Transatlantic deathcore band Face Yourself is back with another EP, Fury. It’s second since their signing with Sumerian Records earlier this year, with the release of Martyr garnering over 1.5 million streams since dropping in April.
Returning to the studio with Joey Sturgis (Asking Alexandria, The Devil Wears Prada) managing production, Fury is an aggressive and powerful release aimed at darker and more psychologically brutal themes. Yasmine Liverneaux, bringing a mind-blowing array of hardcore vocals, holds nothing back in the emotionally devastating lyrics. The band also shows off the prowess of Thomas Cardone, Corey Doremus, and Dave Ricco on guitars as all three weave together riffs that go from romantic acoustic to nostalgic crab-core style breakdowns. Corey also supplies backing vocals alongside Kyle Muenzner, who injects depth and flair on bass. Eric DiCarlo comes in with rapid-fire, blasting drums that echo through each track with (haha) fury.
‘Wet Dreams’ immediately rips into a spiraling plea to be put to sleep. Begging for the end with no sign of peace in sight. The track is full of these looping and racing instrumentals. These warring vocals are both accusatory and yearning. The ache to finally end the struggle, interspersed with these unbelievable screeches and growls.
There’s a line in ‘Fractures’ that goes “Face Yourself, Crystal Lake, Concrete smashing face” and it is the perfect way to describe this track. An instant “metal stank face” inducing song with John Centorrino’s guest vocals, this bare-faced track is about self-image and the way society pushes us to “mutilate” ourselves to meet these unrealistic standards. It’s gruesome, it’s raw, and it’s terrifying. Full of horror elements from the tape vocals, chase theme bass, and slasher-sounding guitar, it fully embraces the tone of the lyrics.
The beauty of ‘Carousel of Violence’ begins at the song’s opening with a perfect circle pit tempo. It continues in the swooping instrumental and echoing choir backgrounds. The cherry on top is the unleashed lead vocals that maintain the impression of a wicked voice in your head. The way the breakdown is a complete instrumental tone shift that perfectly breaks up the song.
My personal favorite is ‘Catacombs’. It has the calmest opening of all the other tracks and a more enticing feel. The calm doesn’t last long as the vocals erupt into being. The instrumental portion of the song feels like it’s hunting you down. They’re heavy and imposing. This track also has the closest thing to clean vocals in the EP. To follow it with the acoustic guitar that creates this oasis in the darkness that is swiftly shattered. It’s a perfect example of the range Face Yourself is capable of.
The EP closes out with ‘Ov Agony’, and it’s a stunning end to what is a remarkable album. A declaration of an ending with all the gravity of a world bearing down upon shoulders. A song that ends in screams and shattering, left to lament in darkness. The theatrics of the lyrics are heightened by the rest of the band. The haunting energy remains, the shifting paces leave you unmoored. Then, to fade out with warped riffs that feel like a scene ending.
Face Yourself has once again done an amazing job of creating an EP that sounds like no other. It’s theatrical and exciting with no lulls in energy. Including their widely successful tour with Crystal Lake, VCTMS, and Not Enough Space, the band has had a widely successful year. They also show no signs of stopping as they gear up for a second tour supporting Signs of the Swarm, starting in October.
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