The Faceless Megathread ("Autotheism" available 08.14.12)

[downburst82]

While I agree that Keene needs to step away and clean up, I think EJ is an alright manager, I believe a lot of the shows were already in the pipeline. To back out of them would be loosing even more of the little money they probably make and put them in a worse situation. And tour might be the best place for him. If he's at home he knows exactly where to get what he wants and that is temptation enough. On the road while not impossible, it's harder to get drugs when I bet someone is keeping an eye on him most of the time.

Though I would hope they get to the end of a tour and hang it up till he's better no matter how long that takes.

They did, and the whole europe tour went okay, minus Bryce getting sick in Glasgow. And that's not even on Keene.

If he's on the road it's easier to keep an eye on him, and harder for him to get drugs. In my mind it's either on tour or in a rehab clinic he can't leave. If he's home the next headline we'll read is an OD, and no one wants that.

I can see some Logic in that to a point but most professionals would probably say its a pretty bad plan for trying to get Clean/Sober...and it appears like its not working all that well.

Again I don't know the full situation or thought processes of those involved so im not judging and I do hope they are able to pull things together and have a great tour.

 

[cip 123]

I can see some Logic in that to a point but most professionals would probably say its a pretty bad plan for trying to get Clean/Sober...and it appears like its not working all that well.

Again I don't know the full situation or thought processes of those involved so im not judging and I do hope they are able to pull things together and have a great tour.

I fully agree that a good clinic is the best course of action, but look at the europe tour. As far as we know he was clean for that, it's when he was close to home he had issues with lateness.

 

[feraledge]

I fully agree that a good clinic is the best course of action, but look at the europe tour. As far as we know he was clean for that, it's when he was close to home he had issues with lateness.

There's just about no way he was clean for it, just was doing better at doling out what he was on so he wasn't crashing and peaking as hard probably. A lot of people can act very functionally before going overboard, but it's a very tightrope. He might have gone through withdrawal and maybe even on methadone, but probably not.
I would say that anyone encouraging him to do anything that is normal for him is enabling him to ignore it. The only one who can do anything about it is him. Sad truth, but that is what it is.
Considering how much people are trashing him for each album after Planetary and wanting to make a living as a musician, there seems to be a pretty common narrative and it might be that The Faceless has become the perfect storm for him to lean on his addictions and just focus on "the art" and staying true to his vision of it. Youtube piling up with recordings of him failing at that probably just feeds the cycle regardless of his intents.
For the most part, he's not at the wheel and even someone like EJ, who I know nothing about, might think he's trying to help by keeping him moving forward against all reason.

 

[cip 123]

There's just about no way he was clean for it, just was doing better at doling out what he was on so he wasn't crashing and peaking as hard probably. A lot of people can act very functionally before going overboard, but it's a very tightrope. He might have gone through withdrawal and maybe even on methadone, but probably not.
I would say that anyone encouraging him to do anything that is normal for him is enabling him to ignore it. The only one who can do anything about it is him. Sad truth, but that is what it is.
Considering how much people are trashing him for each album after Planetary and wanting to make a living as a musician, there seems to be a pretty common narrative and it might be that The Faceless has become the perfect storm for him to lean on his addictions and just focus on "the art" and staying true to his vision of it. Youtube piling up with recordings of him failing at that probably just feeds the cycle regardless of his intents.
For the most part, he's not at the wheel and even someone like EJ, who I know nothing about, might think he's trying to help by keeping him moving forward against all reason.

I have no idea if he was clean or what during Europe. There is an interview where he is very twitchy so he could be on something or in withdrawal. But to go to every city in a different country and score I just don't think it's feasible, and I'm not sure if they let methadone on planes if he is taking it. My friend met him and he seemed nice enough not strung out or anything.

All in all I think EJ is probably trying to salvage some image or finish whatever they've already agreed too but he doesn't strike me as the kind of guy to knowingly want to harm Keene. At this point I think everyone in the community fans and past members alike wants to see him clean and healthy. It's just how those who are actually close to him go about it.

 

[DudeManBrother]

We just got asked to hop on another date with these guys. It’s been about 6 months since we last played with them, and it’ll be interesting to see how it goes this time around. They played well in December, and Keene was real cool to talk with after the show.
No matter what though I am a huge fan of Dyscarnate so it’s going to be awesome regardless.

 

[Vyn]

Decided to have all 4 albums in order playing on my playlist at work yesterday, got through 3 repeats of the lot. Previously I'd spun Autotheism once on release and never played it again so I'd actually forgotten what the record was like. Playing that and In Becoming a Ghost back-to-back actually made In Becoming a Ghost make more sense. IBaG is definitely a stronger record than Autotheism but I still think Planetary Duality is the duck's guts. The intensity on the whole of PD is ridiculous to the point where even the ambient sections keep you on edge.

TL;DR - IBaG isn't as bad as I originally thought, PD slays and Autotheism is a steaming pile of shit.

 

[GunpointMetal]

Anyone know how the last couple shows went? Some buds in By the Thousands were doing some dates with them but I haven't seen too many updates.

 

[Kreprn]

Anyone know how the last couple shows went? Some buds in By the Thousands were doing some dates with them but I haven't seen too many updates.

There is/was a live video on the faceless instagram story. Keene had some problems with the clean vocals but playing was tight with some little sloppynes here and there. Not bad at all.

