1) Face Down (formerly … Read Full Bio ↴At least two bands share the name Face Down.
1) Face Down (formerly known as Machine God) is a post-thrash/death metal band from Sweden.
In 1993 bass player Joakim (Harju) Hedestedt and drummer Richard Bng started a band called Machine God along with guitarist Alex Linder. The band was soon joined by vocalist Marco Aro.
After the first gig in spring 1994, guitarist Joacim Carlsson (Afflicted, General Surgery) joined up and they decided to change the band name to Face Down. Later that year, Linder was replaced by Niklas Ekstrand (ex-Tiamat) due in part to his basic lack of interest. With this line up, the first demo was recorded and duplicated in over 800 copies. These were widely spread and given away and none were sent out to record companies.
Through word of mouth, the demo was picked up by Soundfront Music. After a gig in Stockholm in spring 1995 the band signed a contract with Roadrunner Records (through Soundfront Music.) That was also the last gig with Ekstrand, who didn't seem as eager to work as hard as the rest of the band, who in turn doubled their efforts in order to make a great debut album. The album "Mindfield" was recorded in summer 1995 at Soundfront Studio, with acclaimed producer Daniel Bergstrand. Shortly afterwards, Bng left the band. He was soon replaced by drummer Peter Stjrnvind (Unanimated, Merciless) and Face Down was ready for action.
After the release of "Mindfield" in January 96, the band went on an European tour supporting Napalm Death and Crowbar. Around this time the "Kill The Pain" video was shown several times on MTV's Headbangers Ball and the band also appeared in a live interview on the show. This tour also included a couple of gigs with the legendary At The Gates. The European tour was shortly followed by a co-headline tour in the UK with London thrashers Above All and culminated with a magic gig at London Astoria (Metal Hammer's 4-play Night), supporting Cathedral. Back home in Sweden, Face Down attended the awesome Hultsfred Festival and completely devastated the crowd. After lots of problems with Soundfront Records the band stood without a record deal, but was quickly signed on to Nuclear Blast Records. In Autumn of 1996 the band started to work on their second full-length record.
In February of 1997 the band entered Sunlight Studios with producer Tomas Skogsberg. A total of 15 tracks were recorded for their second release in six weeks time. Upon completion of the recording, the band submitted the masters to Nuclear Blast, who in turn, didn't accept the production. The band was forced to re-record the album at Daniel Bergstrand's Dug Out Productions studio in two weeks in July 1997. After the release of "The Twisted Rule The Wicked" in late 1997, Peter Stjrnvind left the band to join Entombed. Hkan Ericsson (from local act Godblender) was quickly brought in to replace him. Tough times lay ahead. The departure of Peter and even more problems with Nuclear Blast made the morale of the band low. The band played some local shows, got promised a couple of tours but nothing ever materialized. The band decided to set up their own tour in the territory where they were best known, the UK, along with HC band Soulquake System from Kristinehamn.
After completing the UK tour in early 1998 with Soulquake System, the band took a break for a few months. Work was resumed during autumn '98, and the band recorded a three track demo-tape at Sunlight Studio.
At this point the relationship with Nuclear Blast was disintegrating completely and further co-operation was impossible. The band once again found themselves without a record deal, with almost all material written for their third album.
In early 1999, Marco decided to leave the band as The Haunted had made him an offer he could not refuse. Face Down was at its lowest point ever. Facing a bleak future with no record label or lead vocalist, Joakim, Hkan and Joacim tried to hold on a couple of weeks but it was pointless. Face Down was dead... The remaining members went their separate ways in spring of 1999.
Over five years later Joakim (Harju) Hedestedt (who was playing base for Construcdead) felt that it was time to reunite the band. He'd heard about Marco Aro's departure from The Haunted and started making some phone calls to his old band mates. The reaction was very positive. To take on the heavy burden of drummer, Joakim asked his good friend Erik Thyselius (also of Construcdead and Terror 2000). Erik gladly accepted the task and the new Face Down was created. Shortly after the band was signed on to Black Lodge Records.
After successfully recording a 3 track demo in the summer of 2004, the band were invited to appear at 'Sweden Rock', the country's largest and most renouned music festival, and also the legendary 'Decibel 2000' festival. Hard work was resumed as the band once again hit the 'Fear and Loathing' recording studio in order to put down tracks for their long awaited third album, 'The Will To Power.'
