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Face to Face
Face To Face is a rare band in the music world: not only have they helped define a sound, but they continue to refine their style with each new release. This is fully confirmed with their tenth studio album, No Way Out But Through, a masterpiece of melodic punk overflowing with sharp guitar riffs, blazing bass lines, and vocal harmonies so catchy they’ll stay in your head for weeks.
Formed over 30 years ago, Face To Face—composed of Trever Keith (vocals/guitar), Scott Shiflett (bass/backing vocals), Dennis Hill (guitar), and Danny Thompson (drums)—still refuses complacency and keeps pushing their musical boundaries. “This lineup of Face To Face has been intact for over a decade, and it’s the best the band has ever had,” explains Keith. This chemistry between the members is at the core of the album’s natural energy.
Although their sound is deeply rooted in California punk, No Way Out But Through raises the bar in songwriting, arrangement, and musicianship. Unlike the album Protection (2016), which was a return to their roots, Keith explored new directions here by stepping out of his comfort zone: he retreated to a cabin near Malibu with Shiflett to transform a series of demos into a full album. The band once again collaborated with award-winning producer Siegfried Meier and Davey Warsop (Foo Fighters, Green Day), with the final mix done by Jason Livermore at the Blasting Room, the iconic punk rock studio. The result is a massive and precise sounding album, the most accomplished by the band to date—made all the more impressive by Keith recording all his guitars in his own studio.
From the first notes of “Black Eye Specialist,” through the melodic power of “Anonymous” and the pure energy of the single No Way Out But Through, the album delivers exactly what fans expect. It’s also one of Keith’s most personal records: “I have a very strong connection to these songs,” he confesses. The track “Blanked Out” showcases Shiflett’s talent as one of the best bassists in punk today. And the band isn’t afraid to surprise, as proven by the closing ballad “Farewell Song,” initially inspired by The Cure but ultimately one of the album’s most powerful tracks.
The lyrics of No Way Out But Through are among Keith’s most introspective to date. Without being a concept album, each song revolves around a strong theme, ranging from anxiety to self-acceptance—recurring messages in the band’s universe. On the title track, Keith urges facing hardships with courage: “Make up your mind and take up a side / There is no way out but there is a way through.” It’s both a life message and the perfect summary of the album.
While many bands celebrating their thirtieth anniversary might settle for reissues, Face To Face delivers here one of their most energetic and essential albums. It might even be the album of a band at the peak of their powers. What’s the secret of their longevity? “We took breaks, recorded experimental records, acoustic albums… but our best path has always been to keep moving forward,” Keith sums up. “We might be in our fifties, but we want to show we’re not slowing down—we’re still playing intense, uncompromising punk rock.”
No Way Out But Through is therefore much more than just an album: it’s a manifesto of passion, consistency, and punk power. So turn up the volume… and remember why you fell in love with Face To Face.
- Friday 12 September 2025
- 8:00 PM
- Agora port de Québec