..................................
Today I am reviewing the debut self titled full length release from Facepilot. This is a group of solid musicians who don't put any limits on the musical genres they are interested in exploring. If I had toreally try to tie it together in a word or phrase I'd say for the most part it's a really hard driving record. In my opinion the overall vibe reminds me of early Helmet or Tad. It's like seeing crazy ol' Bob come roaring down a back road in his old '82 Ford pickup, with a 12 gage cradled in his left arm and that frightening gleam in his eyes. You know the man means business and things are bound to get ugly for anyone in his way.
It would be easy to say this is just another post hardcore album. There are
definite nods to the Amprep bands of the nineties in the use of dissonance and
jarring time changes. These elements however, are used tastefully to the bands
credit.
Most of the songs on this album are really about no frills heavy handed riff
rock. The drums pound mercilessly, the bass roars thick with distortion , the
guitar rages franticly bouncing from spasms of minor key dissonance to driving
classic metal chugging, passages of dirge-like doom and even moments of spaced
out psychedelia. The vocals are furious tirades about your garden variety social
ills such as people's cats, ....Alaska....
and pink bunnies.
One of my favorite things about this record is the fact that
the more experimental elements of the songs work well within the overall
compositions and things never get too chaotic. This really gives the moments of
chaos that much more power leaving a stronger impact on the listener.
I do pride myself in being an even handed reviewer and not some slobbering fan
boy so I would have to say that this not the most original material I've heard.
While I really do like the clever arrangements and the way the different
musical styles are put together in a really focused solid way, there really
isn't anything new going on here. It's basically an auditory collage of Botch,
the Jesus Lizard, Eyehategod and ....Acid....Mothers....Temple....
which is really pretty rad. Besides, part of the original anarchist movement
from the start of the 20th century was collage art so I say more power to them.
In spite of the fact this not the most original material, I really do enjoy
Facepilot. They play with a lot intensity, raw energy and humor that really
comes through strongly on this recording which is not an easy thing to pull
off. I do also really like the fact that they maintain an excellent balance
between technicality and brute force.
Using Jimmy's time honored scale of 1 to 10 minutes in reference to the auto
erotic pleasure produced by this album I'll give
8 minutes.....
-Dave "the FJWM", http://disassembledpdx.org
****************************************************************
Saturday night sees the return of sensitive rockers Dragged By Horses with a band out of Portland called Facepilot. Given the way the music erupts like rock lava, maybe Melt-your-facepilot would've been more apt. Expect a sonic beatdown. Earplugs and steel-toed shoes recommended.
- Arcata Eye Oct. 2007
****************************************************************
Saturday the Alibi hosts Portland's Facepilot, who lay down thunderous chords propelled by driving drums, backing your classic distorted Satanic metal vocals. They're on a brief tour with Humboldt's heaviest band, Dragged by Horses.
- Northcoast Journal Oct. 2007
****************************************************************
I bought this four song Facepilot EP on a total whim in Toronto because of their namesake. It appears they're from Portland. Googling Facepilot, I found a show review and it looks like they cover Sleep's "Dragonaut." So you know they puff.
Facepilot sound like bits and pieces of this and that without being reminiscent of any one band or even genre. First off, Facepilot are supercharged in an aggressive all out way. The guitar sounds like a bastardized speed metal crossed with 90's Midwestern dissonant angst. The drums are thunderous, stomping assaults. The bass is fuzzy, fast and creeping, ala Nomeansno or Big Black. The double shout-it-out vocals just blow me away. And somehow they figure out a way to bring out some serious psychedelic drenchings.
The first cut "Alaska" is a thrashy number with serious noise-esque solos and peaks. It starts off with a bang, a double-bass drum attack while guitars and bass chug in and out of the mix. The guitar's crescendoing diminished fifths are like a huge wall similar to a Dazzling Killmen drone.
"Princess Crusher" is the instrumental track. Oddly enough, it's the least crushing of the four tunes. It's quite hook laden and melodic. It's got song writing all over it. The best parts of it sound a lot like "21st Century Schizoid Man."
"Confusing Shoes" is the most straight forward rocker in terms of song structure. Its main feature is this repetitive rhythm, dueling scream thing that they keep going back to as part of the verse and then as its own chorus. It's the take home riff of the disk.
Number four is "Meowsie." It wins both my favorite intro and solo on this EP. Technically, Facepilot is at their best on this track, weaving through many sounds and speeds. The intro is like a boogie woogie cross between no waver, James Chance and those old Canucks, Voivod. Then without a moments chug along, comes the sweeping 70's acid-fogged, delay jam. Did I mention that the intro is also the outro?
This EP is a super solid effort boys.
-Max Shushi, Stonerrock.com
****************************************************************
This one is a total grower. After hearing the first track, I have to admit that I said to myself, Okay, thrash. Whatever. I hereby apologize for that. A few more listens made me a convert, and a fan of this ....Portland.., ..OR.... band. There are only four tracks here, but they cover a pretty wide range stylistically, and the musicianship is excellent throughout the drumming is fierce but precise, and the guitar work is stellar. Princess Crusher is a prime example, featuring some blazing solos that always stay just on the right side of the line between melodic and chaotic. The way Facepilot can blend thrash with Sabbath-y grooves and an astute sense of melody is impressive. My pick of the litter goes to the song Meowsie, which really sums up what this band can do, as it travels from heavy to psychedelic and a few points in between. Long live flanges! Catch this one.
-Tim Emswiler, Stonerrock.com