Nothingface (band)
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1994 |
| Founder | Tom Maxwell, Bill Gaal, Chris Houck, David Gabbard (original lineup) |
| Defunct | 2009 |
| Headquarters | Washington, D.C. |
Area served | Worldwide |
Key people | Matt Holt (vocalist), Tom Maxwell (guitarist), Bill Gaal (bassist), Chris Houck (drummer) |
| Products | Studio albums: Pacifier (1997), An Audio Guide to Everyday Atrocity (1998), Violence (2000), Skeletons (2003) |
Number of employees | 4 (final lineup) |
Nothingface was a nu metal group from Washington, D.C., established in 1994. The most well-known formation included vocalist Matt Holt, guitarist Tom Maxwell, bassist Bill Gaal, and drummer Chris Houck. After disbanding in 2004, the band reunited in 2005 with Gaal and Houck returning, but ultimately dissolved again in 2009. Matt Holt passed away in 2017 due to a degenerative illness.
Their discography consists of four studio albums: Pacifier (1997), An Audio Guide to Everyday Atrocity (1998), Violence (2000), and Skeletons (2003). They attained moderate commercial recognition, notably with their 2001 single "Bleeder," which reached number 32 on the U.S. Mainstream Rock Chart. Nothingface toured with major artists such as Soulfly, Pantera, and Ministry, and appeared at significant festivals including Tattoo the Earth and Ozzfest 2003. Collectively, their albums have sold over 500,000 copies worldwide.
Formation and Early Years (1994–1995)
Nothingface came together in early 1994 with David Gabbard on vocals, Tom Maxwell handling guitar duties, Bill Gaal on bass, and Chris Houck on drums. The band's inception began when Houck placed an advertisement in Baltimore's Rox Magazine; Maxwell responded by sending a demo tape that impressed both Houck and Gaal. Initially, they practiced covers from bands like Soundgarden, Alice in Chains, and Jane's Addiction. This initial lineup produced three demos that showcased a sound influenced by grunge and hard rock, which was distinct from the heavier metal style they later embraced.
In 1995, Gabbard departed due to creative disagreements over the band's heavier musical direction. Matt Holt replaced him after Maxwell discovered Holt’s performances with Ingredient 17, a band recording at Houck and Gaal’s residence. This lineup was officially established on May 5, 1995.
Pacifier and An Audio Guide to Everyday Atrocity Era (1996–1999)
In 1995, the group recorded a self-titled album containing ten tracks. DCide Records took notice of Nothingface and reworked part of the album in 1996; six of those tracks were included on their debut full-length release, Pacifier, which came out in February 1997.
Their sophomore effort, An Audio Guide to Everyday Atrocity, was released through Mayhem Records on September 22, 1998. To promote the album, Nothingface toured extensively across the U.S., sharing stages with Stuck Mojo, Sam Black Church, Helmet, and Ministry.
Violence Period (2000–2002)
The band’s third studio album, Violence, was released on October 10, 2000. It featured the track "Bleeder," which climbed to number 32 on the Mainstream Rock chart. Additionally, the album peaked at number 24 on the Heatseekers Chart and number 37 on the Top Independent Chart. This marked their most commercially successful record and was their first release under TVT Records, a semi-major label. Although drummer Chris Houck performed on the album’s recordings, he left due to health issues and was succeeded by Tommy Sickles from Ingredient 17.
In early 2001, Bill Gaal exited the band to focus on music production but rejoined after a brief replacement by Jerry Montano. Between Violence and their subsequent album, the band endured significant personal hardships—including Matt Holt’s home being destroyed by fire, Tom Maxwell losing his mother, and Gaal going through a divorce—that nearly caused them to disband.
