Changing FaceChanging Face is a relatively new band out of California on a new label, both of which are trying to get their name out there. They play the straight to your face mid 90's metallic hardcore sound while firmly keeping their feet planted in the roots of the traditional hardcore sound, for some reason I kept thinking of Skare Tactic when I was listening to this. The opening track "Your Fate" starts off like an introduction to a show with the singer letting you know where they’re from and letting you know to move it. I always find it amusing when a band thinks the recording is a live show, yelling the oh so familiar lines of "It’s time to move it mother fucker," or even better "It’s your last chance to move it." To me it’s just filler with no other intention other than to kill dead air. The last track is even worse, "Alright mother fuckers whats up?! Changing Face in the house, all you pussies on the wall get the fuck up!" That’s a dope line for a show, just not a recording, it just sounds stupid. Other than that, the lyrics do a good job of complimenting the music, but do little in terms of igniting thought. It’s the typical hardcore steez, sticking by your friends, staying true, life beating you down, etc. While not bad, it’s not great either but it gets the job done. This seven song EP exhibits plenty of youth induced rage with slabs of meaty hardcore metallic riffing that’s sure to move the dance floor with plenty of two step parts to keep those hands and feet moving. On the music side of things I’m feeling it, it’s fast, heavy and pissed off which 9 times out of 10 makes for a good cd. I could’ve used more gang vocals though, because this music is perfect for those mob shouts. The production is pretty sub-par, the band would greatly benefit from a better recording, this sounds worse than some of the demos I’ve been listening to lately. The whole mix sounds too muddy, the drums lack punch and the guitars sound way too thin and the bass isn’t nearly present enough. The packaging is TOO bare bones, the layout is simply a faded font over a black rocky background, with just the lyrics in the booklet. Now I’m all for simplicity and I realize it’s next to impossible to write a hardcore record that reinvents that wheel while keeping true to the roots, because if you step out of the traditional framework, it’s no longer considered hardcore. So with that all in mind, that’s why you have to make sure to have quality recording and at least a decent cover. I definitely feel like the band and label could’ve been better served if they invested a little more time in this release, because it sounds rushed and comes off as mediocre.
Rating: 2.7/5
Songs worthy of replay: What An Existence, Our Last Chance (even with the cheesy live line)
Thesis: When I first listened to this I was feeling it but after a second spin, not so much. I really wanted to get into this but the bad outweighed the good. A band with a lot of potential to make a name for themselves fall victim to mediocrity this time around. If a few things are changed this could’ve been a hell of a release. Hopefully the next time around Escapist Records puts everything they have behind the Integrity tribute, and focus on the little things that make or break an album. If I saw this band live, I would probably have a different opinion, but I can only go off what I know.