FEAR FACTORY guitarist Dino Cazares has confirmed has confirmed the addition of Mike Heller (Malignancy, System Divide) to their lineup on drums.

Cazares reposted a Sick Drummer news item, which reads as follows:

"Due to conflicting obligations, Gene Hoglan recently had to step down from the Fear Factory throne, leaving it open for replacement. Dino Cazares came to us a while ago and asked if Sick Drummer Magazine could help the band find the ideal guy, and we were more than happy to make several suggestions, some of which actually flew out and auditioned in person. There were many amazing players auditioned in person and via video submission, but it had to unfortunately come down to only one guy.

Dino, Burton C. Bell and Matt DeVries want to personally thank each and every guy who spent time learning the songs and to let you know this was one of the hardest decicions they have ever had to make, but in the end... Mike Heller was just the best fit for Fear Factory moving forward. Mike's abilities on the kit, transcribing notation, his feel, power and precision, are some of the best they have ever seen and they are very excited to welcome him to the Fear Factory camp."

You may know Mike Heller for his work with Malignancy or more recently, System Divide.

He studied at The Collective School of Music in NYC and has since instructed countless industry professionals and worked with them (on and off tour) to improve their technique, overcome muscle issues, gain control and a myriad of other characteristics of being a pro drummer.