Releasedate: 06.07.2024
Facing the Madness will officially launch their debut EP ‘Torment’ during a release party on November 30, but the EP is already secretly available for purchase. I got my hands on the record during Stonehenge Festival and have listened to it a few times before writing this review. There is little information available online about Facing the Madness. I saw the band live last year during No Sleep Metalfest and was impressed by their performance. So, I was definitely curious about the debut album from these guys.
Torment
Torment is the debut album from Facing The Madness, who previously only released a demo via Bandcamp. Their new album, Torment, isn’t available online yet, so if you’re eager to listen to their music after reading this review, you’ll need to hunt down a physical copy.
Torment is a very raw and honest album. The mix is quite bare, and not all the drum parts are perfectly aligned, which gives it a personal feel. Depending on how you listen to the album, the mix is well-balanced, and the band’s energy comes through clearly. Whether you’re hearing it through your old computer speakers or a good pair of headphones makes a world of difference. In the first scenario, the guitars are drowned out by the many cymbals, but in the second, everything is much better balanced. The bass is nicely crunchy and audible at key moments, the guitars are tight and sufficiently present, and of course, there are plenty of squeals.
Sometimes you have an album that gets better the more you listen to it. Other times, an album is amazing the first time you play it, but the more critical you get, the more flaws you notice. Torment falls into the latter category. I often listen to an album several times before writing a review. The first few times I listened to Torment, I was really impressed. But now that I’m listening more critically, the songs sometimes feel a bit too simple.
Facing The Madness
Torment starts with a very cool intro track, Carved. This cinematic intro tape was unexpected from this band, mainly because I couldn’t clearly remember how they sounded live, and I couldn’t find anything online. But the epic intro, followed by the intensity of Facing The Madness, definitely leaves you wanting more. Old-school sounding death metal, interesting riffs, and a good mix. For a band that has seemingly come out of nowhere with a little CD, this is pretty impressive. It’s super groovy, headbanging music. Live, I think this wall of sound will hit hard; on the album, I miss just that extra layer of production to really feel it.
Dying World
After the title track, the album continues with Dying World. This track is a bit more chugga-chugga but also has an open chorus that’s easy to shout along with. The vocals on this track might be a bit too simple; it also feels like the flow doesn’t quite sync with the music.
Reconstruct
Reconstruct more than makes up for it. The tempo picks up significantly with this track. Fast blast beats are mixed with more mid-tempo sections featuring groovy riffs. The variety makes this a very diverse track and a good introduction to Facing The Madness. From relentless blast beats to a calm break, this track has it all. The many squeals remind me of Machine Head, but the frontman’s growls give it a unique vibe.
Disregard
Disregard is more of a mid-tempo track, again very groovy, and this track also eventually brings back the blast beats. Kudos for the cool bass riff in the intro of this track; it’s always nice to hear a band that gives the bass some room. The sound of the bass in this intro gives the whole thing a huge old-school vibe. Maybe there could have been some improvements in the mastering here, as the cymbals are very prominent in this track.
Narcissism
Narcissism is again more of a mid-tempo track, groovy, and perhaps one of the heavier tracks on the album. It’s also a fairly diverse track, with many different riffs following one another, some cooler than others. This track also feels a bit simple and lacks the more interesting riffs of Facing The Madness.
Solution
After Narcissism, the melodic intro of Solution might be my favorite riff on this album. It’s also the longest track on the album, but at nearly five minutes, it’s still relatively short. The dissonant verse doesn’t really fit well with the intro riff, in my opinion, but there are enough cool parts in this track. Especially the part where the vocals follow the guitars is really cool. This is also one of the few tracks where a proper guitar solo emerges, allowing the guitarist to showcase his skills.
Your Last Ride
Your Last Ride starts with a fast riff. This track was previously released on YouTube, and rightfully so, because besides Facing The Madness, it’s one of the strongest songs on the new album. However, after the intro, it takes until halfway through the song for the powerful riffs to reappear. The wait is worth it, though: there’s even a breakdown included.
Confronted
Your Last Ride transitions into the final track, Confronted. After an intro with guitar harmonies, a groovy, up-tempo riff follows that immediately grabs your attention. The intro riff clearly signals the end of the album. The song builds up with smooth transitions between breakdowns and energetic sections. Besides the bass riffs that form the foundation, there are also blast beats that increase the speed and intensity. This makes Confronted a fitting and memorable closer for the album.
Final Thoughts
Torment is a worthy debut EP for Facing The Madness. I was quite impressed by the intro and the first real track, Facing The Madness. The old-school sound and the cool riffs weren’t what I expected, and I can definitely appreciate them. But it’s not all praise—some tracks feel a bit too simple, and in the mastering, Facing The Madness might have taken an extra step. Nevertheless, the track Facing The Madness is definitely a gem that everyone should hear.
Tracklisting
Carved
Facing The Madness
Dying World
Reconstruct
Disregard
Narcissism
Solution
Your Last Ride
Confronted
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