Subject to Change (EP)
| Subject to Change | ||||
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| EP by The Faith | ||||
| Released | December 1983 | |||
| Recorded | May 1983 | |||
| Studio | Inner Ear Studios, Mastered at Masterdisk | |||
| Genre | Hardcore punk, melodic hardcore | |||
| Length | 12:52 | |||
| Language | English | |||
| Label | Dischord | |||
| Producer | Ian MacKaye, The Faith | |||
| The Faith chronology | ||||
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| Professional ratings | |
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| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |   |
Subject to Change is the first and only EP by American hardcore band The Faith. It was released in December 1983 through Dischord Records. Like other influential D.C. records, it was released after the band had broken up. For the band's only other release after their split LP with Void, Edward Janney added some second guitar.
Allmusic described it to be "hot-wired classic hardcore outrage and self-questioning, as before" giving it 4 stars out of 5; and also praised the production.Don Zientara once again handled the recording, with Ivor Hanson's drumming sounding both stronger and also a touch more accomplished. Bass and guitar seemed to have switched positions of prominence in the mix, with Mike Hampton's crunch a touch more subtle and Chris Bald's own crisp work more directly audible.
It makes for a calm but interesting contrast; in combination with the fine if not especially original songs, the result is more prime hardcore.Alec MacKaye still screams with passion but also has a little more open ache slipping through here and there, which goes well with the lyrics of songs like "Limitations" and the combination of reflection and call to action in the especially inspiring title track. It all makes for a fine way for this solid band to be remembered.
As the record progresses things get even more dynamic. "Say No More" finds Alec near-singing, and ends with four hand claps. Also, rather than snarling that he wants to make society bleed, he drops lines like "It's a feeling coming from your heart. Don't want to stop it, just want to know how it starts." If listened closely enough on "Aware" and "More of the Same," something can even be noticed, something more or less alien to hardcore records of the era: guitar solos.
As an exceptional record, not only because of its heavy, melodious (but not poppy, in fact punk) sound, but because of its great personal, introspective lyrics, things one can really relate to; it should be noted that it is far from a transitional record; the eight songs on Subject to Change are totally complete and powerful. The scene, however, was about to raze itself and start again from scratch. The record, in its music, lyrics, and especially the title song, was a forecast of the great things to come.
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Wikipedia