THE FACELESS

The Faceless was formed in Encino, California by guitarist Michael Keene and bassist Brandon Giffin in 2004. They released their debut album Akeldama in 2006 and toured extensively with bands such as Necrophagist, Decapitated, Nile, and The Black Dahlia Murder. After touring, drummer Brett Batdorf left the band during the recording of Akeldama. Former drummer Nick Pierce, recorded the instrumental song, "Akeldama" the name of the debut album. The band went through several fill-in drummers before adding current drummer Lyle Cooper to their line-up. The Faceless released their second full-length album, Planetary Duality, in November 2008. The album debuted at number 119 on the Billboard 200. In January 2009, the group announced a North American tour with Meshuggah and Cynic; and in February 2009, another North American tour, with Cannibal Corpse, Neuraxis and Obscura; then toured the US with In Flames, Between The Buried And Me, and 3 Inches Of Blood; then a co-headlining tour with Dying Fetus. The band were confirmed to tour Europe as part of the Bonecrusher Fest in Spring 2010 alongside The Black Dahlia Murder, 3 Inches Of Blood, Necrophobic, Obscura, Carnifex and Ingested. Prior to their performance at California Metalfest IV, founding member and bassist Brandon Giffin announced that he would no longer be in the group. They also announced that they would be playing in the 2010 Summer Slaughter Festival along with such bands as Decapitated, All Shall Perish, Decrepit Birth, and others. In May 2011, The Faceless guitarist Micheal Keene confirmed via Facebook that Geoff Ficco, vocalist on the Eidolon Reality demo, would be replacing Derek Rydquist as the vocalist for the Faceless. In April 2011, The Faceless were joined by Evan Brewer of Animosity. The Faceless are working on a new album that is to be released in 2012. Guitarist Michael Keene has said via Twitter that he hopes to finish the album before the band leaves for the 2012 Metal Alliance Tour. In March 2012, founding guitarist Steve Jones left The Faceless and was replaced by Wes Hauch. This leaves Michael Keene as the last founding member still in the band. Keene stated that "he's moved in a different direction than us and we wish him good luck in his ventures." Keene has also stated that the addition of Wes Hauch gave the band some fresh energy, praising Hauch to be "one of the best guitar players I've ever had the privilege of playing with, he's really amazing". The band is hoping to include a song that Hauch has written for the 2012 album. The Faceless, along with Cannibal Corpse, Goatwhore, Between The Buried And Me and others will take part in the 2012 Summer Slaughter Tour, during which the new studio album is also set to release. The album's title has been revealed as Autotheism, first revealed as a working title by Keene in a YouTube interview, later confirmed in the band's second studio update. As of July 9th, 2012 Autotheism is finished, due out on August 24th through Sumerian Records.