Following the breakup of early-'90s groove-trashers Exhorder, frontman Kyle Thomas (vocals/guitar) formed Floodgate with guitarist Steven Fisher, bassist Kevin Thomas, and drummer Neil Montgomery. Their sole CD for Roadrunner Records, entitled Penalty, was released in 1996. The band never officially split, but has been silent ever since, with Thomas rumored to have, at different times, reformed Exhorder and joined doomster Trouble.