Technical death metal act The Faceless released their debut
album "Akeldama" in 2006 then a follow-up called "Planetary
Duality" followed in 2008 and now the guys are on their third release
called "Autotheism". Thus this release jump started their musical
path while they were a part of this past summer's Summer Slaughter Tour.
Guitarist and vocalist Michael Keene spoke to me about their time on that tour
and what this album was all about.
1. Can you give me a brief summary as to how the band came
to be and what does the name, The Faceless means?
Michael: We had formed in high school when our original bass
player Brandon Giffin, it took a long time for us to get a line-up we were
happy with but now we're more serious about it than we were back then. After 3
or 4 years we started touring and writing music and the name was an accident
and we were called Faceless but there was already a band with that name and the
funny part was that a show flyer had our name as that so we went and changed it
to The Faceless, but I always liked the name anyway despite the accident so
it's a fairy brutal thing to think about when it comes to our style of music
and how we work with it.
2. How was the Summer Slaughter Tour?
Michael: It was great and a lot of fun. Toured with a lot of
bands we had toured with before, so good time hanging out, shows were great and
the new record was out while we were on tour so it was a fun time being able to
play the new material and spend the summer.
3. What is your favorite song to play live (from any album)?
Michael: Well I'd say "Xenochrist" from Planetary
Duality it's just really fun to play on guitar and gets the crowd going
probably it.
4. What was your favorite part of the tour?
Michael: I would say getting to play the new material for
people. I looked forward to seeing the people's reactions and singing along
with the words of the songs so having a really good crowd was always awesome.
5. What was the inspiration for the album name Autotheism?
Michael: Well the record is about self empowerment and a
concept record of a person taking control of their reality and becoming their
own God and abandonment that depresses or surpasses them. Just embracing our
world and being a positive source to any other beliefs.
6. If you could go back and change something on the album
would you?
Michael: Yeah probably there's always certain things that
you wish you had done different but overall I am very happy with how this
record turned out than our previous records.
7. What was most different about recording Autotheism?
Michael: Less pressure as far as time restrictions we just
went into it and it was going to be done when it was ready so we didn't set up
anything until we were done and happy with it so that was nice. I think also
letting go of what a Faceless record should sound like. Our first two records
sounds like us but this one and being focused in that sound we just went with
what came naturally.
8. What inspires you to do what you do and what advice would
you give to fellow bands who want to do what you do?
Michael: I think I was inspired by my parents who were also
musicians and I was raised by music since birth so after seeing what they did I
wanted to do the same thing. But I think the best advice would be just make
music that you love and make it for yourself and hope that other's like it too.
If you make it for others then you won't be happy or other's would like it. So
by the end of the day just make it for you that's how I would answer it.
9. How much more can we expect to see from The Faceless for
2012?
Michael: We're going out on a headline tour in a couple of
months then might be going overseas afterwards then working on some new music
which would be out next year so possibly an EP of cover songs is in the works.
10. Anything else you want to add or say?
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