Finding out that The Faceless are a technical death metal band not only did it make me look into their back catalogue, it also helped me realise that when they do come to tour Australia next year with Necrophagist, Dying Featus and Aborted as part of the Summer Slaughter Tour, I will plan to be in Sydney early in to hail the newcomers. These musicians are all young, having formed the band in 2005, and amazingly they were capable of releasing some of the finer tech/prog death material I have heard in some time, so I was pleasantly surprised.
Now, I have heard “Akeldama” and I will tell you straight away that this album is miles ahead of it. “Planetary Duality” is a more mature and complex release, well produced and it certainly doesn’t feel like it was rushed. It’s well thought over. This doesn’t mean the album is necessarily unique – it is different, it’s more progressive and melodic with short ambient elements within songs sound like something normally heard in fantasy or sci-fi movies (or Steve Vai tracks for that matter). Riffs, vocals and blastbeat elements are of Vader or Nile’s origin and progressive elements are in vein of Opeth especially with guitar acoustics. Spooky halloween keyboard chords every now and then are a nice touch.
The album does tend to mix clean vocals with growls so it’s fair to say that Into Eternity were probably one of the main influences in that respect. This is also noticeable through the way the breakdowns work within the structure of the song which is not all that desirable. However, The Faceless take it further. Their spooky guitar solos draw emotions - reminds me of King Diamond. The band also uses voice effects (picture 60’s space robots). Mixing black metal with death metal on “XenoChrist” and “Sons of Belial” is also well received. “Sons of Belial” has a killer intro, an epitome of death metal that I can’t shake out of my head.
If you’re looking for another “The Sound of Perseverance” you won’t find it here. What you will stumble upon is an improved version of Into Eternity knocking on Vader’s door. I highly recommend getting this, listen to “Legions of the Serpant” and you will know why.
Track Listing:
1. Prison Born
2. The Ancient Covenant
3. Shape Shifters
4. Coldly Calculated Design
5. Xeno Christ
6. Sons of Belial
7. Legion of the Serpent
8. Planetary Duality I : Hideous Revelation
9. Planetary Duality II : A Prophecies Fruition