Skeletons release and initial breakup (2003–2004)
On April 22, 2003, Nothingface unveiled their fourth studio album, Skeletons, through TVT Records. This record is often recognized as their most eclectic work, blending both heavy and melodic sounds. During the summer of that year, the band participated in Ozzfest on the secondary stage but exited the tour prematurely due to several issues, including vocalist Matt Holt experiencing problems with his voice. Ultimately, on February 10, 2004, Nothingface disbanded, attributing the split to creative disagreements and insufficient support from their label.
Reunion and subsequent disbandment (2005–2009)
Nothingface announced their reunion on November 24, 2005, planning to open for Disturbed in 2006 with a lineup featuring Matt Holt, Tom Maxwell, Jerry Montano, and Tommy Sickles. They shared two new tracks online and embarked on a U.S. club tour alongside Crossbreed and Silent Civilian. However, Jerry Montano was later removed from the group following an incident at the release party for Hellyeah’s debut album.
By April 2008, the band indicated via Myspace that they were working on fresh material. In May of that year, original members Bill Gaal and Chris Houck rejoined the lineup; Tommy Sickles transitioned to Noise Within. The group released preview videos and entered Wrightway Studios in Baltimore in February 2009 to write and record new songs. On April 8, 2009, they reissued their self-titled album featuring remastered tracks and updated artwork.
On August 14, 2009, Nothingface declared their second dissolution. Following this announcement, they uploaded rough demos titled "One Thousand Lies" and "D2" online. Early in 2011, the band launched an official website containing multimedia elements and interactive features for fans; however, this site has since been taken down for reasons not publicly disclosed.
Post-breakup developments and Matt Holt's passing (2010–2017)
During an October 2016 episode of the Talk Toomey podcast, former guitarist Tom Maxwell expressed that a Nothingface reunion was unlikely due to a lack of communication and mutual interest between himself and Matt Holt.
Matt Holt passed away on April 15, 2017, at age 39 after battling a degenerative illness. As a tribute to Holt, Maxwell, Gaal, and Tommy Sickles reunited on May 6, 2017, at a Knives Out! concert to perform the Nothingface track "For All the Sin," with Todd Smith from Dog Fashion Disco providing vocals.
Side projects
Bill Gaal established Kingdom of Snakes with former members of Gunfighter; their debut EP includes one track featuring Matt Holt. In early 2004, Gaal and Holt announced a project named Perfect Enemy. Meanwhile, Maxwell and Sickles formed Coldwhitechrist alongside Jerry Montano and Chad Gray, although this endeavor was short-lived. Subsequently, these three musicians created Sever which evolved into Blessed in Black with former Skrape vocalist Billy Keeton; Keeton departed in late 2005 leading to the band's dissolution.
In 2005, Tom Maxwell teamed up with bassist Jerry Montano to form Hellyeah, joining forces with Vinnie Paul (formerly of Pantera/Damageplan), Chad Gray, and Greg Tribbett from Mudvayne. Their self-titled debut album was released on April 10, 2007 through Epic Records. Montano was dismissed after making intoxicated gun threats at the album’s launch party.
Musical style and influences
Nothingface is predominantly categorized within the alternative metal and nu metal genres. Their debut album Pacifier (1997) exhibited a style reminiscent of nu metal pioneers like Korn, leading some critics to label it as derivative. However, their sophomore effort An Audio Guide to Everyday Atrocity marked a transition toward the nu metal sound that would define much of their later work. Some reviewers contest their classification as nu metal due to elements such as guitar solos and an absence of typical hip-hop influences. Their music combines aggressive heavy metal riffs with screamed vocals interlaced with melodic singing passages.
Vocalist Matt Holt’s grunge-inspired melodic delivery has drawn comparisons to artists like Eddie Vedder of Pearl Jam and members of Alice in Chains. Critics have noted Holt’s skillful balance between intensity and accessibility. Jennifer Slivka from the Daily Collegian highlighted that Nothingface stands apart from peers by eschewing rap components while incorporating vocal harmonies akin to Alice in Chains. In 1999, Paul Lee of Lollipop described Nothingface as metalcore, likening them to "Earth Crisis-meets-Fugazi" with musicianship comparable to progressive acts such as Rush or King Crimson.
