A band that has been rapidly making their way around the upcoming deathcore ring, Face Yourself started out with a bang two years ago with 3 EPs in a single year. That effort didn’t go unnoticed, as the band signed to Sumerian Records earlier this year. Martyr is the first EP of said collaboration, and it continues the band’s efforts to make a larger name for themselves within the scene. The long and the short of it is that if you like modern deathcore, you’ll instantly be drawn to this one.
A short, 14-minute EP with five tracks is what you will get with Martyr, but it goes for the kill with each track. While the band themselves note the impact of the Myspace-era deathcore on their sound, Face Yourself, to these ears, sound much more diverse and intriguing. There’s certainly a proponent of said era to their sound in how visceral and aggressive it is and it’s electronics usage. Don’t expect any melodic breaks or leaning into metalcore (though some nu influences are audible), Face Yourself bring potent riffing, blastbeats, breakdowns, and the wonderfully varied extreme vocals of Yasmine Liverneaux to the front at every possible moment. Opener “Primal” all but storms out of the gates following a brief sample, going straight for frantic riffing and screams, while the drum battery maintains the pace. A quick dive into a punishing breakdown brings the short intro to a close, but similar territory can be found elsewhere on the EP. “The Poet” rages with a intimidating breakdown and eerie effects to give it a more vivid color.
It’s worth noting some of the technicality that the band produces as well, not to the point of it impacting the visceral experience, but it’s there if you want to dig into it. “Saboteur” is a nice example of this in terms of the way it mixes up tempos and chugging rhythms. Check out the solo at the end of the track as well! On the vocal side of things, Liverneaux comes with highs, lows, and everything in between. Along with the changes tempos, her vocals help keep the music distinguishable as the group barrels forward. Some gang-styled vocals with other group members, such as those on “Predatory,” are a nice touch.
Face Yourself are in a great position to advance themselves. Martyr shows their particular brand of deathcore to a wider audience than previous material while continuing to advance their formula. Their strongest effort to date is an easy remark to make, and while it sticks to the genre standards, the way it plays around with them in a diverse way is bound to grab people’s attention even if they aren’t the biggest fans of deathcore.