Fear Factory have confirmed a surprise reunion and will play at this summer's Sonisphere and Bloodstock festivals in the UK.

Metal Hammer reveals that Burton C Bell and Dino Cazares, who put the band on hold after their seventh album, 2005's Transgression, had known for some time their new project would be the return of their classic band, along with Fear Factory's last bassist Byron Stroud and drummer Gene Hoglan of Testament fame.

Vocalist Bell says: "We were friends before we were in a band together and after a while we forgot what it was all about.

"The first time we saw each other in a long time was at the Ministry show in LA, and we just started talking again. It was like, I don't really remember what it was all about. Friendships will return."

Cazares explains: "Yesterday was our first rehearsal - it was amazing. The vibe was really good. It felt like we'd never stopped jamming."

The metal act say they've learned lessons from working with other musicians and want to experiment with a "different flavour" of Fear Factory. Bell says: "Wherever me and Dino go it'll be Fear Factory, I believe."

When asked what kind of new music to expect, Bell says: "We're not going to stress out about it. We're just going to write what comes naturally. That's what we always did and that's what set us apart to begin with."

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