Jesusfreakhideout.com: JFH Staff and Friends Pick Their "Top 10 Facedown Releases Of All Time"

My journey into heavy music started after high school. I tried some stuff like Mortification, but it was all just a bit too much. I was into punk, hard rock, and nu metal. I didn't mind some screaming parts, but that was the extent. Solid State didn't click with me initially either, as I also felt Living Sacrifice and those early bands were a little more than I liked as well. However, Facedown introduced me to hardcore music, which worked with my punk background. It was a natural fit and opened my mind up to the heavy music I had once rejected. Without Facedown Records and bands like Seventh Star, I may have always shied away from heavy music. I'm happy to celebrate this important label's 25th anniversary with a list of my favorite albums!

Honorable mentions: Supreme Chaos by War of Ages, Turn It Around by Comeback Kid, Blind Heart by Poured Out, I Am by Sleeping Giant, and There Will Be Violence by Impending Doom. --- Michael

10. For Today, Breaker
(2010)

While Breaker isn't my favorite For Today album (I think their best work was realized after they left Facedown), it is my favorite released on Facedown. There are some really great moments on the album and it's a great example of the Spirit-filled metal and hardcore that Facedown is known for. Go listen to "Arm the Masses" and get hyped up for Facedown's 25th anniversary!

9. xLooking Forwardx, The Path We Tread
(2005)

What can I say? xLooking Forwardx is hardcore punk at its finest. It's a band that I don't listen to enough, but one that always brings a smile. Their 2012 release, Down With The Ship, opened my eyes to the band, and I quickly went back through their discography. While it's all good, The Path We Tread sits atop the list.

8. My Epic, Yet
(2010)

I was between this and Violence for My Epic's showing on my list. While Violence is phenomenal, I included Yet because it's the album that introduced me to the band. It's also the album that I would recommend to a newcomer. This one is great and proved Facedown was more than screaming and breakdowns.

7. Figure Four, No Weapon Formed Against Us
(2000)

Can you even talk about Facedown without mentioning Figure Four? This is one of the label's earliest releases and is a classic for sure. From the cover art to the fantastic hardcore music, Figure Four helped to start Facedown out on a strong foot.

6. Fallstar, Backdraft
(2013)

These guys are so talented and I was so excited when they signed to Facedown. Backdraft finished number five overall in my 2013 releases and I still enjoy their genre-bending sound. The album still holds up and "Alexandria 363" is a favorite.

5. No Innocent Victim, To Burn Again
(2005)

I first heard of No Innocent Victim when I listened to Dogwood's album Through Thick & Thin (mentioned in "Joy Through Movement"). NIV is synonymous with Christian hardcore and this one is a blast. Check out "Set Apart" if you want a song that absolutely rips.

4. A Plea For Purging, The Life and Death of...
(2011)

I had never been a fan of APFP before this release, but this one changed my mind. "Room For the Dead" is an absolute banger and probably my favorite Facedown release of all-time. It's nowhere close to Plea's heaviest, but it's hands down my favorite.

3. Dens, Tamed Tongues
(2021)

Yeah, this one is super new, but I fell in love when the first single released. While Taming Tongues is a fantastic album, Dens outdid themselves in redoing all of these songs. I couldn't click "buy" on this vinyl quick enough. Facedown has a great history of heavy music, but this acoustic album falls among its best.

2. Hope For The Dying, Dissimulation
(2011)

This one is incredible. At a time when I was starting to get tired of metal and metalcore all sounding the same, Hope For the Dying released this masterpiece. This one is seriously underrated in Facedown's history.

1. Seventh Star, Dead End
(2003)

This was the first Facedown album I heard and it is still my favorite brand of hardcore. Maybe it's just nostalgia, but this is still the first album I think of when Facedown is mentioned. I love it and it will always be my favorite.