Composer/Musician Reacts to The Faceless - Autotheist (REACTION!!!)

Bryan reacts to and talks about his thoughts on The Faceless - Autotheist
ORIGINAL VIDEO: • The faceless [FULL ALB...
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Twitter: critreactions

[@nts3208]

The faceless shines with their drums and guitar. Michael Keene is one hell of a guitarist. Almost all of his solos are pure gold.

[@Goosethe]

Can't leave out Evan Brewer on bass for this album. His solo work is amazing too

[@user-ov5nd1fb7s]

The reason the sax works is because there is a connection with the music utilizing chord changes as with jazz/fusion music.

[@Goosethe]

And satanic jazz

[@makjak111]

Lead guitarist does the cleans and writes everything. He is also the only permanent member of the band, every album has a whole new lineup but him. So all 4 albums have a very different sound. All the harsh vocals are another guy that only does vocals.

[@Fvckedwithaknife]

Real hard for him to find anyone that wanted to work with him for a while too, just you know. A huge pretentious asshole from what I've heard haha. That and you know.... the whole heroin thing...

[@kdsstadel1644]

Hes also the heroin addict who doesn't show up to shows or fulfill merch orders. Michael Keene fucked himself.

[@paravarium]

Kind of would have preferred Planetary Duality I & II, anyone with me fam? Was really hoping my one and only suggestion had a chance this week 😭

[@marshallsmith619]

No way man, this is by far their best album.

[@paravarium]

No wrong opinions 🤘 personally i lost intrest part way through this. (I'm named after octavarium.. don't think it's just the track length!)

[@dylanfarley8136]

Planetary duality 1 and 2 are amazing songs, but since the autotheist trilogy is a lot more proggy imo it makes for a more interesting reaction.

[@paravarium]

From what i can tell, Brian is much more impressed by awesome songs with progressive elements, than just prog for the sake of prog. 🤷‍♂️ what i gather by actually listening to what he's interested in. Personally i see a lot of request for suuuper long songs and things that cover multiple movements and it just comes off as selfish half the time.

[@dylanfarley8136]

@@paravarium Well I also would rather have an awesome song with elements of prog lol. I guess it all comes down to how you feel about Planetary Duality versus Autotheism. I wouldn't fault anybody for preferring PD since Autotheism was a fairly big change in sound.

[@jbasti227]

That outro solo in Part 2 is probably my favorite solo of all time, such a great display of phrasing

[@frosmane9041]

this reaction was great, you liked all my favorite parts. The contortionist - The parable (rediscovered) is something you would most likely enjoy

[@AlightingOnAir]

f r o s т ı M a n e anything by The Contortionist really.

[@makjak111]

You need to check out cynic the original prog/death/jazzy band

[@dcko1979]

Preferably something from Focus (Veil of Maya, How Could I) or Traced in Air (King of Those Who Know).

[@blaeser13]

@@dcko1979 Big thumbs up to those tracks. I'd vouch for Evolutionary Sleeper as well

[@paravarium]

@@dcko1979 I had another reactor check out Veil of Maya right after Sean passed. Do a search if you'd like to see that.

[@dcko1979]

@@paravarium Thanks for heads up. Also found a new reaction to Humanoid and Evolutionary Sleeper :)

[@luker.6967]

I'm a big fan of this album :) Had the same reaction at 2:31 as he did! You should react to something from the band Persefone, they are have a fascinatingly unique sound imo.

[@amunrob1741]

You should do a full listen through BTBAM colors, I know you already did ants off of it, but it's really meant to be taken as one piece.

[@AntiTrollable]

Or there live studio recording, freakin awesome.

[@nickhaas9185]

That would be amazing. Honestly tho I feel as if Parallax 2 would be much more up his ally

[@yairhilario5508]

React to Virvum and their song "Illuminance". That track will take you to the infinte!

[@buckfuttler2877]

clean vocals are the lead guitarist michael keene. growls are another guy.

[@sicboi80]

I wish Keene wasn't such a dickhead. I really like The Faceless, but he pisses me off with the way he acts.

[@buckfuttler2877]

@@sicboi80 yeah i probably wouldn't spend money to see them. But all The Faceless albums are awesome.

[@yigitozver4345]

u have to consider that keene was a heroin addict in early 10s. hes recovered now and hes a nice human being deep down as we can see now

[@buckfuttler2877]

@@yigitozver4345 hes still an addict from what his ex band mates say. he was actually easier to work with 7-10 years ago than he is now. hence the revolving door band mates.

