The Faceless

The Faceless

The Faceless are an American technical death metal band from Encino, California, active since 2004. Their sound sits within death metal, deathcore, progressive metal and technical death metal. The group forms in Encino in 2003 around guitarist Michael Keene and bassist Brandon Giffin, initially under the name The Faithless, before developing into The Faceless.

Early recordings and debut album

In winter 2005, the band starts work on a four-song EP that becomes their debut release, Akeldama. After the drum parts are recorded, drummer Brett Batdorf leaves the group, and several other drummers finish the recording. Akeldama appears in 2006. The band tours widely after its release with Necrophagist, Decapitated, Nile and The Black Dahlia Murder.

Line-up changes and rise in profile

The Faceless pass through a number of temporary drummers before adding Lyle Cooper to the line-up. Their second album, Planetary Duality, is released in 2008 and reaches number 119 on the Billboard 200. The record also brings the band wider attention, and they tour with Meshuggah, Lamb of God and In Flames.

Before a performance at California Metalfest IV, co-founding bassist Brandon Giffin leaves the band. In 2011, vocalist Derek Rydquist is replaced by Geoffrey Ficco, who records harsh vocals on the pre-production preview track “The Eidolon Reality.” Around the same time, bassist Evan Brewer joins, replacing Giffin. In 2012, guitarist Steve Jones leaves and is replaced by Wes Hauch, leaving Michael Keene as the last original member in the group.

Autotheism and later releases

The third full-length album, Autotheism, is released in 2012. It reaches number 49 on the Billboard 200 and number 1 on the CMJ radio loud rock chart. The Faceless also take part in the 2012 Summer Slaughter Tour alongside Cannibal Corpse, Goatwhore, Between the Buried and Me, Periphery and others.

After Autotheism, the band releases the single “The Spiraling Void” in 2015, followed by “Black Star” and “Digging the Grave” in 2017. Later in 2017, they release In Becoming a Ghost. The band also appears under the name The Faithless in its earliest phase, before adopting The Faceless name.