Nothingface (band)
Template:Short description Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox musical artist
Nothingface was an American nu metal band from Washington, D.C., formed in 1994. Their best-known and most prolific line-up consisted of Matt Holt (vocals), Tom Maxwell (guitar), Bill Gaal (bass) and Chris Houck (drums). They disbanded in 2004, only to reform the following year, reuniting with Gaal and Houck, and then disband four years later. In 2017, Holt died from a degenerative disease.
The band released four studio albums: Pacifier (1997), An Audio Guide to Everyday Atrocity (1998), Violence (2000) and Skeletons (2003), achieving moderate success, as evidenced by their 2001 single "Bleeder" peaking at number 32 on the U.S. Mainstream Rock Chart and touring with high-profile acts such as Soulfly, Pantera, and Ministry, as well as the Tattoo the Earth and Ozzfest 2003 tours. Nothingface's studio albums have collectively sold a total of over half a million copies worldwide.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
History
Early days (1994–1995)
Nothingface was originally formed in early 1994.<ref name="PlanetLoudArchive">Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The band's original line-up consisted of vocalist David Gabbard, guitarist Tom Maxwell, bassist Bill Gaal and drummer Chris Houck. The band started when Chris Houck put an ad out in a local magazine called Rox Magazine in Baltimore. Tom Maxwell, who was living in Baltimore at the time, contacted Chris about the ad, and said he was interested in getting together and jamming. Tom sent a tape with music that he had been working on. Chris, who was living with Bill Gaal at the time in Damascus, Maryland, got the tape and they were both impressed with what Tom had sent. From there they got together and jammed on covers of Soundgarden, Alice in Chains, Jane's Addiction and clicked.<ref name="metalstorm">Template:Cite web</ref> They released three tapes with this lineup. These demos featured a grunge and hard rock-influenced sound, in contrast to the heavy metal sound the band would become renowned for later on in their career. Gabbard left the band in 1995, due to disagreements over the heavier musical direction Nothingface was heading in. At this point Matt Holt took over singing duties. Matt Holt became a part of the band as a result of Ingredient 17 (Matt and Tommy Sickles' band) who had been recording at Chris and Bill's house in Damascus. Tom Maxwell heard the material Matt had been doing with Ingredient 17 and thought Matt would be a good match to replace Dave.<ref name="metalstorm"/> According to Maxwell, this lineup of Nothingface came together on May 5, 1995.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Pacifier and An Audio Guide to Everyday Atrocity (1996–1999)
The band then recorded a 1995 self-titled album featuring ten songs. DCide then discovered Nothingface, and in 1996,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> they partially re-recorded the album, with six of the songs featured on their debut album Pacifier, released in February 1997.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
The band's second album An Audio Guide to Everyday Atrocity was released on September 22, 1998, via Mayhem Records.<ref name="ReferenceA">Template:Cite web</ref> The band toured in support of the album throughout the United States with Stuck Mojo,<ref name=PlanetLoudArchive/> Sam Black Church, Helmet and Ministry.<ref name=PlanetLoudArchive/>
Violence (2000–2002)
Two years later, the band released their third album Violence on October 10, 2000.<ref name="ReferenceB">Template:Cite web</ref> It featured a single called "Bleeder" which peaked at number 32 on the Mainstream Rock chart.<ref name="ReferenceC">Template:Cite web</ref> The album also peaked at 24 on the Heatseekers Chart and 37 on the Top Independent Chart.<ref name="ReferenceC"/> It was the band's most successful album, and their first under the semi-major label TVT Records. Chris Houck recorded drums for this album but had to leave the group due to medical issues that would prevent him from touring.<ref name=PlanetLoudArchive/> He was replaced by Tommy Sickles<ref name=PlanetLoudArchive/> of Ingredient 17 (Matt and Tommy's band before Nothingface).