[@yigitozver4345]

Buck Futtler he was an addict between autotheism and the latest album. hes clean for a year now, he got married recently and does well with his current bandmates

[@jboucher1988]

The Faceless may as well be one person, Michael Keene, who is the main writer, guitarist, and clean singer. The growls were performed by the main vocalist, and most other sounds were digital/samples/studio recorded. They play with a backing track live. They are also an American band, but were influenced by a lot of European metal.

[@joeh858]

Hey man your breakdown of each part is on point. You know your music comp

[@progperljungman8218]

Sure does! (And getting even better all the time 🙂)

[@Damuworld]

You should check out Deliverance or Bleak by Opeth. Those are some of my favorite songs and I absolutely adore the way they mix growls and clean vocals in those song and I think you would too.

[@paravarium]

Great, great legendary songs that he should hear for sure. My only issue is he's already heard prog-death opeth. Are we going to send him down the same tired rabbit hole of typical opeth reactions or shouldn't we put in some effort to show they've been a completely different band for almost 10 years now? I say he hit up Next of Kin or All Things Will Pass next.. then going back to death era would have a lot more context than just spamming out virtually the same era's songs once every 3 months.

[@captainshiner42]

Bleak is fucking epic!

[@deminybs]

I see like no channels reacting to "strange brew" by them.

[@sicboi80]

Love these guys. Seen them open up for Between the Buried and Me a couple times \m/

[@1adoremusic]

Really love your review. You touched on so many elements of the song. The Faceless is definitely one of my favorite bands. Please review The Faceless - Akeldama.

[@TylerNOS386277]

The lead guitarists does all the clean singing. A front man/vocalists does the low gutturals and screams. - It's a standard 5 piece band. No female members, or saxophone guy.

[@GKboards]

You were talking about how insane it is that a band would have to do rapid fire stuff in sync - I just want to draw attention to the fact that this is a band that's had many, maaaany different players hop into the lineup and tour. There is a seriously deep talent pool in music these days, it's amazing

[@chacecampbell2697]

Slice The Cake - Stone and Silver i. The Mountains of Man

[@NemoTheDude]

BTW, sax solo was from the Sexy Sax Man.

[@mosqvi4]

Sexy sax is a legend!

[@MrRockeur26]

The Faceless is my absolute favourite band of all times, they are genius

[@yaouank3205]

He's

[@coreywho2972]

​@@yaouank3205lol

[@allahbless2278]

One of my all time fav albums,was on repeat when it came out ugh i miss the days

[@progperljungman8218]

Just put it on repeat again and you don't have to miss them anymore 😉

[@xedgeforeverx]

When you said something about the bass I instantly thought of Omnipresent Perception by Beyond Creation. React to that masterpiece!

[@zyklqrswx]

still hoping you'll find time to react to The Quantum Hack Code by Amogh Symphony also - based on your response to The Faceless I'd recommend their instrumental track Akeldama for a smoother progression with a more integrated mix of light and heavy elements

[@BelairPedicab]

I love the look on your face when they go full Mr. Bungle in the third movement. Cheers

[@Laros82]

Thanks for introducing me to this Band/Track!

[@buckfuttler2877]

its called "Autotheist Movement I, II, III"

[@Laros82]

@@buckfuttler2877 wops thx

[@AlightingOnAir]

Hey! I’ve been enjoying your videos immensely. Would you mind doing a video on Protest The Hero? Either “Bloodmeat” or “Sequoia Throne” would be amazing!

[@PZMaTTy]

Please react to PLINI - CASCADE, beautiful song, instrumental, a masterwork!!

[@kurukq]

This song kinda reminds me of an extreme death metal version of The Dear Hunter. A lot of different elements and interesting transitions. I've been listening to these guys forever. I prefer their older stuff though, more sci fi and more brutal. Michael (guitarist/clean vocaisl) has a sort of reputation for being a control freak and sort of an asshole, and as far as I know thats why this band has never really had a consistent lineup. Although I have to admit he's a good songwriter and a pretty sick guitarist.

[@bigjimcrawdaddyx8731]

Follow through with the words That come from nothing, The silence between thoughts, An inward conversation Deep within the heart.

[@TheDangerbreed]

You reacted to a band named Extol months ago. They are a huge influence on the Faceless sound. I'd recommend some more extol, fleshkiller, and azusa songs. they all have a similar sound. really good stuff

[@progperljungman8218]

Really? Extol were an influence to Michael Keene? That's awesome!

