Facedown Records
Facedown Records is a Christian record label based in Fallbrook, California, devoted mostly to hardcore punk and metalcore bands (Christian and secular). Founded by No Innocent Victim drummer Jason Dunn,[1] the label started off small with a number of 7" record releases by bands such as Overcome, Dodgin Bullets, and Born Blind. As the label grew, it was able to sign artists for full album deals. xDisciplex and The Deal, who were both popular in the Christian and secular scenes,[citation needed] released material on Facedown, as well as Canada's Figure Four, One-21, and Point of Recognition. The label also signs straight edge groups such as xDEATHSTARx and xLooking Forwardx.
Bands like Seventh Star and Nodes of Ranvier released well-received records through the label, but it was the release of "Turn It Around" by Comeback Kid (featuring members of Figure Four) that really brought the label more notice.[citation needed] Comeback Kid toured behind that album for the following 2 years, eventually leaving Facedown to sign with Victory Records.
Take It Back!, War Of Ages, For Today, Sleeping Giant, the reformed No Innocent Victim, and many others make up the self-described "Facedown Family". Facedown has more recently signed Twin Cities metalcore group Your Memorial, Nashville metalcore group A Plea for Purging and Alabama "southern metal" group Remove the Veil.
Strike First Records
Strike First Records is Facedown's imprint label, which provides label services for smaller bands, and sometimes acts as a sort of "Facedown training ground"; some Strike First bands, such as Bloody Sunday, Kingston Falls, Call To Preserve, and War of Ages have since moved to Facedown.[2] All of Strike First's releases are limited edition physical issue, and are made using no plastic, from recycled cardboard.[1]
Dreamt Music
Late in 2007, the label announced a new imprint, the rock-based Dreamt Music.[3] Dreamt Music focuses more on Christian Alternative and Classic Rock unlike its Christian Metal counterparts Facedown and Strike First Records. See Dreamt Artists for list of Dreamt Music signed artists.
Facedown Fest
The label also hosts an annual 2-day "Facedown Fest" in southern California.[4] The festival is usually made up of the entire Facedown and Strike First rosters. It has been the site of final performances by The Deal xDisciplex AD,and xDEATHSTARx, Seventh Star, and served as the introduction of xLooking Forwardx to Facedown fans, prior to the band signing with the label. The popularity of the Fest has grown,[citation needed] and in November 2005, an additional 2 days were held in Annapolis, Maryland for the convenience of those in the eastern part of the U.S. who cannot easily make it to California.
Current Artists
Facedown Artists
- A Hope for Home[5]
- A Plea for Purging
- Gideon
- Hands
- Hope for the Dying
- Immortal Souls
- In the Midst of Lions
- Leaders
- xLooking Forwardx
- Onward to Olympas
- Overcome
- Saving Grace
- The Burial (Technical-Death Metal band)
- War of Ages
- Your Memorial
Strike First Artists
- Altars
- Ace Augustine
- Ark of the Covenant
- Dynasty
- Letter To The Exiles
- Messengers
- Nothing Til Blood
- We The Gathered
Dreamt Artists
Past artists
- Abel (Dreamt Music) (Active, signed to Come&Live Records)
- Anchor (disbanded)
- Alove for Enemies (disbanded, singer now does vocals for Letter To The Exiles)
- As Hell Retreats (Active, signed to Ain't No Grave Records)
- Bloodlined Calligraphy (unknown if they will continue, bassist recently died)
- Bloody Sunday (disbanded)
- Brutal Fight (Strike First Records; disbanded)
- Born Blind (disbanded)
- Call to Preserve (disbanded)
- Comeback Kid (currently signed to Victory Records)
- The Deal (active, reunited in November 2008)
- XDEATHSTARX (disbanded, last show April 4, 2009; several ex-members are now in Sleeping Giant)
- Dodgin' Bullets (disbanded)
- Dogwood (active) **
- Earth From Above
- Falling Cycle (disbanded)
- Figure Four (disbanded; two members are also in Comeback Kid)
- Flee the Seen (dropped from Facedown, disbanded)
- For Today (Active, signed to Razor & Tie)
- Hanover Saints (reunited); members are also in BRIAN HANOVER AND THE WOUNDS.
- The Great Commission (Active, signed to Ain't No Grave Records)
- Impending Doom (Active, signed to E1 Music[6])
- Indwelling (disbanded)
- Inked In Blood (disbanded)
- Kingston Falls (disbanded)
- Means (disbanded)
- Nodes of Ranvier (disbanded)
- No Innocent Victim (hiatus)
- One-21 (disbanded)
- Persevere (disbanded) **
- Phanatik (disbanded) **
- Positive Youth (disbanded) **
- Point of Recognition (disbanded)
- The Rekoning
- Remove the Veil (disbanded)
- Shapes Stars Make (Dreamt Music) (Active, currently unsigned)
- Sleep For Sleepers (Dreamt Music) (On hiatus, member in The Wandering Tree)
- Sleeping Giant (Active, signed to Ain't No Grave Records[7])
- Seventh Star (disbanded)
- Sinai Beach (disbanded)
- Symphony in Peril (disbanded)
- Take it Back! (disbanded 2011)
- This Runs Through (disbanded; members are now in Underoath and To Speak of Wolves)
- Through Solace
- Torn in Two (changed their name to Red Red, playing local shows)
- Thieves and Liars(Dreamt Music) (disbanded)
- Wrench in the Works (Disbanded)
- xDisciplex A.D. (disbanded; members are currently in Jesus Wept) **
(**)- Never officially signed to Facedown Records, though they had a release from that label
See also
References
- ^ a b "Company Profile: Facedown Records". Alternative Press 251 (June 2009), p. 38.
- ^ http://www.strikefirstrecords.com/artists.html
- ^ New Imprint Label from Facedown Records. Decapolis, November 16, 2007.
- ^ Facedown Fest 2008 *NEWS*
- ^ PureVolume
- ^ http://www.theprp.com/2011/03/16/news/impending-doom-sign-with-eone-music/
- ^ http://www.indievisionmusic.com/2011/03/15/new-sleeping-giant-album-info/
External links
- Official website
- Under the Volcano Interview with label owner Jason Dunn from Under the Volcano 95