In early 2001, Bill Gaal left the group to pursue a career in music production and engineering. He was replaced by Jerry Montano, formerly of The Deadlights. A few months later, Gaal returned. During the 2001–02 interval between Violence and their next album, Nothingface experienced significant turmoil with Matt Holt's home burning down, Tom Maxwell's mother dying and bassist Bill Gaal's divorce, leading to the band nearly breaking up.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Skeletons and breakup (2003–2004)
The band released their fourth album Skeletons on April 22, 2003, via TVT Records.<ref name="allmusic1">Template:Cite web</ref> The album is considered their most diverse, featuring some of the band's heaviest as well as most melodic material.<ref name="metalstorm"/> That summer, the band played on the second-stage of the popular Ozzfest tour. However, the band dropped off Ozzfest shortly before it ended due to numerous factors, including voice issues experienced by Matt Holt.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Nothingface disbanded on February 10, 2004, citing musical differences and lack of support from their label.<ref name="sharpe-young"/><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Reformation and second breakup (2005–2009)
On November 24, 2005, a posting on the Jägermeister website showed Nothingface as the opening act for Disturbed in a 2006 show.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The line-up for this show was Matt Holt, Tom Maxwell, Jerry Montano and Tommy Sickles. The band released two new songs online and went on to do a small U.S. club tour that winter/spring, bringing along Crossbreed and Silent Civilian.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Jerry Montano was fired from the band after allegedly assaulting Tom Maxwell and making gun threats at Hellyeah's debut album party.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
During the first half of April 2008, the band sent out a Myspace bulletin and changed their default profile picture to one of the band in the studio, signaling that they were indeed working on new material. On May 20, they posted a short YouTube clip which features them performing and sent out a Myspace bulletin containing said clip. Four days later, on May 24, it was announced through Blabbermouth.net that original members Bill Gaal and Chris Houck had rejoined Nothingface.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> with Tommy Sickles now playing drums for the L.A.-based band Noise Within.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The band then released several additional "teaser" videos and on February 19, 2009, announced that "the band is at Wrightway Studios in Baltimore MD for the next 2 weeks writing and recording."<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The re-release of their self-titled album with remastered songs and new artwork was released on April 8, 2009.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
On August 14, 2009, it was announced via Blabbermouth.net that Nothingface would be disbanding again.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=":0">Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> On September 1, 2009, the band released "One Thousand Lies" on their official website. It is a rough "first draft" demo and was recorded in March 2008.<ref name=":0" /> On November 13, 2009, the band uploaded "D2" which is another rough "first draft" demo with no vocals. In early 2011, the band launched their brand new website Nothingface.com. Videos linked to YouTube were present so was a Nothingface wiki, forum, guest book, photo gallery and a section for fans to upload their own videos of Nothingface music. Links to other bands were present also. The website has since been suspended for unknown reasons.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Aftermath and death of Matt Holt (2010–2017)
In a Talk Toomey podcast interview on October 3, 2016, former guitarist Tom Maxwell stated that a Nothingface reunion is "not gonna happen" and that he and Holt "don't get along". Maxwell elaborated by stating that "there's just nothing anymore. There's no communication, there's no desire."<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
On April 15, 2017, Matt Holt died aged 39 from a degenerative disease.<ref name="metalsucks">Template:Cite web</ref> On May 6, 2017, Maxwell, Gaal and Tommy Sickles reunited at a Knives Out! concert to perform the Nothingface song "For All the Sin" (with Todd Smith of Dog Fashion Disco on vocals) as a tribute to Holt.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Other projects
Bill Gaal went on to form Kingdom of Snakes with former members of the band Gunfighter. Their debut EP features vocal work from Matt Holt on one track. In early 2004, Gaal and Holt announced the formation of a new band called Perfect Enemy, while Tom Maxwell and Tommy Sickles announced the formation of Coldwhitechrist with Jerry Montano and Chad Gray, whose tenure was short-lived due to prior commitments.<ref>Gaal and Holt formed the band Perfect Enemy</ref> The trio later announced the formation of Sever, which later became Blessed in Black and also included ex-Skrape vocalist Billy Keeton.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Keeton eventually left in late 2005<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and the band dissolved.
In 2005, guitarist Tom Maxwell and then-bassist Jerry Montano began a band called Hellyeah with Vinnie Paul, formerly of Pantera and Damageplan, as well as Chad Gray and Greg Tribbett of Mudvayne. They released their debut album on April 10, 2007, via Epic Records. After making drunken gun-threats at the album release party, Jerry Montano was subsequently fired from Hellyeah.