[@Qliphirot]

Michael Keene did the male clean vocals, Geoffrey Ficco with the growls/screams and Michael's mother Tara Keene did the female backing vocals. His clean singing is very similar to Depeche Mode's vocalist Dave Grahan.

[@figu6ka379]

Unironically they have a DM cover

[@makjak111]

😁😁😁 your doing the whole thing!

[@puredisgust]

Michael Keene is the mastermind behind the faceless....he does the writing on everything...and does the clean vocals....only

[@faustorodriguez2697]

Do Avandra’s Adder’s Bite. Is a relatively unknown prog band whose album Descender (2019) received almost perfect score from countless magazines. You won’t regret it! The whole album is a masterpiece.

[@faustorodriguez2697]

U.V. S. I know the band Andromeda. My first introduction was the album Chimera and I was obsessed with it. After that I just grew tired of modern sound with the 70’s and 80’s Prog voice. I still love modern Prog, but it’s just the high pitch voice that I don’t stand anymore. Also as I guitarist as I got a lot better technicality and showing off in every song became just plain boring and focused more on composition as a whole.

[@progperljungman8218]

Thanks for the recommendation - Avandra sound great! Do you know of the band Vulkan? (Saw them recommended at Avandra's Spotify page). Vulkan is one of my favourite bands and their debute Mask of Air is my top favourite of their three albums through a decade of them releasing music... (Being a fan you sometimes gotta be patient....)

[@flippypwa978]

ALLRIGHT MAN ! 0.0 loved the face ahaha

[@samuelfiello9558]

I recommend checking out Cleric- The Treme for something wild and unexpected.

[@frosmane9041]

there is a harsh vocalist and the main guitarist was the clean vocalist.

[@MrBaronCabron]

This album took me a long while to like when it first came out. Absolutely love it now. I was expecting old faceless, when with this album you should erase what you think and just enjoy it for what it is. Good vid

[@progperljungman8218]

I hear quite some bits of Devin Townsend and Ne Obliviscaris in this variant of their's (his).

[@LittleKitBirkl]

How about something by The Ocean? Anything of Pelagial is great since it's basically just one giant 1hr song. But I'd recommend the Bathyalpelagic I, II and III. Or Origin of Species & Origin of God

[@Fvckedwithaknife]

Yeah Pelaial is a God damn masterpiece actually. I still remember the first time I listened to it, and it blew me away

[@xthexadvantagex]

I didn’t like this album at first compared to their previous work. After many listens I really appreciate this album the most though. This album has the most mature composition. The flow of ideas and the unique instrumentation with recurring sections just keeps on amazing me.

[@deminybs]

Pretty sure I've never heard anything from these guys, I dig it this definitely didn't feel like a 17 minute song, that's a good thing (: Epica-the divine conspiracy (title track) Since I've heard you mention "could be in a movie" parts multiple times....

[@swagxmagician]

You should check out MVP or A Fractured Hand by Despised Icon, they're one of the first deathcore bands to emerge I believe

[@yotambraunshtein9786]

Great band saw them live at NYC in August 2018 with rivers of nihil & nekrogoblikon & cranifex

[@yotambraunshtein9786]

And yes you should definitely react to nekrogoblikon

[@mosqvi4]

Lucky bastard😊

[@jewbacca3290]

Should do Faceless- Akeldama

[@Denvercoder]

I love that little smile you crack when something crazy happens. 😂

[@aldrinxchuaexecratedph2116]

You must also try this, "INTERVALS-epiphany" tnx bro

[@trowabarton222]

I had to pull out the liner notes but Tara Keene is the female doing harmony on Emancipate. I'm guessing she is related to Michael Keene (clean singer, guitarist)

[@BenJohan6]

His mother iirc

[@Kua1alumpur]

It's his mom

[@waterguyroks]

@@BenJohan6 That's kind of cute

[@jordanbrown8386]

These three songs combined and "gojira - the art of dying" have to be tied for my 2 favorite songs of all time. And i have 20,000 songs downloaded lol. Amazing song!

[@Ironsvillage]

Love this album because it's so obviously Devin Townsend influenced, really good fit for Tech Death and Michael Keenes Style of songwriting

[@duncanmckockiner2764]

Michael Keene does guitar and clean vocals. The band has gone through like 3 guys for harsh vocals. And that definitely was a woman harmonizing with Keene. Keene also wrote most of that album I believe

[@kyleowen9055]

Keene as far as I know writes literally everything besides the vocal patterns which usually the vocalist at the time works with Keene on.

[@martinjakab]

Can you please check out Beyond Creation - The Inversion?

