Before the electroclash movement and the 2000s dance-rock wave, there was The Faint. Emerging in late-1990s Omaha, Nebraska—a setting more known for practicality than synth-punk—they carved out a bold, futuristic sound blending new wave melodies, post-punk grit, and Detroit electro beats. Armed with synths, eyeliner, and frenetic energy, The Faint shattered indie rock’s understated norms, injecting raw, primal urgency into the late-’90s music scene.
Onstage, they turned every show into a pulsing dance party. Amid a sea of flannel and guitars, their all-black attire, smoke machines, and DIY light rigs stood out. Keyboardist Jacob Thiele’s eerie priest collar and Todd Fink’s dystopian, hyper-sexed lyrics collided with Clark Baechle’s pounding electro beats and Dapose’s howling guitar, creating something more than just an ’80s throwback—it was the dawn of indie synth-punk.
Their breakthrough came with Blank-Wave Arcade (1999), a raw fusion of synth-pop and DIY punk influenced by The Human League and Fugazi. 2001’s Danse Macabre cemented their reputation, striking a chord with indie fans hungry for danceable, visceral music. By 2004, Wet From Birth pushed boundaries with electro-orchestral arrangements, solidifying The Faint as pioneers of the indie synth scene.
Now, 25 years later, The Faint are reissuing Blank-Wave Arcade and Wet From Birth on vinyl for the first time, via Saddle Creek on March 14. To celebrate, they’ve shared the previously unreleased Wet From Birth-era track “Zealots” and a remastered version of “I Disappear,” marking a nostalgic yet timeless return to their groundbreaking sound.