In Becoming a Ghost

In Becoming a Ghost
Studio album by The Faceless
Released December 1, 2017
Genre Technical death metal, progressive metal
Length 42:42
Label Sumerian Records
The Faceless chronology
Autotheism
(2012)Autotheism2012		 In Becoming a Ghost
(2017)

In Becoming a Ghost is the fourth studio album by The Faceless. It was released on December 1, 2017 through Sumerian Records. It is the only album with Abigail Williams' Ken Sorceron on vocals,[1] The Zenith Passage's Justin McKinney on guitar and Chason Westmoreland, formerly of Hate Eternal, on drums. Westmoreland left the band shortly before the album was released.[2] Soceron, McKinney, and drummer Bryce Butler would depart the band less than four months later.[3] Michael Keene tracked the bass on the entire album by himself. This is also the first The Faceless LP to feature songs recorded with Drop A tuning using seven string guitars.[4] It is their first full-length release in five years, the last being 2012's Autotheism.[5]

It is the band's first effort to not chart on the Billboard 200 since their debut Akeldama,[6] though representatives from the band pointed out that the album debuted at #66 on the Top Current Albums chart, which focuses specifically on album sales, excluding streams.[7] Per heavy metal news site MetalInsider, the album sold 3,900 copies in its first week.[8]

Background, recording, and promotion

In a July 2016 interview with Metal Injection, guitarist Justin McKinney stated that In Becoming a Ghost (which at the time was still officially unnamed) was "pretty much done".[9] McKinney had joined in February of the same year.[10] In April 2017 in an interview with The PRP, Keene speculated at an August release date.[11]

Only one single, "Digging the Grave" was released in promotion of the album's December release date.[12]

The first single from the album, "The Spiraling Void", from September 2015, as well as the second single, "Black Star", released over two years later in June 2017, were put out before an official release date was set for the album.[13][14]

"The Spiraling Void" featured Derek Rydquist on vocals.[15] Rydquist would depart the band soon after.

Prior to the announcement of the release date for the album, the band dropped off several major tours, leading many to speculate on turmoil in the band.

The band's manager, E.J. Shannon, spoke out against The Faceless and specifically Keene after promoters Soundworks Touring called The Faceless "incompetent" and "unprofessional" in regards to their last-second cancelation of a tour of Australia and New Zealand alongside The Black Dahlia Murder.[16][17]

The band countered Shannon's statements, blaming flight delays and missing gear for the missed Australian tour.[18] Though the band concluded their statement reassuring fans that they'd be attending their upcoming European tour, they canceled those dates soon thereafter.[19]

Though the band was booked for 2017's Summer Slaughter, they were forced to cancel the kick-off show, this time blaming drummer Chason Westmoreland's departure.[20] Westmoreland would issue a counter statement, noting that he'd informed his bandmates of his intention to leave the band well before Summer Slaughter kicked off.[21]

Release & reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
MetalInjection9.5/10[22]
ItDjents7.5/10[23]

Metal Injection reviewer Michael Pementel gave the album 9.5/10, calling it a "magnificent work of sinister mysteries and pure artistry."[24]

Track listing

Music written by Michael Keene, except where noted. "Shake the Disease" written by Martin Gore.[25]

No.TitleLength
1."In Becoming a Ghost"1:00
2."Digging the Grave" (Keene, McKinney)5:12
3."Black Star"5:38
4."Cup of Mephistopheles" (Keene, McKinney)5:29
5."The Spiraling Void" (Keene, McKinney)5:27
6."Shake the Disease" (Depeche Mode cover)5:42
7."I Am" (Keene, McKinney)5:56
8."Ghost Reprise"1:00
9."(Instru)mental Illness"2:20
10."The Terminal Breath"4:58
Total length:42:42

Personnel

The Faceless
Guest appearances
  • Sergio Flores – flute solo on “Digging the Grave”
  • Derek "Demon Carcass" Rydquist – lead vocals on "The Spiraling Void", additional vocals on "Shake the Disease", and "I Am"

