Other bandmembers included David Gabbard (vocals, 1994-1995), Jerry Montano (2001, 2005-2007) and Tommy Sickles (2000-2004, 2005-2007).
Formed in 1994, the band's original line-up consisted of vocalist David Gabbard, guitarist Tom Maxwell, bassist Bill Gaal and drummer Chris Houck. They released three tapes with this lineup, until Gabbard left the band. At this point Matt Holt took over singing duties. The band then recorded a self-titled album featuring ten songs. DCide then discovered Nothingface, and they re-recorded the album, with six of the songs featuring on their debut album Pacifier, released February 6, 1997.
The band were often mislabeled as nu metal, however many music critics denied them as nu metal. They also are known for their extremely aggressive and heavy style.
The band's second album An Audio Guide to Everyday Atrocity was released on September 22, 1998 via DCide/Mayhem Records. The band toured in support of the album throughout the United States with Stuck Mojo,[2] Sam Black Church and Ministry.[2]
Two years later, the band released their third album Violence on October 10, 2000. It was the band's national debut, released via 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. He was replaced by Tommy Sickles of Ingredient 17 fame (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.
The band released their fourth album Skeletons on April 22, 2003 via TVT Records. That summer, the band played on the second-stage of the popular Ozzfest tour.
The group disbanded on February 10, 2004, citing musical differences, inner turmoil, and label troubles. 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. Tom Maxwell and Tommy Sickles were in the band Blessed in Black featuring ex-Skrape vocalist Billy Keeton, as well as Jerry Montano on bass.
On November 24, 2005, a posting on the Jägermeister website showed Nothingface as the opening act for Disturbed in a 2006 show. 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.
Later that year, guitarist Tom Maxwell and bassist Jerry Montano began a project entitled 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. Following its release, Montano was fired from the band after allegedly assaulting HellYeah producer/engineer Sterling Winfield and making gun threats while drunk at the album release party.
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 the 20th of May, 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 have rejoined Nothingface, with Tommy Sickles now playing drums for the L.A.-based band Noise Within. 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."
The re-release of their self-titled album with remastered songs and new artwork was released on April 8, 2009.
On August 14, 2009, it was announced via Blabbermouth.net that Nothingface would be disbanding,[3] with Maxwell citing Holt's lack of work ethic as the main reason for an unfinished album three years in the making, as well as his decision to leave. Houck would later state that this is "only one side of the story" and that "there were a lot of other factors involved in all of this beyond anything with (Holt)." In a summer 2011 interview, Bill Gaal spoke publicly about the split, stating, "It’s one of those situations where everyone’s story will be different. Broadly, what it boiled down to is that we’re all older now, we all have different responsibilities. Making everything line up time-wise is difficult– I’m in LA, Chris is out in North Carolina, Tom’s out on tour with Hellyeah most of the year, Matt stays home in Baltimore now. And me and Tom have families now, too. You don’t just get together and write a great song, especially with Nothingface. It takes a chunk of time, and we’d always rework songs hundreds of times before releasing them. We only had a couple of intense, 1- or 2-week writing sessions and really, we just ran out of time. We had to get a lot done in a short amount time before we had to get back to other things we had going on. So the timing didn’t work out, but that being said, it doesn’t rule out anything for the future. As pissed-off as Nothingface was back in the day, we’ve definitely all cooled down, and if we could just find one week where all of us were just calm enough and got together, we could do it."
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. 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 are present so is 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 are present also.
Can't Wait For Violence
Nothingface Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You say that you'd be satisfied
But it's all right
The pills
It's all you have with all the pain
To satisfy
Alone
I feel just as numb, don't you know
It's soft
The heat and the smoke take you in
It satisfies
No, it's so cold now
Please, in the sky
Let it fall
Let if all to me
In these words
In these eyes
Let it all be freed
It's clean
The skin and the dreams help me bleed
But it's all right
The screen has sucked all I am
I'm a shell
It satisfies
My ink
Shows I can't learn a thing
And it's all right
I know
That this wasn't much, just a fling
It satisfied
No, it's so cold now
Please, in the sky
Let it fall
Let if all to me
In these words
In these eyes
Let it all be freed
So I can't be the one that peels away
But it's heavy, and I feel it
So wait, I knew it
But I'm guilty though
And I can see them tearing away
Your flesh, no
Killed in the rain that day
Just like everyday
Won't you wait for me
It's not over
Go back again
You policed again
Killed it all
Can't wait for violence
If you're open handed
You'll see still lie in my face
I can't wait for violence
You know you say that you'd be satisfied
But it's all right
The pills
It's all you have with all the pain
To satisfy
Alone
I feel just as numb, don't you know
But it's all right
It's soft
The heat and the smoke take you in
It satisfies
Yeah
The lyrics to Nothingface's Can't Wait For Violence are haunting and reveal a sense of desperation and numbness. The repeated lines "But it's all right, It satisfies" highlight the singer's reliance on drugs (pills), dreams, and violence to help them cope with pain and feel alive. The use of the word "alone" emphasizes the isolation and disconnection the singer feels from the world. They are searching for something, anything to make them feel alive, but it seems that they are stuck in a loop, unable to break free from their destructive patterns.