Musical style and influences
Nothingface has been most commonly described as alternative metal<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="sharpe-young">Template:Cite book</ref><ref name="newsbankB">Heavy metal at House of Blues Doug Elfman. April 17, 2001. Retrieved March 19, 2013.</ref> and nu metal.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>Template:Sfn<ref name="VH1">Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The band's first album Pacifier in 1997 featured a sound that was compared to nu metal band Korn.<ref name="allmusic.com">Template:Cite web</ref> Some critics described it as a "Korn clone".<ref name="ReferenceA"/> Although with their second album An Audio Guide to Everyday Atrocity, they abandoned that sound and featured the nu metal sound they became known for, continuing on their next releases.<ref name="ReferenceB"/><ref name="ReferenceA"/> Some critics deny that Nothingface is a nu metal band due to their use of guitar solos and absence of elements from hip-hop and other characteristics featured in nu metal.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The band's sound consists of aggressive heavy metal guitar riffs, screamed vocals, and melodic singing.<ref name="ReferenceB"/><ref name="allmusic1"/> Singer Matt Holt's melodic and grunge-esque singing has been compared to Eddie Vedder of Pearl Jam<ref name="ReferenceB"/><ref name="allmusic1"/> and the vocals of Alice in Chains.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Critics have praised Holt's singing style for being able to mix harshness with accessibility.<ref name="ReferenceB"/><ref name="allmusic1"/> Jennifer Slivka of the Daily Collegian, noting that Nothingface "don't rap" and "don't sound like Korn", distinguished Nothingface from the band's contemporaries: "Their music is loud and aggressive, recalling more of the older metal bands like Pantera. However, there are many times when the melody will shift midway through a song, giving way to vocal harmonies much like that of Alice in Chains."<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 1999, Paul Lee of Lollipop, categorizing Nothingface as metalcore, described the band as "Earth Crisis-meets-Fugazi". Lee also wrote that Nothingface "have chops comparable to Rush or King Crimson."<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Matt Holt cites Maryland heavy metal bands Dog Fashion Disco, Spirit Caravan, and Meatjack as influences. Tom Maxwell came from the Baltimore heavy metal scene. Holt and Tommy Sickles "came from more of the D.C. indie, straight-edge kind of thing, where" the two of them would see bands like Fugazi and other bands signed to Dischord Records.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Holt's other influences also include Clutch, Minor Threat, Bad Brains, and Shudder to Think. Holt also said that Nothingface's "influences range from Patsy Cline to Slayer". He then said: "We listen to a lot of music and very little of it is what would be termed 'heavy' music."<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Members
- Final lineup
- Tom Maxwell – guitar (1993–2004, 2005–2009)
- Matt Holt – lead vocals (1995–2004, 2005–2009; died 2017)
- Bill Gaal – bass, programming, backing vocals (1993–2001, 2001–2004, 2007–2009)
- Chris Houck – drums (1993–2000, 2008–2009)
- Former
- David Gabbard – vocals (1993–1995)
- Jerry Montano – touring bass (2001, 2005–2006)
- Tommy Sickles – drums (2000–2004, 2005–2008)
- Timeline
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id:vocals value:red legend:Lead_vocals id:bvocals value:pink legend:Backing_vocals,_programming id:bass value:blue legend:Bass id:guitar value:green legend:Guitar id:drums value:orange legend:Drums id:studio value:black legend:Studio_album id:bars value:gray(0.9)
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layer:back color:studio at:08/01/1995 at:10/01/1996 at:09/22/1998 at:09/05/2000 at:04/22/2003
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bar:David text:"David Gabbard" bar:Matt text:"Matt Holt" bar:Tom text:"Tom Maxwell" bar:Bill text:"Bill Gaal" bar:Jerry text:"Jerry Montano" bar:Chris text:"Chris Houck" bar:Tommy text:"Tommy Sickles"
