Burton C. Bell is better known as the lead singer for L.A. head-bangers Fear Factory, who have been churning out deviations into death, groove, thrash and industrial metal since the early '90s.
But lately, he's been taking a strange side route into spacetracking and Christian literature as the architect of Ascension of the Watchers, a bizarro outfit signed to 13th Planet Records, the indie label launched by Ministry iconoclast Al Jourgensen. AoTW's full-length debut Numinosum dropped recently, but the fact that Bell took inspiration for it from the Dead Sea Scrolls and the Book of Enoch are setting off Xtian Rock red flags.
Listening Post caught up with Bell to ask about whether AoTW is thumping for Tha Lord, and why he doesn't miss his Fostex 4-track.
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Wired: You're a spiritual band, butis AoTW a Xtian outfit?
Burton C. Bell: The concept, and the journey of the lyrics arespiritually based in all philosophy. We are not a Christian band. The scope ofspirituality is as broad as all the names of God in the world. The journey was a very personal one that did offer enlightenment for me at the finish.
Wired: How does your spirituality inform your work without pigeonholing it?
BCB: I would hope that peoplewho do listen to it, merely enjoy the work as a whole. The Book of Enoch wasinspirational to me inasmuch as it drove my creativity to write music andwords so very personal. But these works are never mentioned throughout the lyrics.
The idea is about a Watcher who is pleading for redemption from God.
Wired: This music is spaced out, compared to more hard-hitting work of Fear Factory orMinistry. How would you explain it to someone who had no idea what the hellyou were talking about?
BCB: I tell them that this is where thedark, atmospheric side of Fear Factory came from. Any fan would understandthat, because Fear Factory has done a few tracks close to this nature on past albums.
When we started Fear Factory, my contribution was from the dark electronic and industrialnoise aspect. That is what I liked.
Wired: Talk about working with Al J,
Ministry and 13th Planet. Why is he the right fit for AoTW?
BCB: It is a greathonor for me to be working with Al Jourgensen. His music has always been one ofmy favorite inspirations. When the opportunity arose to talk to Al about TheWatchers on 13th Planet, the dialogue was based upon artist control and community, much like his (and my favorite labels such as 4AD, WaxTrax! and Mute. He is interested in having an eclectic mix of music on hislabel, and AoTW fit the bill.
Wired: Finally, since this is Wired, what isyour favorite tech and why?
BCB: I find itextremely fascinating how the advances of music recordingtechnology jump forward every year. Right now, I am enjoying The Blackbox fromM-Audio. It is easy to carry, and easy to use; just what I need. I can writenew guitar parts and save them easily. It is like the old 4-track by Fostex!
It's that easy.
Photo: 13th Planet Records
