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.
Machination
Nothingface Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A brand new truth
A patsy is useful
A window with a view
Someone is listening
Why can't they just leave me alone
And no one believes me
Now don't disappoint me
And do what you're told
Be patient
We'll be calling you
That's what he says to me
The voice in my mind
Controlled by a subconscious shadow
Paranoid freewill confined
Read "Catcher In The Rye"
One hundred and ten fucking times
Brain washed and programmed
Obsession defined
Now don't disappoint me
And do what you are told
Be patient
We'll be calling you
No one will believe you
So say what you will
Be Patient
We'll be calling you
You're our little device
A mindless satellite
We have the place
And we've set the date
They decide when it ends
They don't let me do it myself
They got a use for me
A gun for a conspiracy
I'm remote controlled
I'm robotized for the dark government
The song Machination by Nothingface is a haunting commentary on the state of mind control and manipulation. The opening lines speak of starting a new nightmare, a brand new truth, and the usefulness of a patsy with a window view. The song progresses to talk about the paranoia of being monitored and the feeling of being controlled by a subconscious shadow. The song speaks about how the voice in the singer's mind is telling them to read “Catcher In The Rye” a hundred and ten times, showing the way books can sometimes brainwash individuals into obsessively thinking about certain ideas. The singer is remote-controlled and robotized for a dark government who has a use for them as a gun for a conspiracy.
The song does an excellent job of outlining the emotions and mental state of the singer, who is suffering from the effects of mind control, and how they can't escape the grasp of the disturbing entity that is controlling their every move. The lyrics also explore the idea that the singer is fully aware of their situation but feels powerless to do anything about it.
Line by Line Meaning
Let's start a new nightmare
We are creating a new reality for you to experience, which is horrifying.
A brand new truth
We are presenting a new idea that we want you to believe, regardless of whether or not it is true.
A patsy is useful
We need to blame someone else for our actions, so that we are not held responsible.
A window with a view
We give you a limited perspective to see things from, only allowing you to see what we want you to see.
Someone is listening
We are constantly monitoring you and know everything that you are doing.
Why can't they just leave me alone
I am feeling overwhelmed and want to be left alone, but they won't stop harassing me.
And no one believes me
Even if I try to tell someone what is happening, they won't believe me.
A gun for a conspiracy
They are planning something violent and need me to carry out their plan.
Now don't disappoint me
I am being pressured to do what they want, or there will be consequences.
And do what you're told
They are expecting me to blindly follow their orders, without question.
Be patient
They are planning something big and elaborate, which will take time to carry out.
We'll be calling you
They will keep me informed of the plan, and let me know when to act.
That's what he says to me
The voice in my head is telling me what I should be doing, as if it has a will of its own.
Controlled by a subconscious shadow
My mind is being manipulated by an unseen force, which I cannot consciously control.
Paranoid freewill confined
I am feeling trapped and controlled, unable to think and act freely due to my paranoid thoughts.
Read 'Catcher In The Rye'
They are using a book to brainwash me with a specific ideology, which is outlined in that book.
One hundred and ten fucking times
They are repeatedly making me read the same book, to further brainwash me with their ideas.
Brain washed and programmed
They are manipulating my thoughts and beliefs to align with their own, brainwashing me into compliance.
Obsession defined
My fixation on this idea has reached a point where it has fully consumed me, leaving me with no other thoughts or beliefs.
No one will believe you
They are convincing me that no one will believe me, so that I don't even try to speak out.
So say what you will
They are giving me the illusion of free speech, but in reality, they won't listen to anything I say.
You're our little device
I am being treated as a tool, used solely for their own purposes, without regard for my own well-being.
A mindless satellite
I am being controlled remotely, my thoughts and actions guided by an unseen force, like a satellite in orbit.
We have the place
They have already chosen the location where their plan will take place.
And we've set the date
They have already set a specific date and time for their plan to take place.
They decide when it ends
They will be in control until the very end, deciding when their plan comes to a conclusion.
They don't let me do it myself
I am not allowed to have control or autonomy over my own actions, as they will be micromanaging everything I do.
They got a use for me
The only reason they are keeping me around is because they still have a use for me in their plan.
A gun for a conspiracy
They are planning something violent and need me to carry out their plan.
I'm remote controlled
I have no freedom or autonomy, and am being controlled by them remotely, like a puppet on a string.
I'm robotized for the dark government
I have been stripped of my humanity and free will, and am being used like a machine by an evil government agency.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind