Without Face

All Music Guide:

Without Face is one of the forerunners of the Hungarian metal scene. The group plays space-age, atmospheric, and grandiose metal led by frontwoman Juliette. With ethereal vocals and tight musicianship, the band crafts a unique sound -- Enya meets Iron Maiden. Without Face was formed by Juliette, vocalist Andras, guitarist Roomy, bassist Akos, keyboardist Sasza, and drummer Peter in 1997, and by early 1998, they'd recorded a demo. In June 2000, the band released their debut, Deep Inside, in their home country on Hammer Music Productions. The attention-grabbing record, both dark and uplifting, was later put out in America by Dark Symphonies. Astronomicon followed in 2002. With sparkling keyboards set against heavy riffs, the collection of progressive metal draws themes from H.P. Lovecraft and Edgar Allen Poe for a sometimes grim, sometimes transcendent astral journey of operatic proportions.

Wikipedia:

Without Face were one of the most famous internationally known Hungarian progressive metal band. They were formed in the city of Veszprém, Hungary in 1997. The band featured a dual female and male vocal line-up similar to that of gothic metal, with progressive metal and thrash metal overtones and they managed to mix these different styles in a very original own version. Their lyrics are influenced by the writings of H. P. Lovecraft, Edgar Allan Poe, and Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.

In 1998, Without Face recorded its first self-titled demo Without Face. Constant touring and the demo resulted in a deal for their first album Deep Inside with Hammer Music Productions, in 2000. Without Face also appeared on a number of the label's metal music compilations. Their first album was subsequently re-released in the United States by the Dark Symphonies Records label.

The band were approached by English producer Lee Barrett, from Elitist - Earache Records for a four album deal and worldwide release in 2002. A full length album, Astronomicon was released in late 2002 and received favourable reviews from the metal music press. It was awarded "Album of the Month" in the English music magazine Metal Hammer. They eventually split up and finished their career in 2008.

Members

Without Face have gone through several line-up changes. Anett Balássi (vocals), Péter "Incho" Inotai (guitars), Kyrah Németh (keyboards), and Bertalan Temesi (bass guitar), were all original members who left in 2000 and 2001. Juliette Kiss, who replaced Anett on vocals, has since left to form UK band To-Mera. Andras Szabo, one of the original vocalists and forming member of the band, departed in 2006, and has since joined ex-Sutcliffe guitarist Tommy's new project Lunatic Asylum, with ex-To-Mera drummer Akos.