Without Face

Lore & Background

Without Face formed in 1997 and recorded their first self-titled demo in 1998. Constant touring and the demo led to a deal with Hammer Music Productions for their debut album Deep Inside in 2001. The album was later re-released in the United States by Dark Symphonies Records. The band also appeared on several of the label's metal compilations.

Their full-length album Astronomicon was released in late 2002 and received favourable reviews from the metal music press. The band split up in 2008.

The band's membership changed over time, with vocalists including Andras Szabo, Nori Pádár, Dina, Anett Balássi, and Juliette Kiss. Other members included guitarists Zsolt Horváth and Péter Inotai, keyboardists Szilard Sárik and Kyrah Németh, and several bassists and drummers.

Reader's Guide

Without Face occupy a distinct niche in Hungarian metal history as a band that combined progressive, gothic, and thrash metal with dual male-female vocals. Their 2002 album Astronomicon gained international recognition, particularly through the endorsement of Metal Hammer magazine, which named it Album of the Month. This exposure, facilitated by a deal with Earache Records and producer Lee Barrett, brought Hungarian progressive metal to a wider audience. The band's lyrical inspiration from Lovecraft, Poe, and Longfellow set them apart from many peers. Though they disbanded in 2008, their two studio albums—Deep Inside and Astronomicon—remain reference points for fans of melodic, atmospheric metal with literary themes. Their legacy is preserved through compilations and continued interest in the underground metal community.

Did You Know?

• Without Face formed in Veszprém, Hungary in May 1997.
• Their lyrics were influenced by H. P. Lovecraft, Edgar Allan Poe, and Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.
• The band split up in 2008.