 

[buriedoutback]

The Faceless tonight in North Bay, Ontario, Canada, Earth. My band is playing 2nd spot. \m/ \m/

 

[InCasinoOut]

https://www.theprp.com/2018/06/11/n...ubled-performance-at-the-bay-area-death-fest/




Damn, that video is sad.

I haven't bothered reading this thread in a while, because I just haven't cared about the band that I really, really, fucking loved at one point, but man that video is so sad.
I've learned Planetary Duality I and II, and he's butchering literally the easiest part in the entire thing. There isn't a riff or lead in the whole 7 minute song that's any easier, but he sounds like a brand-new guitarist trying his first attempt at PD with a part he thinks he can play. I can't imagine what any else of that set sounded like.

Bums me out even more because challenging myself to learn as much as I can off that entire album is what made me progress leaps and bounds from "pretty decent guitar player" to "people think I can shred now". I'm gonna go cry now. ;(

edit: man, at their peak the band was so good that Lyle Cooper could play the whole thing with his eyes closed. the live audio was tight as fuck too.:

 

[buriedoutback]

The Faceless tonight in North Bay, Ontario, Canada, Earth. My band is playing 2nd spot. \m/ \m/

So... I've never met Michael Keene before, and when I saw The Faceless many years ago in Toronto (they killed!), I was pretty far back. I'm also not a Dr...

This is not meant to shit on Keene because I fucking love Akeldama and PD --- but I also read a lot of what people are saying, and I don't know if he was clean or not. I realize he's screwed many, many people over and did a lot of shit, and I'm not trying to excuse that whatsoever.

He is not well. As I watched him play and sing and struggle and wince from just a few feet away, I genuinely felt sad for him. He looked frail, like every minute was a challenge, painful.

He would mess up a slow-single-note part one moment, but then totally nail a crazy lead the next... It was like sometimes his fingers just wouldn't do what his brain wanted. You could see his fingers flying over the fret board, but sometimes not hitting all the notes. He would grimace every time he messed up, and he barely moved at all; no headbanging or anything... I can't complain about his singing parts really, they were quiet but decent.

Other parts of the set were amazing, shred-city!!
The other members killed it. The bass player had a 6 string FF Dingwall

I was disappointed that they didn't play PD in its entirety as was advertised for other shows (only played 2 songs from it...) and also that 1 of the 6 songs was a depeche mode cover.

Gear-wise: Keene played a jackson with fishmans into an Axe Ultra for all but 1 song, then a headless for Blackstar. I couldn't see the other dudes gear, as I was on Keenes side of the stage (no amps at all that I could see).

I went and shook Keene's hand afterwards, told him I was a long-time fan, took a selfie with him, gave him my bands business card, and told him I enjoyed the set. He smiled.

Here are some crappy pics:

https://i.imgur.com/Ack9dak.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/TcjjLKd.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/fWPyPE6.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/mQ2v0mS.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/30zz0Iz.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/aS8Ms76.jpg

 

[anomynous]

The only show that's had "PD in full" advertised for it was Bay Area Death Fest

 

[cip 123]

I was disappointed that they didn't play PD in its entirety as was advertised for other shows (only played 2 songs from it...) and also that 1 of the 6 songs was a depeche mode cover.

Gear-wise: Keene played a jackson with fishmans into an Axe Ultra for all but 1 song, then a headless for Blackstar. I couldn't see the other dudes gear, as I was on Keenes side of the stage (no amps at all that I could see).

I went and shook Keene's hand afterwards, told him I was a long-time fan, took a selfie with him, gave him my bands business card, and told him I enjoyed the set. He smiled.

Here are some crappy pics:

https://i.imgur.com/Ack9dak.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/TcjjLKd.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/fWPyPE6.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/mQ2v0mS.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/30zz0Iz.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/aS8Ms76.jpg

I think PD entirety was just Bay area Death fest.

Also the other guitarist is Andrew Virrueta from Vampire Squid and Interlooper, he plays legator and Fishman pickups. He's a hell of a player.

 

[p0ke]

man, at their peak the band was so good that Lyle Cooper could play the whole thing with his eyes closed. the live audio was tight as fuck too.:

Yeah, that sounded awesome but his playing looks pretty damned uncomfortable It looks especially funny when he's doing the quick little double kick things, it's as if he's having some super short seisures or something.

 

[InCasinoOut]

Yeah, that sounded awesome but his playing looks pretty damned uncomfortable It looks especially funny when he's doing the quick little double kick things, it's as if he's having some super short seisures or something.

I remember there were actually some hardcore Christian conservatives using that video of him as a prime example of being possessed by the devil to play death metal. I say FUCK YEAH damn right \m/ \m/

 

[MFB]

I remember there were actually some hardcore Christian conservatives using that video of him as a prime example of being possessed by the devil to play death metal. I say FUCK YEAH damn right \m/ \m/

If they were smart they would've printed bumper sticks following that saying "I BLASTBEAT FOR SATAN"

 

[xCaptainx]

Man, those recent photos above really bum me out.

Quite a departure from his 2009 NAMM days when he had a bit more natural weight on him and looked far healthier.




Really hope he can just pack it all in and focus on himself for the immediate future.

 

[Kreprn]

Starting to get real worried about Keene, he didn’t perform last show...

 

[Velokki]

Starting to get real worried about Keene, he didn’t perform last show...

Whaat? Like, The Faceless played, without Keene?

 

[anomynous]

Saw a video on youtube, no Keene. Also someone on vocals that isn't Julian.