Pomona, California is a sleepy town with not one but two record stores that sell actual vinyl! The annual Facedown Fest, held at the Glass House over two days each spring, is interesting because of the undercurrent of Christian culture that runs through the event. A stained glass-resembling, Christ-celebrating banner replaces generic band logo scrims, and ministry-driven bands dominate the landscape. There's lots of noisy, nasty metal that's really just a joyful noise made for Christ. But Facedown Fest is not reserved solely for Christian headbangers. While the medium is the message and FDF is a safe haven for Christian metalcore fans to have their say and to get their mosh on in tandem, it's an open-ended event.

All the bands, especially Impending Doom and Sleeping Giant, generated gargantuan pits for kids with lots of energy to expend. Attendees were adorned with earlobe stretchers and Jesus tattoos of the most visible sort, like on the face, were proudly displayed.

Among the highlights were a set from No Innocent Victim, which features Facedown founder Jason Dunn behind the kit, and XDEATHSTARX playing their final show.

"This is an event in the scene," A Plea for Purging's Andy Atkins told Noisecreep a few minutes before his band's Saturday set, which nearly levelled the Glass House to a pile of ash. "This is our second Facedown Fest, and it's an honor to play. It's different than other fests in that it's a product of the label and what they do. We get to focus on Christ. It's amazing what God allows this label to do. I feel God does work through bands."

But according to Atkins, the fest doesn't alienate non-believers. He said, "There's a huge group of kids here: Christian and non-Christian. The boundary is not there. It's not like you can't show up if you don't believe. It's not about casting anyone out."

The fest is also efficient and manageable. It's not two twelve-hour days where your feet ache and you're overwhelmed with music. Regardless of your faith, creed or beliefs, where else can you see a "Mosh" championship belt, a la WWE, handed out to the most fearsome "mosher" present at the fest?" The guy with the "Chewbacca chest hair," as described by xDEATHSTARx who awarded the belt during their set, actually won!


Noisecreep Test

    Scion Rock Fest 2009 held at the Masquerade Atlanta, Georgia Saturday, February 28, 2009

    Brian Manley for Spinner

    Mastodon at Scion Rock Fest 2009 held at the Masquerade Atlanta, Georgia Saturday, February 28, 2009

    Brian Manley for Spinner

    Mastodon at Scion Rock Fest 2009 held at the Masquerade Atlanta, Georgia Saturday, February 28, 2009

    Brian Manley for Spinner

    Crowd at Scion Rock Fest 2009 held at the Masquerade Atlanta, Georgia Saturday, February 28, 2009

    Brian Manley for Spinner

    Neurosis at Scion Rock Fest 2009 held at the Masquerade Atlanta, Georgia Saturday, February 28, 2009

    Brian Manley for Spinner

    Neurosis at Scion Rock Fest 2009 held at the Masquerade Atlanta, Georgia Saturday, February 28, 2009

    Brian Manley for Spinner

    Crowd at Scion Rock Fest 2009 held at the Masquerade Atlanta, Georgia Saturday, February 28, 2009

    Brian Manley for Spinner

    Baroness at Scion Rock Fest 2009 held at the Masquerade Atlanta, Georgia Saturday, February 28, 2009

    Brian Manley for Spinner

    Baroness at Scion Rock Fest 2009 held at the Masquerade Atlanta, Georgia Saturday, February 28, 2009

    Brian Manley for Spinner

    Baroness at Scion Rock Fest 2009 held at the Masquerade Atlanta, Georgia Saturday, February 28, 2009

    Brian Manley for Spinner

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