Chisel began performing at various college venues across the Midwest and Northeast, including clubs like D.C. Space in Washington and ABC No Rio in New York City.

They followed it up with appearances on two compilations released by college radio stations WVFI in Notre Dame, Indiana, and WPRB in Princeton, New Jersey.

During this time, the band started to shift their style from the traditional emo-influenced pop punk that was popular among their contemporaries in Washington, D.C. to a more mod-influenced sound, similar to that of The Small Faces and The Jam.

It was followed in 1996 by the release of 8 A.M. All Day, their debut album, produced by the band and recorded in the basement studio of Velocity Girl guitarist Archie Moore.

By now, Chisel started touring as a supporting act for bands such as Fugazi, Velocity Girl, Blonde Redhead, and Tuscadero.

After releasing 8 A.M. All Day, the band started gaining a larger following in rock clubs in cities like New York, Chicago, and Boston.

For their next album, the band enlisted Nicolas Vernhes and his Rare Book Room studio in Williamsburg, Brooklyn to record brand new material.

This new set of material found the band incorporating various Britpop influences, horns, Hammond organ, and thicker sonics into its sound.

But the band also pared some pieces back to an almost minimalist rock aesthetic to push Leo's increasingly dark, personal lyrics to the fore.

At the other end of the spectrum, Norborg contributed lead vocals to his compositions "The Unthinkable Is True," "Oh Dear Friends", and "Morley Timmons".

After the disbandment, Leo went solo for a short period of time before forming The Sin Eaters, a short-lived band that played a punker style than that of Chisel, featuring members of The Van Pelt and Native Nod.