In Fear and Faith – Album Review

Let’s start off with some background information…In Fear and Faith: a post-hardcore/screamo sextet hailing from San Diego, formed in 2006. Now you know enough to get seriously acquainted with their debut full-length, which will definitely set Your World On Fire. Rest assured that the album isn’t like the intro, since that shit’s just creepy. The latter song clears everything up, while it’s wreaking havoc on your ears. Whatever tension and pent-up aggression the band’s been harbouring, well, it is safe to say that it’s all been unleashed, kind of comparable to a rabid dog in a playground, in these 10 tracks–which is a good great thing.

Oh, hello there, singers with amazing timbre and throats. Clean and pleasing vocal layering seems to be their thing, as they combine Scott’s clear cords with Cody Anderson’s gutts and screams to such consonance. The piano-work and digital samples support the singers by infusing the tracks (most notably Relapse Collapse) with eeriness, and even serene points, creating contrast to the cutthroat metalcore that’s heard on the album, which in turn balances the two truly different musical spectrums. And come on, they’re even supported by the master of the mic himself, Craig Owens of Chiodos on the track “The Road to Hell is Paved with Good Intentions”. The stinging melodies and heavy chords by guitarists Noah Slivka and Ramin Niroomand (who takes on the piano, too) carry out the songs beautifully, while bassist Tyler McElhaney lays down his stuff, making the bass boom. Tons of toms, pounding and pedalling from drummer Mehdi Niroomand prove his ability to throw the hardcore down and lay it all out for eager ears.

This album is vengeful, ambitious, and fuelled by bitterness and seemingly bad relationships. Rise Records, thank you. The ten-tracks are tumultuous, tranquil, tense, and obviously bad ass throughout. Your World on Fire by In Fear and Faith deserves all the praise it can get. Through their deliverance of infectious lyrics and melodies, it’s safe to say that they were the ones with a grand plan, ringin’ in 2009 with such a promising album. These San Diegans know how to stay classy. You’ll thank yourself for stopping by their MySpace.

Recommended Tracks:

Pirates… The Sequel – for its brutal honesty

Your World On Fire – for its great lyrics and throwdown

The Road to Hell is Paved with Good Intentions

You Already Know You’re a Goner

Ah, screw it. The entire album’s amazing. Just get it. Now.

Out January 6th, 2009 on Rise Records!