PlotData=
width:11 bar:David from:start till:02/01/1995 color:vocals bar:Matt from:02/01/1995 till:02/10/2004 color:vocals bar:Matt from:11/24/2005 till:end color:vocals bar:Tom from:start till:02/10/2004 color:guitar bar:Tom from:11/24/2005 till:end color:guitar bar:Bill from:start till:02/01/2001 color:bass bar:Jerry from:02/01/2001 till:07/01/2001 color:bass bar:Bill from:07/01/2001 till:02/10/2004 color:bass bar:Jerry from:11/24/2005 till:05/20/2007 color:bass bar:Bill from:05/20/2007 till:end color:bass bar:Chris from:start till:11/01/2000 color:drums bar:Tommy from:11/01/2000 till:02/10/2004 color:drums bar:Tommy from:11/24/2005 till:05/24/2008 color:drums bar:Chris from:05/24/2008 till:end color:drums color:bvocals width:3 bar:Bill from:start till:02/01/2001 bar:Bill from:07/01/2001 till:02/10/2004 bar:Bill from:05/20/2007 till:end
</timeline>
Discography
Albums
| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | Sales | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US <ref name="USChartPosz">Violence:Template:Cite magazine and Template:Cite magazine Skeletons:Template:Cite magazine</ref> |
US Heat. <ref name="USChartPosz" /> |
US Ind. <ref name="USChartPosz" /> | |||
| Nothingface (demo) |
|
— | — | — | |
| Pacifier |
|
— | — | — | |
| An Audio Guide to Everyday Atrocity |
|
— | — | — | |
| Violence |
|
— | 24 | 27 |
|
| Skeletons |
|
125 | 3 | 7 | |
| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. | |||||
Singles
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| US Main. <ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> | |||
| "Pacifier" | 1997 | — | Pacifier |
| "The Sick" | 1999 | — | An Audio Guide to Everyday Atrocity |
| "Bleeder" | 2001 | 32 | Violence |
| "For All the Sin" | 2001 | — | |
| "Ether" | 2003 | — | Skeletons |
| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. | |||
Music videos
- "Pacifier" (1996)
- "Defaced" (1997)
- "Breathe Out" (1998)
- "Ether" (2003)
Soundtrack appearances
- "Bleeder" was featured on the 3000 Miles to Graceland soundtrack (2001)
- "Ether" was featured on the Freddy vs. Jason soundtrack (2003)
- "Down In Flames" was featured on The Texas Chainsaw Massacre soundtrack (2003)
Unreleased songs
- With David Gabbard
| Year | Song | Length | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | "On the Edge" | 3:11 | Braid |
| 1993 | "Prayer" | 5:42 | |
| 1993 | "Confusion (Ultra Sane)" | 6:04 | |
| 1993 | "Damage" | 3:04 | |
| 1993 | "Fast as Fuck" | 4:16 | |
| 1993 | "Circle" | 3:20 | |
| 1994 | "Mommi" | 5:08 | Thicker |
| 1994 | "Insane" | 3:32 | |
| 1994 | "Mrs. Greedy" | 4:42 | |
| 1994 | "Instant G" | 3:05 | |
| 1994 | "Dry" | 4:01 | |
| 1994 | "Blood" | 4:50 | |
| 1994 | "On the Edge (Newer Version)" | 3:11 | The Architect of So Much Evil |
| 1994 | "Instant G (Newer Version)" | 3:16 | |
| 1994 | "Mommi (Newer Version)" | 5:24 | |
| 1994 | "Evil Man" | 4:35 | |
| 1994 | "Hate You" | 4:21 | |
| 1994 | "Piss" | 4:00 | |
| 1994 | "Circle (Newer Version)" | 3:20 | |
| 1994 | "Grave" | 3:49 |
- With Matt Holt
| Year | Song | Length | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | "Carousel" | 4:04 | 1995 Self-titled album |
| 1996 | "Deprive" | 3:14 | |
| 1996 | "Godkill" | 4:07 | |
| 1996 | "Severed" | 4:56 | |
| 1997 | "3 Rooms" | 2:55 | Audio Guide Demo |
| 1997 | "Peeling Skynard" | N/A | |
| 1999 | "How Long" | 4:26 | Violence Demo |
| 2001 | "Everything I Hate" | 3:58 | Skeletons Demo |
| 2002 | "The Principles of Gangsterism" | 3:14 | |
| 2002 | "In the Wake Of" | 4:18 | |
| 2005 | "Walking on Bodies" | 3:38 | Demo 2005 |
| 2005 | "Let It Burn" | 2:44 | |
| 2005 | "Pain" | N/A | |
| 2008 | "One Thousand Lies" | 4:16 | 2008 Demos |
| 2008 | "The End" | 1:25 | |
| 2008 | "D2" | 3:07 |
References
External links
- 1994 establishments in Washington, D.C.
- 2004 disestablishments in Washington, D.C.
- American alternative metal musical groups
- American nu metal musical groups
- Heavy metal musical groups from Washington, D.C.
- Musical groups established in 1994
- Musical groups disestablished in 2004
- Musical groups reestablished in 2005
- Musical groups disestablished in 2009
- American musical quartets
- TVT Records artists