ALBUM REVIEW: Face Yourself Unveil Brutal New EP 'Martyr' via Sumerian Records

On Friday, April 18th, 2025- Six piece deathcore group known as Face Yourself has unveiled their brutal new EP titled 'Martyr' via Sumerian Records. Face Yourself is a deathcore band based in the Tri-state area which formed in 2023. The band currently comprises of Yasmine "Yayas" Liverneaux (vocals), Dave Ricco (guitar), Corey Doremus (guitar), Thomas Cardone (guitar), Kyle Muenzner (bass), and lastly Eric DiCarlo (drums). The band is currently known for their unique use of three guitar players as well as Liverneaux's brutal gutturalls. Some well known tracks include their one minute breakdown track known as "Grosse Bagarre", which is French for big brawl. I mean considering it is only a one minute breakdown, the name makes sense.

Since the start of 2025, the band has continued to unleash bloodthirsty music videos for tracks such as "Sideration", as well as "Predatory", which is featured on the EP 'Martyr'. Today, April 18th, 2025, the band has released a brand new music video for one of the tracks "Primal". The music videos have all been directed and edited by drummer Eric DiCarlo. DiCarlo was one of the founders of a film company, known as SquareUp Studios. Videographers Matthew Colomiet and James Perry work alongside DiCarlo on set behind the camera. What can I say? All of these guys are absolutely incredible and the work they all create together is insane.

'Martyr' begins off with their latest music video "Primal". The start of the track begins with an audio memo or some sort of voice mail giving a review of what the person thought of the band after giving them a listen. After the words "it's just a little more 'primal'", immediately we were faced with brutal screams and heavy instrumentals with blast beat drums. This tracks sets the stone with what fans should expect as they continue to listen to the EP. In the music video, there is a woman who is dancing alongside fire which really does bring the heat to the track. One thing that also threw me away was Liverneaux making a sound effect as if she was spitting on someone, sort of in a defensive manner. I will say though, I was definitely caught off guard hearing the Wilhelm scream meme be featured in the track, but I am all here for it. The lyrics that stood out to me most leading up to the breakdown was "You miserable fuck. Your face begs to get fucking punched. Suck it" because after being stuck being manipulated by somebody for a long duration of time, you come to your senses and start defending yourself. I am someone who has been through and seen friends get placed in horrific situations, blaming yourself when in reality, you did nothing wrong.

The second track on the EP is "Predatory". This track is filled with a lot of imagery with the music video. It is seen as the band is filled underwater with the blue background and the silhouettes accompanied by a great white shark. The beginning of the video shows Yasmine under water with a shark. When I see a shark, the first thing I sense is danger. From the lyrics and the visuals, it appears as you are going on a dance with the devil and putting yourself in a situation where you are in danger. The music transitions from being blue and shifts to red to make a blood visual. It appears as Yasmine was being attacked by the shark and she was left hurt and attacked by the devil, which the music video portrays as the shark. This honestly might be one of my favorite tracks off this EP from the visual and lyrical aspect. In the chorus, Liverneaux and guitarist Doremus alternate on vocals and both combine their brutal screams together, which I absolutely love the diversity. Both of their vocals combined just adds more to the brutality. Yasmine's vocals always impress me and she absolutely blew me away with her lows, especially in the breakdown. For a band with three guitarists, they really BROUGHT the heavy and they know how to give a breakdown; makes me tempted to start throwing and punching things.

The third track off the EP is "The Poet" and the band was not holding back at all. Liverneaux takes it to the next level and has the lyrics all in French and the guitar and drum work continue to bring brutality. The layers and the production behind the track are absolutely incredible. The instrumentals and the backing tracks makes me feel like I am living in a horror movie and stuck in isolation. The track continues to share the journey of confronting one's inner demons. The lyrics "words are weapons of mass destruction" is very powerful because the way people go around saying negative things really can cause a massive destruction on one's mental health. I have to give the band so much credit, especially Doremus, Cardone, Ricco, Muenzner and DiCarlo so much credit for all the guitar and drum work that falls behind the track, even through the entire EP. Listening to the layered screams from Doremus and Muenzner mixed with Liverneaux screams just adds more meaning and I love the involvement they all have together. DiCarlo absolutely destroyed it on the drums and I don't know how his legs have not fallen off yet because I would absolutely struggle to get out of bed with my legs being sore.

The fourth track "Saboteur" and lets just say, I was completely caught off guard with this one. The introduction was very unique and before the main riff took into place, you hear the saying "that's the thing it was just deathcore" and immediately all you hear is airhorn sounds accompanied with the guitars. As someone who just blind reacted to this, I was left in tears from how much I was laughing. This was totally unexpected. Lead vocalist Yasmine Liverneaux with the backing vocals from Corey Doremus and Kyle Muenzner really does have a huge impact with the bands overall sound as well as making the deathcore genre stand out a lot more. With the screams, it sort of feels like I am having an argument with the devil; trying to win the battle that has been brought upon. This band is going to make it big and I cannot wait to see the growth they will have on their future releases.

Onto the final track of 'Martyr' is Face Yourself's debut single to Sumerian Records which is the one and only "Sideration". This track was the announcement that Face Yourself was joining the Sumerian family. The music video is accompanied by a dark visual and really opened the door to Face Yourself on what was to come next. For fans of Lorna Shore, you would absolutely adore this track. The track consists of constant blast beat drums, aggressive guitars and of course a terrifying breakdown. "Sideration" captures the themes of wanting to escape into a world where you are alone and do not want to face those who are causing unnecessary conflict in your life. You want to find a way to escape the nightmares that haunt you and finding the light to happiness. The term sideration refers to being paralyzed, in which the music video indicates that you are trapped and cannot make any movement to escape. Within the lyrical aspect, there is so much emotion that was put into this song and it delivers fans a message on who may be facing the same situation. While listening to this track, the lyrics "Dreams whirling in a semi reality. Bridging the gap between the violence. And the realm of thoughts. Leading to a sense of isolation. I am trapped in sideration" absolutely scared me on how it was produced. Liverneaux was appearing on a TV screen and sounded extremely demonic. After listening to the track, it feels like someone pulled my soul out of my body, especially during that breakdown and even the section with the choir. Overall, I was very impressed and Sumerian Records made a phenomenal choice in signing this band.

'Martyr' EP

Face Yourself

Track Listing:

1. Primal

2. Predatory

3. The Poet

4. Saboteur

5. Sideration

Face Yourself has just announced yesterday on April 17th that they will be kicking off tour on the 'Summer of Rampage' co-headliner tour with Victims and Crystal Lake. Face Yourself will be hitting the road alongside "moancore" band Not Enough Space this summer. The tour will kick off on July 1st in Cleveland, Ohio and the tour concludes on July 19th in Asheville, North Carolina. Tour dates are below and you can purchase tickets here.

7/01 - Cleveland, OH @ Winchester*

7/02 - Buffalo, NY @ Rec Room*

7/03 - Albany, NY @ Empire Underground*

7/04 - Brooklyn, NY @ The Monarch

7/05 - Philadelphia, PA @ Underground Arts

7/06 - Morgantown, WV @ 123 Pleasant St

7/08 - Indianapolis, IN @ Black Circle

7/09 - Milwaukee, WI @ X-Ray

7/10 - Iowa City, IA @ Wildwood

7/11 - Tulsa, OK @ Vanguard

7/12 - Ft. Worth, TX @ The Rail

7/13 - San Antonio, TX @ The Rock Box