“Martyr” - FACE YOURSELF
- polsty00
- May 6
- 2 min read
Deathcore is no stranger to brutality, but every now and then, a band like FACE YOURSELF comes along and reminds us that real heaviness goes beyond blast beats and gutturals. With their third EP “Martyr”, this multinational wrecking crew delivers a masterclass in controlled chaos, an emotional gut-punch wrapped in razor wire, drenched in sincerity, and launched straight at your skull with no warning.
Where most bands in this genre are content to stack breakdowns like cinder blocks, Face Yourself weaponizes emotional vulnerability. Martyr isn’t just an aggressive release, it’s intimate. It plays like a diary scrawled in blood during a panic attack, each of its five tracks offering a glimpse into psychological warfare that feels both deeply personal and painfully universal.
A major part of that impact comes from vocalist Yasmine Liverneaux whose performance is nothing short of feral. Her range is monstrous - from cavernous growls to unhinged shrieks, and she delivers every line like it’s been torn straight from her chest. There’s no hiding behind effects or overproduction here, it’s raw, guttural, and terrifyingly human. In a genre still largely male-dominated, Yasmine doesn’t just hold her ground… she levels the fucking playing field.
“Predatory”, the lead single, sets the tone immediately after opening track “Primal”. It’s dark and suffocating, channeling the paranoia of betrayal and emotional collapse. The track lurches between seismic breakdowns and eerie melodic tension like it’s swinging a wrecking ball through a therapist’s office. There’s a controlled madness in the structure - intentional and volatile, and Yasmine’s voice is the anchor in the storm.
The rest of the EP keeps the pressure high. “The Poet” and “Saboteur” are steeped in themes of trauma, guilt, and the cycle of emotional backsliding. These aren’t stories with happy endings. They’re snapshots of survival in its ugliest form. The band leans into dissonance, layering jagged riffs and suffocating rhythms with sudden bursts of melody that feel more like gasps for air than relief.
Production from Joey Sturgis strikes the perfect balance - massive and modern, but with just enough grime left in to feel real. You get the precision and weight you’d expect from a Sumerian release, but also a sense of fragility and desperation that keeps things grounded. It’s violent, yes, but it means something.
This release marks a serious milestone. With three EPs since 2023, mounting attention online, and now a Sumerian Records debut, Face Yourself have proven they’re more than just part of the new deathcore wave, they’re steering the ship. They’ve got the talent, the intensity, and now, with Martyr, a signature voice - both literally and artistically.
Martyr is a high-stakes, emotionally charged slab of deathcore that proves Face Yourself isn’t here to follow trends, they’re here to break them. Yasmine Liverneaux‘s vocal performance alone makes this a standout, but it’s the band’s fearless vulnerability and sonic ambition that cement them as one of the genre’s most vital new voices.
Rating: 9/10
For fans of: Brand of Sacrifice, Lorna Shore, Make Them Suffer
Standout track: “Predatory”
“Predatory” music video 👇🏼
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