I was not an early adopter of Facedown Records - a devout Solid State kid from the start, I was admittedly not curious enough in the '00s to discover another Christian heavy label, so nearly all of my love for the label has developed from the last nine to ten years of releases. With every new signing and release, Facedown has come to represent to me an absolute authenticity: in sound, in presentation, and in message. The quality and the variety has only improved through the years, but the faith-based message has never wavered, and the music never feels overly packaged in a way designed for mass appeal. Facedown bands and releases are always true to exactly what they are, and even if I don't love every release the same, I know I'll never find a lack of sincerity. Here are my ten favorites from the label.

And one very important honorable mention to an album by The Burial: 2013's In the Taking of Flesh. A remarkably intricate technical death metal powerhouse, it is now most memorable for the blisteringly intense drum performance by the late Kaleb Luebchow, who tragically passed shortly before the writing of this article. His ferocity behind the kit leaves a lasting memory of a fearless believer and a brilliant musician gone home far too soon. RIP Kaleb. --- Evan