The Faith (American band)

American hardcore punk band

The Faith was an early American hardcore punk band, from Washington D. C., with strong connections to the scene centered on the Dischord label. Along with Minor Threat, the Faith were key players in the early development of hardcore, with a (later) melodic approach that would influence not just associated acts like Rites of Spring, Embrace and Fugazi, but also a subsequent generation of bands such as Nirvana, whose Kurt Cobain was a vocal fan.

The band formed as a four piece in the summer of 1981 and featured Alec MacKaye, former vocalist for the Untouchables, on vocals, Michael Hampton and Ivor Hanson of Henry Rollins' first band, State of Alert on guitar and drums respectively, as well as Chris Bald on bass. They called themselves 'the Faith' and played their first show at H. B. Woodlawn High School in November '81. Alec described the name as "a positive kind of sound, not negative like so many others". Filling part of the void left by Minor Threat's hiatus, The Faith quickly became one of the most popular bands in D. C. After recording a demo in December 1981, the band released a split LP with fellow D. C. hardcore band, Void. It was released by Dischord Records, a local independent label founded by MacKaye's elder brother Ian MacKaye and Jeff Nelson of Minor Threat. The first pressing of the record sold out in two weeks. The addition was made because they wanted to get some more complex guitar ideas into the songs and soften the impact of guitar malfunctions, which were a constant threat during good shows. They also wanted a fuller sound and liked the way Eddie played. After the Faith broke up, guitarist Eddie Janney formed Rites of Spring with Guy Picciotto; while Hampton, Bald, and Hanson went on to join Embrace with Ian MacKaye on vocals. When Embrace broke up in early 1986, Chris Bald rejoined Alec MacKaye in Ignition (with Alec on vocals); meanwhile, Janney reunited with Michael Hampton for One Last Wish following Rites of Spring's breakup (later reformed as Happy Go Licky). Finally, Hampton and Hanson reunited in Manifesto in 1991, while Alec MacKaye sang with the Warmers during the mid '90s. Even during their existence, their music hinted at what was to come, softening the standard issue hardcore approach somewhat with better developed melodies and a more inward looking perspective. To be sure, it was high energy, high velocity punk, but its subtle deviations from the norm opened up new vistas for the D. C. scene. His intense vocals were what really set them apart from any of their hardcore contemporaries. Instead of just the normal typical hardcore brash screaming and pushing everything all in one verse, Alec had a way of making these minute blast songs almost melodic without compromising or losing any intensity. By the time they recorded the Subject to Change EP – which was first released in late 1983, shortly after they disbanded – the Faith had adopted a more melodic and emotional approach, perhaps owing to the addition of a second guitar player. The two guitars together seem to chime, creating an unusual – for hardcore – sense of melody. And instead of employing hardcore's usual strangled bark, Alec MacKaye makes sure his words are clear and easy to discern: the Faith's musicality often trumps their rage. Their split LP with Void As well as their more catchy but still raging EP Subject to Change. Known for their inward looking lyrics—a pioneering thing in a scene more given to social and political themes—and the gruff allure of Alec MacKaye's vocals, the Faith was highly esteemed by local punk fans. They have probably made a deeper impact on the underground. They created the sound that went on to shape much of what came after, especially later period D. C. bands. The Faith shows why hardcore has lasting power, how even music recognised mainly for its brevity and brutality can convey something emotional and immediate, even several years on.