Why are Underoath and Randy Nichols parting ways after 23 years? Reason explained

After more than two decades of working together, Florida metalcore act Underoath and their manager Randy Nichols are officially going their separate ways.

Nichols began managing Underoath when they were still teenagers, playing in storage units and small local venues. He officially announced the news in a lengthy social media post. The split is the end of a professional relationship that arguably shaped much of Underoath's career from their early days in the Christian hardcore scene to becoming a recognized name in heavy music.

Notably, Nichols emphasized that there was no bad blood behind the decision and called it a natural shift in leadership after the band's latest album not performing as well as expected.

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Underoath's former manager Randy Nichols's complete official statement

Nichols began managing Underoath in the early 2000s. Over the years, he witnessed some crucial moments, including Dallas Taylor leaving the band and Spencer Chamberlain joining as vocalist in 2003, Aaron Gillespie's exit and return, and other lineup shifts.

According to Nichols, the decision was because of the need for a "new leader" to guide Underoath into their next era. Notably, their 2024 tour was the most financially successful in their career. However, Underoath's latest record, The Place After This One, which was released via MNRK Heavy, did not meet commercial expectations.

Nichols wrote in his post:

"I raised them for 23 years, and now they are heading off into the world to grow up. After more than two decades together, Underoath and I have decided to part ways. We started together when they were playing in storage spaces and warehouses, and climbed mountains together, figuratively and literally (see photo from this post)."

"Underoath grew to sell out shows for thousands of fans on six continents and earn gold records and Grammy nominations. In that time, they became influential to a generation of new artists and industry executives - not just for their music, but for their marketing prowess as well."

The post continued:

"I have been here through it all: Dallas leaving the band and being replaced by Spencer in 2003, Aaron leaving and coming back, James leaving, returning, and leaving again. A special recent moment was seeing Dallas reunite with them on When the Sun Sleeps, from their 2002 album The Changing of Times, to close out the Chasing Safety 20th anniversary tour, which became the most successful of Underoath's career.

"Through all the years, the band has continued to grow and last year, they had the most financially successful tour of their career. This is not a one-off event; it's the result of sustained growth and endless hours, days, months, and years of hard work over more than two decades."

Nichols continued to pen his post as he talked about the band's latest album:

"The Place After This One, Underoath's most recent record, did not perform as well as any of us had hoped. Fans seemed to love it, and the press could not have been more supportive but it just didn't move the needle the way it should have. It's incredibly difficult for a band with such a powerful legacy to continue breaking through with new music the way they once did. I did everything I could with the partners we had to get the band the exposure and growth they deserve - but in the end, I fell short. I failed them.

"At the end of the day, bands are businesses. The members are the board of directors; managers are the CEOs. And eventually, every business needs a new leader to steer the next era. This is that moment for Underoath, a time to bring in fresh energy that can help them reignite their original fanbase and reach a whole new audience."

Nichols reiterated that this split is free of "drama":

"There is no drama, just time. Time to close one of the most meaningful chapters of my career and create something new and exciting, and time for them to begin their next. I am deeply proud of what we built. I will always root for them."

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Underoath's upcoming 2025 shows

The band is to hit the road in 2025 as part of a European run to support French metalcore outfit LANDMVRKS. Hardcore acts Pain Of Truth and Split Chain are also on the bill.

December 2025 dates (Supporting LANDMVRKS)

• Thursday, December 4, 2025 – Meisenthal, France @ Halle Verrière (w/ LANDMVRKS, Pain Of Truth, Split Chain)
• Sunday, December 7, 2025 – London, UK @ Roundhouse (w/ LANDMVRKS, Pain Of Truth, Split Chain)
• Wednesday, December 10, 2025 – Wiesbaden, Germany @ Schlachthof (w/ LANDMVRKS, Pain Of Truth, Split Chain)
• Thursday, December 11, 2025 – Wiesbaden, Germany @ Schlachthof (w/ LANDMVRKS, Pain Of Truth, Split Chain)
• Saturday, December 13, 2025 – Leipzig, Germany @ Haus Auensee (w/ LANDMVRKS, Pain Of Truth, Split Chain)
• Sunday, December 14, 2025 – Munich, Germany @ Zenith (w/ LANDMVRKS, Pain Of Truth, Split Chain)
• Tuesday, December 16, 2025 – Lille, France @ L’Aéronef (w/ LANDMVRKS, Pain Of Truth, Split Chain)
• Thursday, December 18, 2025 – Hamburg, Germany @ Inselpark Arena (w/ LANDMVRKS, Pain Of Truth, Split Chain)
• Friday, December 19, 2025 – Cologne, Germany @ Palladium (w/ LANDMVRKS, Pain Of Truth, Split Chain)

Tickets can be purchased via the official band websites and other authorized platforms.

As Nichols steps away, Underoath's core lineup, Spencer Chamberlain, Aaron Gillespie, Tim McTague, Chris Dudley, Grant Brandell, and James Smith, will continue their activities.

The band has two gold-certified albums and three Grammy nominations under their belt. Their career have spanned more than 25 years.

The end of the Nichols era could be a major shift for the band. However, it also opens the door for new approaches to promotion, touring, and more. Nichols himself expressed optimism for their future as he wrote, "I will always root for them."

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