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.
Ether
Nothingface Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Because I'm too good for that
I never show restraint
Because there is no need for that
I know everyone
I've been everywhere
I know everything
Because I'm everybody
We came to take control
We came to sell you freedom
We came to burn you down
We came to brainwash children
And it's not our fault
It's just your own new suicide
Where we belong
There's no one to hurt
It's some place that we can't be found
Where we belong
It's darker than space
A feeling that we all push down
So it can't be found
It's that time again
Can we get it right?
He wants us to revolt
To set the world on fire
We don't want to show restraint
Because we like the violence
We are security
Wrapped in our brutality
And it's not our fault
It's just your own new suicide
Where we belong
There's no one to hurt
It's some place that we can't be found
Where we belong
It's darker than space
A feeling that we all push down
So it can't be found
Find our way through space
We'll never be found by anyone out here
Hide away from everything that knows what we did
I know everyone
I've been everywhere
I know everything
Because I'm everybody
Where we belong
There's no one to hurt
It's some place that we can't be found
Where we belong
It's darker than space
A feeling that we all push down
So it can't be found
The lyrics to "Ether" by Nothingface delve into the idea of control and violence, with a sense of detachment and superiority. The singer claims to know everything and everyone, and therefore does not hesitate or show restraint. They belong to a place where there is no one to hurt, which is a dark and isolated space that they push down and hide from the world. The singer also references a "he" who wants them to revolt and set the world on fire, indicating a sort of leader or authority figure who encourages violence.
The song speaks to themes of power and control, where those who feel superior justify their actions by claiming to understand everything and everyone. The lyrics also address the allure of violence and the destructive tendencies of human nature. The chorus repeats the line "where we belong, it's someplace that we can't be found," which further emphasizes the idea of isolation and detachment from the rest of society. The song ultimately leaves the listener with a sense of unease and the realization that not everyone has good intentions.
Line by Line Meaning
I never hesitate
I am always impulsive and act quickly without fear of consequences
Because I'm too good for that
I believe I am superior and exempt from the need for caution or second guessing
I never show restraint
I am always aggressive and refuse to hold back
Because there is no need for that
I am convinced that my actions are always justified and necessary
I know everyone
I have an inflated sense of self and believe that I am acquainted with everyone
I've been everywhere
I have an exaggerated idea of my own experiences and have supposedly been to every possible place
I know everything
I have an egocentric view of my own intelligence and know everything there is to know
Because I'm everybody
I believe that I am not only superior, but that I am also capable of embodying the qualities and experiences of every person
We came to take control
We have an aggressive agenda to dominate and rule over others
We came to sell you freedom
We use manipulative tactics to convince others that we are offering freedom, when in reality we seek to control them
We came to burn you down
We have destructive intentions to annihilate those who oppose us
We came to brainwash children
We seek to indoctrinate and manipulate young minds to further our own agenda
And it's not our fault
We refuse to take responsibility for the destruction and harm we cause
It's just your own new suicide
We shift blame onto others and insist that they are willingly destroying themselves by going against us
Where we belong
We have a utopian vision of a place where we can fully embody our violent and destructive tendencies
There's no one to hurt
In this imagined place, we have ultimate power to harm and dominate without consequences or opposition
It's some place that we can't be found
This place is a figment of our imagination and cannot truly exist
It's darker than space
This utopia is a bleak and nihilistic place where there is no hope or optimism
A feeling that we all push down
We all have dark and violent tendencies that we suppress in order to function in society
So it can't be found
Our imagined utopia is impossible to achieve and remains only in our minds
It's that time again
We have a recurring desire to engage in violent and destructive acts
Can we get it right?
We aspire to carry out our destructive agenda with maximum effectiveness and efficiency
He wants us to revolt
We are following the instructions and commands of a manipulative and possibly delusional leader
To set the world on fire
Our ultimate goal is to create chaos and destruction on a global scale
We don't want to show restraint
We are eager to unleash our violent and destructive tendencies without any self-imposed limitations
Because we like the violence
Our motivations are fueled by a sadistic enjoyment of violence and chaos
We are security
Our violent actions are motivated by a misguided belief that we are providing safety and order
Wrapped in our brutality
Our violent tendencies are a defining characteristic of our identity
Find our way through space
We are lost and searching for a sense of purpose in life
We'll never be found by anyone out here
Our search for purpose is futile and ultimately meaningless
Hide away from everything that knows what we did
We are haunted by guilt and shame for the violent and destructive actions we have carried out
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Andrew Gill, David Allen, Hugo Burnham, Jonathan King
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@murilosantos2703
Lyrics :
I never hesitate
Because I'm too good for that
I never show restraint
Because there is no need for that
I know everyone
I've been everywhere
I know everything
Because I'm everybody
We came to take control
We came to sell you freedom
We came to burn you down
We came to brainwash children
And it's not our fault
It's just your own new suicide
Where we belong
There's no one to hurt
It's some place that we can't be found
Where we belong
It's darker than space
A feeling that we all push down
So it can't be found
It's that time again
Can we get it right?
He wants us to revolt
To set the world on fire
We don't want to show restraint
Because we like the violence
We are security
Wrapped in our brutality
And it's not our fault
It's just your own new suicide
Where we belong
There's no one to hurt
It's some place that we can't be found
Where we belong
It's darker than space
A feeling that we all push down
So it can't be found
Find our way through space
We'll never be found by anyone out here
Hide away from everything that knows what we did
I know everyone
I've been everywhere
I know everything
Because I'm everybody
Where we belong
There's no one to hurt
It's some place that we can't be found
Where we belong
It's darker than space
A feeling that we all push down
So it can't be found
@stubby0990
I love this band because they were never over the top, just simply good relying on their musicianship and not some gimmick
@ShanaynayGosby
Matt is the master of hair tho
@franklineternal6527
I think I'll listen to this one forever
@ultrashortbus
I remember back in 2001, my younger brother, our cousin and myself would listen to a couple Nothingface CD's (this album wasn't out yet) on a perpetual loop as we drove around in my aunts dodge stratus, applying for jobs at random businesses in a few towns. 20 years later; I have a career in the aerospace industry, my brother is the director of a dialysis company and my cousin eventually became a medical doctor. Crazy shit man.
@BB-zd2sf
That's awesome, man. Hope y'all keep up the good work!
@johnnycincocero8233
Good for you guys. Good, positive comment.
@joehunter3jh
Not to crazy you would be amazed at what you can accomplish when you apply yourself . keep it up 👍
@straightedger9
Such a badass band...I saw them open for Soulfly,Morbid Angel,and Pantera in 2001...Unbelievable show!!! R.I.P. Matt Holt \m/
@Ghosthead83
Me too. I saw them in Iowa. It sure was a hell of a lineup.
@ronjrusso
Yo I saw that tour! I was at the show in San Jose. Blew me away how good they were for an opening act. Immediately bought their entire discography after that