![]() ![]() This is "Akeldama", the debut album from The Faceless, and by the gods it is amazing. Make no mistake, however this album is still extremely technical all the while remaining completely focused. This album is fairly similar in overall sound to it's successor, however, it features more of a focus on brutality and heaviness rather than technicality. The music was insanely technical and progressive, yet crushing and brutal at the same time. Immediately my curiosity was aroused and I listened to that record. All I remember is I was on YouTube one day, and saw another user's icon was of the album artwork for "Planetary Duality", which is the band's second full-length released two years following this one. I can't quite recall what really enticed me to listen to them. I first heard them with their acclaimed "Planetary Duality" album in 2010, towards the end of that year. The Faceless is a death metal band that I have been listening to for quite some time now. There is not one thing you'll have a serious issue with. For deathcore and death metal fans, please pick this album up. It has lots of technicality, brutality, solid performances from each aspect, an excellent solo to finish it off, and all in all is just very satisfying to listen to. My favorite track on the album is Leica, because it captures everything I'd want in a metal song. Also, having breakdowns offers more taste to the album and makes it seem less stale. The reason I prefer Akeldama to the other Faceless albums is that it is more original, rawer, nostalgic, memorable, and enjoyable to listen to. There is less clean singing here, less chugging, and probably the biggest difference, there are breakdowns here. In terms of changing sound from this album to the next, there really isn't a terrible difference. They have those moments of suspense which make them seem even cooler. ![]() There are less breakdowns used on this album then on your average deathcore album, but the breakdowns here are powerful and hit hard as fuck. The only time I don't enjoy them is a few parts in the title track of the album. For the most part I really enjoy the keyboards and there area couple different effects used throughout each song for more variety, but it works incredibly well. They add more taste and flavor to the music, and without the keyboards this album would seem less interesting and more stale. There are even some keyboards in the album, and they actually work very well. Like the guitars, it also sounds very realistic as if it wasn't just done by a drum machine. There is a lot of patterning and variety to it, as well as having some awesome fills. It is played at such fast speeds and still manages to stay along with the rest of the band, which is another plus. It is an ongoing storm of blastbeating and bass kicking that never lets up. If the bass was given more shining moments such as that, and was a bit louder, I would have no problem with it. It is given a couple parts like in the title track and briefly in Ghost of a Stranger. For the most part, it follows the guitars but that alone is still a plus considering how technical and complex the guitars are. The bass is at times a bit audible, and can be heard in the background if you listen closely. Overall, Michael Keene should just stick to playing guitar and not clean singing, because it is evident he is a very talented musician. Nothing sounds fake or modified at all, and it really makes the musicians shine. It seems as if it is played with such ease and grace. There is also plenty of sweeping, soloing, pinch harmonics, and less chugging that is played and it is all at the next level. These riffs are very catchy, well played, and all around are amazing. There are very fast, catchy melodic riffs being played every single song without being overused. The guitars are a huge highlight of the album. The one thing I actually hated were the clean vocals used only on Pestilence. However, I do wish his vocals were enunciated better and it was easier to understand at least some of his lines. His lows and highs are each very good and I never get tired of him. Derek Rydquist has powerful and solid vocals which speak for themselves. The vocals are excellent, they don't sound one bit weak or tired. Everything is extremely tight, and each element is proven to be used nearly to its fullest potential. Do not let it change your opinion on this album, as it is still extremely technical and well done. On this record however, they used deathcore elements as well. The Faceless is a technical death metal band from Encino.
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