Produced by Jocke Skog, the album took the band in new directions whilst maintaining the sheer aggression, brutality and impact of their former releases.
Final line-up:
Marco Aro - Vocals
Rickard Dahlberg - Guitar
Joakim Hedestedt - Bass
Christofer Barkensjö - Drums
Former members:
Joacim Carlsson - Guitar (1994-2006)
Erik Thyselius - Drums (2004-2006)
HÃ¥kan Ericsson - Drums (1997-1999)
Peter Stjärnvind - Drums (1995-1997)
Richard BÃ¥ng - Drums (1993-1995)
Niklas Ekstrand - Guitar (1994-1995)
Alex Linder - Guitar (1993-1994)
Henrik Blomquist - Audio Warfare (1994-1996)
Discography
One Eyed Man (Demo, 1994)
Mindfield (1996)
The Twisted Rule the Wicked (1997)
Demo (2004)
The Will to Power (2005)
Demo (2006)
2) Face Down is also a French southern-metal band.
http://www.myspace.com/facedownattitude
Twelve Rounds
Face Down Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's nothing new, it's all been done before
They are not a dying breed
More like growing seed
With roots choking honesty and truth
They are twisting your words
And they are making up lies
No one is given the chance
To explain the actual facts
Because the book's already judged by its cover
Hate, rage, fear
Not prepared to
Hate, rage, fear
You think I don't hear you, talk behind my back?
You think I don't see oyu, and your hypocritical act
Did you ever think about the rest
Here's twelve rounds in the chest
Hate, rage, fear
Not prepared to
Hate, rage, fear
Not prepared to be
Pre-judged by thee
But determined to stand
Rise above
the hate, rage, and fear
The lyrics of the song "Twelve Rounds" by Face Down are very critical of people who are not true to themselves and twist words and tell lies to save themselves from the confrontation. The song starts with the singer stating that it is nothing new and this kind of behavior has been done before. The people he is talking about have roots choking honesty and truth. The singer accuses these people of being in denial when confronted, and they twist the words and make up lies to save themselves. The lyrics portray a sense of anger and resentment against such people for being dishonest, and the book is already judged by its cover, leaving no chance for anyone to explain the truth. The chorus of the song speaks of hate, rage, and fear and how the singer is determined to rise above them all and be true to himself.
Line by Line Meaning
Here they go again, being untrue to themselves
They are repeatedly going against their own values and morals
It's nothing new, it's all been done before
Their behavior is not original and has been observed before
They are not a dying breed
Their harmful behavior is not fading out
More like growing seed
Their harmful behavior is getting worse and spreading
With roots choking honesty and truth
Their behavior is rooted in deceit and is suppressing what is honest and true
They are twisting your words
They are distorting what others say
And they are making up lies
They are fabricating falsehoods
When confronted they are in denial
They refuse to acknowledge their wrongdoing when confronted
No one is given the chance
They don't allow others to provide their side of the story
To explain the actual facts
They prevent others from clarifying the truth
Because the book's already judged by its cover
They've already formed a negative opinion before giving a fair chance
You think I don't hear you, talk behind my back?
Do you assume I am unaware of the hurtful things you say about me?
You think I don't see you, and your hypocritical act
Do you believe I am ignorant to your contradictory behavior?
Did you ever think about the rest
Have you considered how your actions affect others besides yourself?
Here's twelve rounds in the chest
This is a metaphorical challenge to their harmful behavior
Not prepared to be pre-judged by thee
I am not willing to be judged unfairly by you
But determined to stand, rise above
I am resolute in standing up to their toxicity and rising above it
Hate, rage, fear
These are emotions that contribute to their harmful behavior
Not prepared to
I am unwilling to participate in their negative actions
Hate, rage, fear
These emotions continue to drive their destructive behavior
Contributed by Eva T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Scott Mcnee
This album is outstanding from start to finish 🤘🤘
ZeroSignal
Albums : 1.Every Thought Remembered 2.Mindfield [1995] 3.The Twisted Rule The Wicked [1997] 4.The Will To Power [2005] :)
nastyevilninja
I think they did two more! I think the second was a couple of years after this and called "The Twisted Rule The Wicked" or something - I have it and it's nowhere near as good as the first album... Having said that, a few mates who haven't heard the first album thought their second album was great! I think they did a third album this side of the year 2000 but don't think I've heard that one.
youtiuptore
Face down rules! All the way from Malaysia! Machine-headesq!
YoWspIsaac
Tight