Gnaw is a New York City noise band created by Alan Dubin after the dissolution of Khanate. The band was originally composed of Dubin, Carter Thornton (of Enos Slaughter and others), Jun Mizumachi (a former live member of Ike Yard) and drummer Jamie Sykes (of Burning Witch). Guitarist/sound designer Brian Beatrice and drummer Eric Neuser later joined the group. In addition to the traditional 4 piece rock format and string and wind instruments, Gnaw utilizes synthesis modulation, found sound and manipulated recordings. In issue 302, The Wire magazine called Gnaw "a terrifying rock sextet whose blackened vision has enough dark energy to blot out the sun". The publication described Gnaw's debut album, This Face, as "unsettling but vital listening". The album was named number 17 of the year] by Rock-A-Rolla magazine and Fact went on to post it as number 23 on its list of best "post-metal" albums ever made.