New Fear Factory in 2009?!

This just in from the "this would totally kick ass" department:

Apparently Fear Factory's myspace has been updated with a little piece that says "New Album and World Tour in 2009!".... and that's it.

Not too long ago, some friends and I were debating if Fear Factory was possibly on the verge of announcing their breakup. Obviously since the departure of Dino Cazares, the band has struggled to catch their feet. I personally feel that they've released some of their best material post-Dino (meaning tracks moreso than entire albums, Obsolete and Demanufacture are nearly unbreakable), but that doesn't change the fact that the band has struggled to hold down a label and breakup rumors have been completely rampant for years since.

Vocalist Burton C. Bell is currently fresh off of touring with Ministry on the C U LaTour, right into his own Ascension of the Watchers. The rest of the band is doing duty on a new project called Arkaea with Threat Signal vocalist Jon Howard.

Suddenly you see why having "breakup" and "Fear Factory" in the same sentence doesn't seem so radical of a thing to say, whereas "new album" and "Fear Factory" kind of does.

Not to be a doubter of the band, because believe me, i'd LOVE a new Fear Factory album. Plus, time off and away generally gives bands a fresh outlook on their old mundane workhorse. But, We still have 6 months left in 2008, and though i'd love to consider a simple quote on a myspace as a completely official statement from the band -- all they have to do is take it down, and they can essentially deny it ever happened.

That being said, as soon as it's "officially announced" as being worked on -- i'll jump about six feet in the air, then jump on here and post about it.

Let's also give the band props -- to my knowledge this is the first major 2009 album release announcement for a mainstream metal band. Keep your eyes and ears peeled for more details, and as soon as I see/hear any, i'll be sure to talk about them.