The chorus, "Please, in the sky, let it fall, Let if all to me, In these words, In these eyes, Let it all be freed," suggests that the singer is asking for some sort of release, but it is unclear what that release is. Perhaps it is death, or perhaps it is the freedom from their addiction and the cycle of violence. However, the final lines of the song suggest that the singer cannot wait for violence and will continue down their destructive path.
Overall, the song's lyrics paint a bleak and painful picture of addiction and violence, and the desperation for something to snap them out of it.
Line by Line Meaning
You know
The singer is addressing someone and acknowledging that they know what they are talking about.
You say that you'd be satisfied
The person being addressed claims that they would be content in a particular situation.
But it's all right
The singer is trying to reassure the person being addressed or themselves that things are okay.
The pills
The artist is referring to medication as a means of coping with pain or discomfort.
It's all you have with all the pain
The medication is the only way that the person can deal with their suffering.
To satisfy
The medication is used to meet the person's needs and make them feel better.
Alone
The singer is feeling isolated and perhaps disconnected from other people.
I feel just as numb, don't you know
The artist is expressing that they feel emotionally numb and they are asking the person being addressed if they are familiar with that feeling.
But it's all right
The artist is reassuring themselves or the person being addressed that things are okay.
It's soft
The artist is describing a sensation that is gentle or not harsh in nature.
The heat and the smoke take you in
The singer is referring to an experience of being engulfed in heat and smoke, which could be harmful or dangerous.
It satisfies
Despite the potential harm of the experience, the person finds satisfaction in it.
No, it's so cold now
The singer is expressing that they no longer feel the warmth or satisfaction that they once did.
Please, in the sky
The singer is addressing something greater than themselves or the person being addressed.
Let it fall
The singer is asking for something to happen or fall down from above.
Let it all to me
The artist is willing and perhaps even eager to take on whatever happens next.
In these words
The artist is referring to what they are currently saying or expressing.
In these eyes
The singer is referring to their own eyes as a means of expressing their emotions or thoughts.
Let it all be freed
The singer is requesting that all their feelings or thoughts be released and allowed to flow freely.
It's clean
The artist is describing something that is pure or untainted.
The skin and the dreams help me bleed
The artist is saying that their skin and dreams are causing them to suffer, but they still find some relief in this pain.
But it's all right
The artist is reassuring themselves or the person being addressed that they can handle the pain and that everything is okay.
The screen has sucked all I am
The singer is referring to a screen or electronic device that has consumed their identity or sense of self.
I'm a shell
The artist is expressing that they feel empty or hollow inside.
It satisfies
Despite feeling empty, the singer finds satisfaction in the screen or electronic device that takes up their time.
My ink
The singer is referring to their writing or creative work.
Shows I can't learn a thing
The singer is saying that their writing indicates an inability to learn from their mistakes or experiences.
And it's all right
The artist is once again reassuring themselves or the person being addressed that everything is okay.
I know
The artist is expressing confidence in something they believe or understand to be true.
That this wasn't much, just a fling
The singer is acknowledging that something they were involved in was temporary or not that serious.
It satisfied
Despite it not being serious or long-lasting, the singer still found some satisfaction in the experience.
So I can't be the one that peels away
The artist is saying that they cannot be the one to back out or leave a situation, even if it is harmful or uncomfortable.
But it's heavy, and I feel it
The artist is acknowledging that their situation is difficult or burdensome, and that they feel the weight of it.
So wait, I knew it
The artist is expressing that they were aware of a situation or problem from the start.
But I'm guilty though
Despite being aware of the situation, the singer feels guilty or responsible for it.
And I can see them tearing away
The artist is referring to something being taken apart or destroyed, and they can see it happening.
Your flesh, no
The singer is saying that they do not want to experience the physical pain associated with the destruction happening around them.
Killed in the rain that day
The singer is recalling a difficult or emotional experience in the past that still affects them.
Just like everyday
This experience is similar to what the singer faces in their everyday life.
Won't you wait for me
The artist is asking someone to stay with them or be patient with them.
It's not over
The artist is expressing that a situation or experience is not yet finished or resolved.
Go back again
The singer is suggesting that they will repeat a cycle or experience that they have faced before.
You policed again
The singer is accusing someone of controlling or monitoring them like a police officer.
Killed it all
A situation or experience has been completely destroyed or ended.
Can't wait for violence
The artist is expressing that they are eagerly anticipating a violent or destructive event.
If you're open handed
The artist is addressing someone who has a generous or giving attitude.
You'll see still lie in my face
The singer is suggesting that despite their outward appearance, they are still struggling or suffering in some way.
I can't wait for violence
The artist is once again expressing an eagerness for a violent or destructive event to occur.
You say that you'd be satisfied
The person being addressed claims that they would be content in a particular situation.
But it's all right
The singer is trying to reassure the person being addressed or themselves that things are okay.
The pills
The singer is referring to medication as a means of coping with pain or discomfort.
It's all you have with all the pain
The medication is the only way that the person can deal with their suffering.
To satisfy
The medication is used to meet the person's needs and make them feel better.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: CHRISTOPHER BRADLEE HOUCK, MATTHEW FRANCIS HOLT, THOMAS, IV MAXWELL, WILLIAM THOMAS GAAL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind