Originally debuting in 2005, hardcore band Wrench In The Works is now releasing their sophomore album, but releasing it as their debut with Facedown Records. Though recent releases from Facedown have not gone over so well (such as the latest from Impending Doom and Thieves & Liars), the signing of Wrench In The Works to the label seems to be bringing a bit of excitement to the underground hardcore scene.

Lost Art of Heaping Coal (a reference to a verse in Romans 12) starts off quite nicely with "Dust Over Time Test." A barrage of double bass and speed metal guitars hits us hard, and even the screaming in the first verse and chorus give us hope for a quality hardcore album. But for most of the rest of the record, it all starts to run together, which seems to be the problem with most albums within this specific sub-genre of hardcore. One positive, though (aside from the pleasant sound of gang vocals), is the message in the lyrics. The lyrics themselves are presented in a sort of rough-around-the-edges manner (while they have some rhythm, it's sometimes very little), yet Christ is evident. In "One Foot Out of Hell," they even sample a praise & worship song made famous by Jeff Deyo ("More love, more power, more of You in my life"). "Loaded Gun" speaks boldly about following Jesus ("To follow You is a loaded gun to my head, my love, my Lord"). Though at times the lyrics make the listener shudder, such as "Faith is the dirtiest f-word that the world has ever heard," they at least keep their songs focused on what's really important (going back to "Loaded Gun," which says "But I wanna be stolen, waiting for the thief in the night" and "For your debt has been paid, let it be proclaimed wherever there is sound").

Wrench In The Works is next in the continual stream of albums being released from Facedown, but they're certainly not the last. Though the overall sound may not be quite up to par with the more polished - but not overpolished - sounds of, say, Solid State Records' artists, there is still a lot of appeal in Facedown artists (as well as those on their newly-relaunched sister label, Strike First Records). Lost Art of Heaping Coal may very well please fans of xDEATHSTARx, Dodgin' Bullets, or even bands like Hatebreed.

- Review date: 10/12/08, written by Scott Fryberger of Jesusfreakhideout.com