FACT, a five-piece rock band from Japan, will release their self-titled US debut on April 14 through Vagrant/Maximum 10. The 16-track set was recorded with producer Michael “Elvis” Baskette (Incubus, Story of the Year) and was mixed by Chris Lord Alge (Green Day, My Chemical Romance).
“The band started out being a metallic hardcore band, but then started developing from there,” explains guitarist Kazuki. “We kept adding new sounds to it; bringing in elements of dance music, electronica, synths, and a lot of poppy, catchy tracks, and having all that come together. We’re trying to do something a little bit different than your typical band.”
In 2006 FACT released their first full-length in Japan, Never Turn Out The Light To Keep Myself, on the punk label Bullion. FACT has lent their music to several compilations that were released worldwide, including Immortal Records’ A Santa Cause compilation and the AC/DC tribute album Thunder Tracks.
FACT will be touring the states beginning in Plano, Texas on March 14 (see dates below) with Iwrestledabearonce, Greeley Estates, and Memphis May Fair, but don’t expect to recognize them. In photos, the band always appears masked.
“One aspect of the masks is to try to have people listen to the music rather than looking at us and seeing we’re just another Japanese band,” Kazuki explains. “Another aspect is it’s a traditional Japanese mask, so people will know we’re a Japanese band, but still won’t know what we’re all about, so they have to listen to the music to find out what it is. It’s a way to accept we’re Japanese, but also that we’re here for the music, not looks, or things like that.”
FACT is: Takahiro (guitars, vocals), Tomohiro (bass, vocals), Eiji (drums, vocals), Hiro (lead vocals), and Kazuki (guitar, vocals)
FACT track listing:
01. Paradox
02. Los Angeles
03. A Fact of Life
04. Chain
05. Reborn
06. Purple Eyes
07. Lights of Vein
08. Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence [original by Ryuichi Sakamoto]
09. CO3
10. Snow
11. Stretch My Arms
12. 45 Days
13. Why...
14. 1-2
15. Rise
16. A Fact of Life (Boom Boom Satellites remix)
FACT on tour:
Mar 14 – Plano, TX @ Plano Centre
Mar 15 – Tulsa, OK @ The King of Clubs
Mar 16 – Abilene, TX @ The Key
Mar 17 – San Antonio, TX @ White Rabbit
Mar 18 – Corpus Christi, TX @ House of Rock
Mar 19 – Austin, TX @ SXSW
Mar 20 – Austin, TX @ SXSW
Mar 21 – Waco, TX @ Art Ambush
Mar 22 – Albuquerque, NM @ The Compound
Mar 23 – Phoenix, AZ @ The Clubhouse Music Venue
Mar 25 – Victorville, CA @ Karma
Mar 26 – Visalia, CA @ All Pro Pizza
Mar 27 – Los Gatos, CA @ The Venue
Mar 28 – Portland, OR @ Satyricon
Mar 29 – Seattle, WA @ Studio Seven
Mar 30 – Boise, ID @ The Venue
Mar 31 – Logan, UT @ Studio 600
Apr 01 – Colorado Springs, CO @ The Black Sheep
Apr 03 – Belton, MO @ Cactus Jacks
Apr 04 – Louisville, KY @ Bulldog Café
Apr 05 – Cleveland, OH @ Peabody’s Downunder
Apr 06 – Buffalo, NY @ Xtreme Wheelz
Apr 07 – Scranton, PA @ Tink’s Entertainment Complex
Apr 08 – Manchester, NH @ Rockos
Apr 09 – Allentown, PA @ Masquerade Club @ Crocodile
Apr 10 – Annapolis, MD @ Knights of Columbus
Apr 11 – Raleigh, NC @ The Brewery
Apr 12 – Charleston, SC @ tba
Apr 13 – Jacksonville, FL @ tba
All dates with: Iwrestledabearonce, Greeley Estates, Memphis May Fire
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FACT To Release Their Self-Titled US Debut on April 14
NEVERSHOUTNEVER! TO RELEASE SELF-TITLED DEBUT THIS MAY