1989, signing to Roadrunner Records three years later. The band's debut studio album, Soul of a New Machine, was released in 1992. The following year, Fear Is the Mindkiller was released as an EP, featuring remixes by Rhys Fulber and Bill Leeb of Front Line Assembly. In 1995, Fear Factory released their second studio album, Demanufacture, which peaked at number 27 on the UK Albums Chart, and was later certified silver by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI); it was followed two years later by another remix project, Remanufacture , which this time featured contributions from a number of different remixers, including many techno-oriented artists, as well as the band themselves.
The Last Sucker is the eleventh studio album by industrial metal band Ministry, released in 2007 through 13th Planet Records. For three years until their reformation in 2011, it was the band's last studio album featuring new material.
Burton Christopher Bell is an American musician and vocalist. He is best known as the co-founder and former frontman of the metal band Fear Factory. Until 2021 he was the only member to perform on all of the band's albums. His singing style mixes clean and shouted vocals with death growls.
Mechanize is the seventh studio album by American heavy metal band Fear Factory. It is the only album to feature Gene Hoglan on drums and the first since 2001's Digimortal to include original guitarist and founding member Dino Cazares, who rejoined the band after a reconciliation with lead vocalist Burton C. Bell, in April 2009. The album was produced by Rhys Fulber, who had not produced or been involved with a Fear Factory album since Archetype. The album has received mostly positive reviews from fans and music critics, being praised for its very aggressive and heavy sound. In its first week of release, the album sold 10,000 copies.
Jason Charles Lewis known professionally as Jayce Lewis is a Welsh musician from Bridgend, South Wales. In 2009 his self-produced single titled "Icon" achieved a top-10 chart position alongside VH1/MTV Asia Viacom18 features. With strong industrial music and synthpop influences, his music has been described as alternative rock with electronica roots and "tribal percussion". Lewis has collaborated with acts such as Queen Rammstein and synthpop icon Gary Numan, for whom Lewis has been a supporting act three times.
The Industrialist is the eighth studio album by American heavy metal band Fear Factory, released on June 5, 2012.
Aggression Continuum is the tenth studio album by American heavy metal band Fear Factory, released on June 18, 2021. It is the band's first studio album since Genexus (2015), marking the longest gap between two albums in their entire career.