Holt credits Maryland-based heavy metal groups like Dog Fashion Disco, Spirit Caravan, and Meatjack among his influences; guitarist Tom Maxwell emerged from Baltimore’s metal scene. Additionally, Holt and drummer Tommy Sickles draw inspiration from Washington D.C.’s indie and straight-edge scenes including bands like Fugazi affiliated with Dischord Records. Other cited influences include Clutch, Minor Threat, Bad Brains, and Shudder to Think. Holt has remarked that Nothingface’s influences span broadly—from country singer Patsy Cline to thrash legends Slayer—reflecting their diverse musical tastes beyond solely heavy genres.
Members
- Final roster
- Tom Maxwell – guitar (1993–2004, 2005–2009)
- Matt Holt – lead vocals (1995–2004, 2005–2009; deceased 2017)
- Bill Gaal – bass, programming, backing vocals (1993–2001, 2001–2004, 2007–2009)
- Chris Houck – drums (1993–2000, 2008–2009)
- Previous members
- David Gabbard – vocals (1993–1995)
- Jerry Montano – touring bass (2001, 2005–2006)
- Tommy Sickles – drums (2000–2004, 2005–2008)
- Timeline
Albums
| Title | Album information | Highest chart positions | Sales figures | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US | US Heatseekers |
US Indie | |||
| Nothingface (demo) |
|
— | — | — | |
| Pacifier |
|
— | — | — | |
| An Audio Guide to Everyday Atrocity |
|
— | — | — | |
| Violence |
|
— | 24 | 27 |
|
| Skeletons |
|
125 | 3 | 7 | |
| A dash ("—") indicates albums that did not chart or were unavailable in that market. | |||||
Singles
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| US Mainstream Rock | |||
| "Pacifier" | 1997 | — | Pacifier |
| "The Sick" | 1999 | — | An Audio Guide to Everyday Atrocity |
| "Bleeder" | 2001 | 32 | Violence |
| "For All the Sin" | 2001 | — | |
| "Ether" | 2003 | — | Skeletons |
| A dash ("—") denotes singles that did not enter the charts or were not released in that region. | |||
Music videos
- "Pacifier" (1996)
- "Defaced" (1997)
- "Breathe Out" (1998)
- "Ether" (2003)
Soundtrack appearances
- "Bleeder" included on the 3000 Miles to Graceland soundtrack (2001)
- "Ether" featured on the Freddy vs. Jason soundtrack (2003)
- "Down In Flames" appeared on The Texas Chainsaw Massacre soundtrack (2003)
Unreleased songs
- Featuring David Gabbard
| Year | Title | Duration | 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 |
- Featuring Matt Holt
| Year | Title | Duration | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | "Carousel" | 4:04 | 1995 Self-titled album |
| 1996 | "Deprive" | 3:14 | |
| 1996 | "Godkill" | 4:07 | |
| "Severed" | 4:56 | ||
| "3 Rooms" | 2:55 | Audio Guide Demo | |
| "Peeling Skynard" | N/A | Audio Guide Demo | |
| "How Long" | 4:26 | Violence Demo | |
| "Everything I Hate" | 3:58 | Skeletons Demo | |
| "The Principles of Gangsterism" | 3:14 | Skeletons Demo | |
| "In the Wake Of" | 4:18 | Skeletons Demo | |
| "Walking on Bodies" | 3:38 | Demo 2005 | |
| "Let It Burn" | 2:44 | Demo 2005 | |
| "Pain" | N/A | Demo 2005 | |
| "One Thousand Lies" | 4:16 | 2008 Demos | |
| "The End" | 1:25 | 2008 Demos | |
| "D2" | "3:07" | "2008 Demos" |
External links
- Articles with short description
- 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