References

  1. ↑ THE FACELESS' New Frontman Is ABIGAIL WILLIAMS' Ken Sorceron
  2. ↑ "The Faceless Announce Departure of Drummer Chason Westmoreland, Vow to Make All Remaining Summer Slaughter Dates". MetalSucks. 2017-07-28. Retrieved 2018-01-06.
  3. ↑ http://www.metalinjection.net/latest-news/breakups/vocalist-ken-sorceron-announces-he-quit-the-faceless
  4. ↑ "Justin McKinney - Black Star". Facebook. Retrieved 2018-01-06.
  5. ↑ Slingerland, Calum (2017-10-19). "The Faceless Return with 'In Becoming a Ghost'". Exclaim.ca. Retrieved 2018-01-06.
  6. ↑ "The Faceless' In Becoming a Ghost Fails to Crack the Billboard 200". metalsucks.net. 2017-12-14. Retrieved 2018-05-16.
  7. ↑ Trust, Gary (2009-11-17). "Billboard 200 Undergoes Makeover". Billboard. Archived from the original on 2014-07-03. Retrieved 2018-05-16.
  8. ↑ "Metal By Numbers 12/13: December's destructive debuts". metalinsider.net. Retrieved 2018-05-16.
  9. ↑ "THE FACELESS Guitarist On Upcoming Album: "It's Pretty Much Done;" Hints At New Vocalist". Metal Injection. 2016-07-22. Retrieved 2018-01-06.
  10. ↑ "And the New Guitarist for The Faceless is..." MetalSucks. 2015-02-26. Retrieved 2018-01-06.
  11. ↑ "The Faceless Finishing Up New Album, Planning 10th Anniversary "Planetary Duality" Release". Theprp.com. 2017-04-21. Retrieved 2018-01-06.
  12. ↑ "The Faceless Premiere New Song "Digging the Grave"". MetalSucks. 2017-10-31. Retrieved 2018-01-06.
  13. ↑ "The Faceless Release New Song, "The Spiraling Void" + Release U.S. Tour Dates". MetalSucks. 2015-09-28. Retrieved 2018-01-06.
  14. ↑ "Listen to The Faceless' Killer New Song, "Black Star"". MetalSucks. 2017-06-10. Retrieved 2018-01-06.
  15. ↑ "THE FACELESS Guitarist On Upcoming Album: "It's Pretty Much Done;" Hints At New Vocalist". Metal Injection. 2016-07-22. Retrieved 2018-01-06.
  16. ↑ "Promoter Slams The Faceless Following Cancellation of Australian/New Zealand Tour". MetalSucks. 2017-05-11. Retrieved 2018-01-06.
  17. ↑ "The Faceless' Manager Responds to Promoter Calling Both the Band and Himself "Incompetent"". MetalSucks. 2017-05-11. Retrieved 2018-01-06.
  18. ↑ "The Faceless Release Lengthy Statement Explaining Australian Tour Cancelation". MetalSucks. 2017-05-12. Retrieved 2018-01-06.
  19. ↑ "The Faceless Cancel European Tour". MetalSucks. 2017-05-25. Retrieved 2018-01-06.
  20. ↑ "The Faceless and Slaughter to Prevail Will Miss Tonight's Summer Slaughter Tour Kick-Off". MetalSucks. 2017-07-27. Retrieved 2018-01-06.
  21. ↑ "Chason Westmoreland Explains His Departure from The Faceless; Band Fires Back". MetalSucks. 2017-07-28. Retrieved 2018-01-06.
  22. ↑ "Album Review: THE FACELESS In Becoming A Ghost". metalinjection.net. Retrieved 2017-12-04.
  23. ↑ "REVIEW: The Faceless – "In Becoming A Ghost"". idjents.com. Retrieved 2017-12-04.
  24. ↑ "Album Review: THE FACELESS In Becoming A Ghost". Metal Injection. 2017-11-29. Retrieved 2018-01-06.
  25. ↑ "Review: The Faceless - In Becoming a Ghost". December 1, 2017. Retrieved December 2, 2017.
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