Facedown Records

Lore & Background

Facedown Records was founded in 1997 by Jason Dunn, drummer of the band No Innocent Victim. The label started small, releasing a number of 7-inch records by bands such as Overcome, Dodgin Bullets, and Born Blind. As it grew, it signed artists for full album deals, including xDISCIPLEx, Figure Four, and Point of Recognition. The label also signed straight edge groups like xDEATHSTARx and xLooking Forwardx. Bands like Seventh Star and Nodes of Ranvier released well-received records through Facedown, but the release of Turn It Around by Comeback Kid (featuring members of Figure Four) brought the label more notice. Comeback Kid toured behind that album for two years before leaving to sign with Victory Records.

Reader's Guide

Facedown Records holds significance as a long-standing Christian label dedicated to hardcore punk and metalcore, bridging secular and Christian audiences. Its founder, Jason Dunn, started the label from small 7-inch releases, building a roster that included influential bands like Comeback Kid, whose album Turn It Around brought the label wider recognition. The label's imprints, Strike First Records and Dreamt Music, allowed it to nurture smaller bands and expand into alternative rock. The annual Facedown Fest, held since 2000, became a key event for the scene, eventually expanding to the East Coast. The label's 20th anniversary in 2017 featured a three-day festival with both veteran and newer acts, underscoring its enduring role in Christian metal and hardcore. Facedown's legacy includes launching bands that later moved to larger labels, such as Comeback Kid to Victory Records, and fostering a community around its festivals and imprints.

Did You Know?

• Facedown Records was founded by No Innocent Victim drummer Jason Dunn in 1997.
• The label's release of Turn It Around by Comeback Kid brought it more notice; the band later left to sign with Victory Records.
• Since 2000, Facedown has hosted an annual two-day Facedown Fest in southern California, with an additional two days in Annapolis, Maryland in November 2005.
• For its 20th anniversary in 2017, Facedown Fest was expanded to a three-day event featuring old acts like A Plea for Purging and new acts like Nothing Left.