Nonpoint

Nonpoint is an American nu metal band from Bayamón, United States, active from 1991 to the present. The band is associated with alternative metal, groove metal, heavy metal and nu metal, and it has released music through 361 Degrees Records and Spinefarm Records.

History

Nonpoint forms in January 1998 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and builds an early reputation in the South Florida metal scene of the mid to late 1990s. Its original line-up includes vocalist Elias Soriano, bassist Kenneth “KB” Charman and drummer Robb Rivera.

The band’s first album, Separate Yourself, appears independently in 1998. Its first commercially released album, Struggle, follows in 1999 on Jugular Records. Nonpoint then issues its major-label debut, Statement, in 2000 on MCA Records. The album later reaches the Billboard 200 and peaks at number 166. Its first single, “What a Day,” reaches number 24 on the Mainstream Rock chart.

Development is released in 2002 and enters the Billboard chart at number 52. Its single “Your Signs” reaches number 36 on Mainstream Rock. In 2004, the band releases Recoil on Lava Records; the album enters the Billboard chart at number 115, and “The Truth” reaches number 22 on Mainstream Rock. A later single, “Rabia,” also appears from the album.

After leaving Lava Records, Nonpoint signs with Bieler Bros. Records, whose co-owner Jason Bieler produces the band’s previous three albums. The group releases To the Pain in 2005. It enters the Billboard chart at number 147 and sells about 9,000 copies in its first week. “Bullet with a Name” reaches number 22 on Mainstream Rock and appears in WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2007. “Alive and Kicking” reaches number 36 and also appears in the game. The band’s cover of Phil Collins’ “In the Air Tonight,” previously featured on Recoil, becomes the theme song for the film Miami Vice and later reaches number 34 on Mainstream Rock.

Nonpoint releases the live CD/DVD Live and Kicking in 2006, recorded at a show in Fort Lauderdale on 29 April 2006. In 2007, the band issues Vengeance on Bieler Bros. Records. The album peaks at number 129 on the Billboard chart, and the first single “March of War” is released online ahead of the album. The group also previews “Wake Up World” during this period.

Touring and live activity

Nonpoint tours widely with acts including Hed PE, Mudvayne, Fuel, Taproot and Drowning Pool, and appears on the United States leg of Ozzfest in 2001. It also plays Ozzfest again in Europe at Donington Park, and tours with Sevendust, Filter, Sunset Black and Papa Roach. Later tours include the first Locobazooka tour with Sevendust, and dates with Skindred, Dry Kill Logic and Candiria.

Support for To the Pain includes three months on tour with Sevendust, plus the Music as a Weapon Tour with Disturbed, Stone Sour and Flyleaf. The band also tours with Buckcherry. In support of Vengeance, it tours with HellYeah, Machine Head, Sevendust, Drowning Pool, Egypt Central, A New Revolution, Skindred, Ankla, Karnivool, 12 Stones, Royal Bliss and Midnight to Twelve. It also joins the first Great American Rampage Tour with Skindred, Ankla and Karnivool.

During a Florida show in 2007, Elias Soriano breaks his ankle early in the set but continues performing. At a later show in New Jersey, he performs with the injury with help from other band members.

Line-up changes

Andrew Goldman leaves the band in 2007 to pursue interests outside music. Chicago-based guitarist Zach Broderick, formerly of Modern Day Zero, then joins the touring line-up. Over time, the group’s members include Robb Rivera, Andrew Goldman, Ken MacMillan, Elias Soriano, Zach Broderick, Dave Lizzio, Rasheed Thomas, Adam Woloszyn, B.C. Kochmit and Samuel Salinas.