[@petergjata1498]

I think he'd like Surface's Echoes more by them

[@martinjakab]

@@petergjata1498 well, I wanted to recommend that first, especially because they released a music video to it, but they just have so many amazing songs...

[@petergjata1498]

@@martinjakab Yeah, you're right, Inversion was my favorite for a long time haha

[@martinjakab]

@@petergjata1498 Its a shame their older albums dont really click with me :/

[@petergjata1498]

@@martinjakab Oh really? Because I discovered them through omnipresent perception, coexistence, earthborn evolution, theatrical delirium ecc.. older album were kinda less "progressive" in a sense

[@s.s.7404]

Necrophagist next please!

[@NecroericYoutube]

Love this band!

[@schuylercrawford4770]

I would love to see you react to waterslide by Chon!!

[@BelairPedicab]

Yes Brian, you are supposed to feel that unsettled. Your expression is at least one of the many hoped for with the production of that section. Also, yes, these faceless albums didn't happen overnight. Tho this autotheism record is the absolute peak mix of Patton/bungle and Dillinger/Corpse growl styling. Just go for the ride bubba.

[@coreywho2972]

I just have to say it's fucking strange seeing someone say Dillinger and Bungle on a Faceless video. Literally my 3 greatest bands of all time. You got good taste

[@A..lie..sha3]

You should do black crown initiate, either Belie the machine or Matriarch.

[@PaN1xX]

the contortionist - Exoplanet 1,2,3 and Between the Buried and Me - Swim to the Moon.

[@UrBeat06]

Has no one asked you to do The Dillinger Escape Plan? Maybe it’s too obvious a choice, but I’m always interested to see what real musicians think of them, especially if they aren’t already familiar with them. If we’re making song requests I’d say probably Farewell Mona Lisa since it’s their most famous song probably, but I’d be more interested to see a reaction to some of their older more chaotic stuff like 43% Burnt or The Mullet Burden.

[@AlightingOnAir]

Brian Dowd I think he’d like Farewell, Mona Lisa more, but if he covered 43% Burnt I’m sure he’d have a fun time with it. I think FML is a bit more interesting with the bridge section, but the end of 43% time signature wise is just splendid to listen to and try to pull apart.

[@UrBeat06]

DanielLangdorf ha yeah. Let’s go with 43% burnt then.

[@lucanhenrique7457]

I hope someday you do a reaction of the band Ellende.

[@trevorramirez5238]

They are only a 5 piece band. The clean vocals are done by their guitarist Michael. And they have a separate vocalist for the higher screams and lower vocals. This band has had a ton of memebers over the years and you can say this is basically a 1 man band coming from the mind of the guitarist

[@ryanschindler923]

The Faceless has 2 singers really, the main guitar player (Michael Keene) does the cleans and also writes 99% of all the music, its essentially his personal project.

[@HauntaskhanHYPNOSIS]

Well, every your they have different people singing and stuff. Michael is the only continuous member of the band lol. But the part he heard a chick singing he was right.

[@AlightingOnAir]

He writes the drums, too? Or is that the 1% he doesn’t write?

[@ryanschindler923]

@@AlightingOnAir Pretty much lol, im sure he just comes up with some programmed drums and lets the current drummer put his spin on whats already there

[@bigjimcrawdaddyx8731]

We fall so fast, at the hand of fear.

[@DoggoWillink]

Vektor - Recharging the Void Only request I have good sir.

[@drsraks]

You need to react to Omnipresent perception by Beyond Creation

[@zachbennett5179]

React to Liturgy - Pasaqalia or anything from their newest album

[@tomasstropus9589]

I'd recommend listening to Alkaloid - Rise of the Cephalopods

[@daverichards5544]

For a revelation, contrast to "Departure Bay" by Diana Krall.

[@lamaenfeu9804]

I would love to see you react to Portal- Swarth

[@McNastySlam]

There’s 2 singers, one guitarist does the clean vocals and a main singer does the growls and highs.

[@chadrussel1221]

female vocals was his mother

[@chadrussel1221]

Also do something from Between the Buried and Me - Parallax II: Future Sequence, like Silent Flight Parliament

[@nathanlockhart3876]

I wish I could get into these guys, but I haven’t been able to since their planetary duality album. That and their first album were 👌🏻

[@thelastdaybreathinginetern1385]

There is a screamer, and a singer both.

[@HauntaskhanHYPNOSIS]

You gotta react to any song off Metaportal by the band Wormed.

[@Arkramn]

The high end female vocals is his mom :) how cool is that?

[@CriticalReactions]

That's amazing!

[@georgenash1402]

i didnt know that. thanks

[@neruske]

Please react to "Bland Street Bloom" by Sikth

[@GKboards]

I used to hate the death metal sax when this album came out but I've come around to it. No rules, this is metal jazz. Metal jazz as if it were played by aliens that landed on Halloween

[@genericnamethingy]

If you notice well, the chord progressions in the music and between sections are very very consistent, they just make the same part sound so different that you don't notice until you listen closely.

[@tristanmcgregor3299]

Please react/review car bomb sets I think you would find it very interesting

[@nothaber8130]

I heard somewhere that his sister did the melodies. Can't confirm though.

[@Qliphirot]

It's actually his mother, Tara Keene.

[@deufret]

Great! My favorite album from the band. Now, you should be ready for another proggy tech-death band, Beyond Creation - Earthborn Evolution.

[@bigjimcrawdaddyx8731]

You NEED to experience The Healing's "Tetrahedra". Thall & the Ancient Ones command you; it's your destiny 🔥 🌎

[@waterguyroks]

The Faceless lost the thread a bit on this album for me. Michael's clean vocals are not very good and they're slathered all over the record. As far as the guitar playing goes you can't ever reproach them, Michael can pull off the tech-death and the smoother fusion stuff really well. But the overall sound on this album ends up sounding a bit derivative and lacking in cohesion. I absolutely love some sections and others make me cringe. I think Planetary Duality is still my favorite album of theirs, it's a bit more consistent.

[@eulerianpath6355]

Please react to REFLECTIONS - Samsara

[@bigblacc317]

Since you liked this so much, you should go back and listen to their album Planetary Duality

[@MrBaronCabron]

Yeah, I love both albums but PD is a masterpiece

[@yotambraunshtein9786]

And keep up the great work and discover new stuff one day you'll get the the Israeli prog metal scean (I live in Israel so I know tons of bands and band members personally) I know you'll especially enjoy subterranean masquerade & orphaned land & scardust

[@stri8ted]

Distorted Harmony, latest album is sick.

[@yotambraunshtein9786]

@@stri8ted it's ok their other stuff is way better tbh and if really want good Israeli albums try those Scardust- sands of time Tillian- lotus graveyard Obsidian tide- pillars of creation Yossi sassi- roots and roads Zad- followers of tann Structural- metacognition Subterranean masquerade- the great Bazaar Shredhead- live unholy Walkways- heal out bleed out Sinnery- a feast of fools Orphaned land- mabool

[@mattdaphat]

You should check out The Algorithm - Pointers

[@khavens101]

Did you know that the sax in this song was played by none other than The Sexy Sax Man?

[@pretendhuman]

You have the best fucking ear bro... I love it.

[@BelairPedicab]

I'm a weirdo, my favorite is the 3rd movement.

[@dyllanbrown1906]

I don’t think anyone else is going to suggest these guys cause they are not very well know but listen to Cheetos magazine! Here’s a cover they did of basket case but nothing is the same besides the lyrics. Might as well be an original kzbin.info/www/bejne/pKDPf6tvjZeUd5o And for a real original listen to chili Guillermo

[@TundraCH]

I do enjoy the clean vocals quite a bit, it's probably my favorite part of this 17 min song, the guitar leads where also great, but think they got a little overindulgent with the sheer amount of leads spread throughout. The song's structure was also very sporadic which leaves me not remembering a lot of the sections after listening. I am more of a fan of The Faceless shorter tracks, their most recent album (In Becoming a Ghost) is very good

[@trowabarton222]

Woo! Love this album. You should check out Dreadnought - Vacant Sea. They are hard to put into a genre but I call it progressive blackened folk doom.

[@Ryan-jv8bw]

Polyphia - euphoria

[@robertmunroe9635]

need i even say it

[@martyngregg2527]

I´ts 1 man band (Michael Keene) 😂

[@kurukq]

Well, the songs are written by him but he doesn't play all the instruments.

[@A..lie..sha3]

Hopefully the current lineup stays, I love Aaron.

[@user-no7mz1pb2f]

They’re a good band. Its just too bad the main guy in the band Keene, does a bunch of heroin. Tons of lineup changes i would think because of his issues. Such a shame. So much talent.

[@fouter81]

When this album came out I gave it a few listens and didn't really liked it. Some years later it grew on me but I still like the first album much more.

[@cryptedanimations6509]

Such a great band ruined by heroin, im sad about it because they were one my favorite bands ruined by the biggest cliche in music

[@talivaldisozols1649]

Car Bomb - Sets