Soul Embraced is an American Christian melodic death metal band from Little Rock, Arkansas. It was originally a side project for Rocky Gray and David Sroczynski.

Soul Embraced
OriginLittle Rock, Arkansas, U.S.
Genres
Years active1997–present
Labels
MembersRocky Gray
Chad Moore
Jeff Bowie
Lance Garvin
Cody Smith
Past membersJack Wiese
Devin Castle
David Sroczynski
Ed Collins
Charlie West
Jon Dunn
WebsiteSoul Embraced on Facebook

History

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Originally a side project of drummer David Sroczynski and William "Rocky" Gray from Shredded Corpse formed in 1997, the band dissolved after creating one song for a metal compilation in 1998. Gray reformed the band with fellow Living Sacrifice member Lance Garvin (drums) and his brother in-law Chad Moore (vocals).

When Gray and Garvin weren't busy with Living Sacrifice, they would hammer away with Charlie T. West at making material for their death metal side project. The band released an EP (The Fleshless EP), and three albums (For the Incomplete, This Is My Blood, Immune) over a five-year span. For the Incomplete was re-released in 2003 by the independent label Blood and Ink Records.[2]

In 2002, the band was part of a sampler for Tarantula Promotions, titled Arachnid Terror Sampler, which featured bands such as Sanctifica, Tortured Conscience, Frosthardr and Frost Like Ashes.[3]

Evanescence's song "Tourniquet" is a cover of the Soul Embraced song "My Tourniquet". From 2003 to 2007, Gray was busy with Evanescence as their drummer as well as his numerous other bands. Gray said in an interview after the release of Immune that the band planned on releasing two to three more albums and in 2006 announced two new band members: Jack Wiese on guitar and Jeff Bowie on bass. In June 2007 Jack Wiese left the band to spend more time on his other projects, and he was replaced by Devin Castle (who is also in Mourningside with Gray, Bowie, and Wiese)

Soul Embraced released Dead Alive in April 2008.

Soul Embraced stated on their Myspace that they "will continue with a new guitarist next year when we get ready to record the new record". After 10 years and three records Soul Embraced parted ways with Solid State Records on amicable terms.[4] Mythos was released on Rottweiler Records.[5]

In 2014, it was announced that former drummer, Lance Garvin, would be rejoining with the new lineup being, Rocky Gray (lead guitar), Chad Moore (vocals), Lance Garvin (Drums), Jon Dunn (bass), and Cody Smith (rhythm guitar).[6] In 2017, the band stated that they have a new album coming soon.[7] The band is working on a new tour and has announced that former Bassist Jeff Bowie has rejoined and pulling double duties with Soul Embraced, and their labelmates Becoming Saints.[8]

Band members

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Current members
Name Instrument Years Other groups
Chad Moore lead vocals 1999–present Kill System, The Burning, Thy Pain
Cody Smith rhythm guitar (2009, 2014—present), lead guitar (2009—present) 2009—present Abandon the Artifice
Jeff Bowie bass 2006–2012, 2017–present Descended from Wolves, Mourningside, Becoming Saints, Creepy Carnival
Rocky Gray lead guitar (1997–1998, 1999–2009, 2014–present), rhythm guitar (1997–1998, 1999–2006, 2014–present), bass (1997–1998, 1999–2006), drums (2009–2014), backing vocals (1999–present) 1997–1998, 1999–present Evanescence, Solus Deus, Kill System, Living Sacrifice, The Burning, Thy Pain
Lance Garvin drums 1999–2009, 2014–present Living Sacrifice, Zao, Throwdown, Kill System
Former members
Name Instrument Years Other groups
Jack Wiese rhythm guitar 2006–2007 Mourningside, the.5th.element, Machina, BrookRoyal, ThePour
Devin Castle rhythm guitar, backing vocals 2007–2009 The Vail, Mourningside
David Sroczynski drums 1997–1998 Shredded Corpse, Thy Pain
Charlie West rhythm guitar, lead guitar 1997–2001
Ed Collins rhythm guitar 2010–2014
Jon Dunn bass 2012–2017 Jon Dunn Band, Woodswyck
Touring musicians
Name Instrument Years Other groups
Arthur Green bass 1999–2006 Living Sacrifice, Eso-Charis, Elliot
John LeCompt rhythm guitar, lead guitar 2001–2006 Evanescence, Kill System, Mindrage, Machina
Session musicians
Name Instrument Years Other groups
Jeremiah Scott rhythm guitar 2013 The Showdown, Demon Hunter, Destroy Destroy Destroy
Timeline

Discography

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EPs
  • The Fleshless (1999)
Studio albums
Year Title Label
2000 For the Incomplete[9] Clenched Fist Records
2002 This Is My Blood Solid State
2003 Immune
2008 Dead Alive
2013 Mythos Rottweiler Records
Other songs

References

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  1. ^ Morton, Kenneth (July 10, 2013). "Interview with Rocky Gray & Jon Dunn of Soul Embraced". Highwire Daze. Archived from the original on September 25, 2015. Retrieved September 18, 2015.
  2. ^ Morrow, Matt (2004) Soul Embraced at the Wayback Machine (archive index). HM Magazine. Retrieved on July 5, 2016.
  3. ^ "Turn Or Burn: Tarantula Promotions release compilation CD of extreme metal". Cross Rhythms. March 1, 2003. Archived from the original on September 7, 2017. Retrieved September 7, 2017.
  4. ^ JoshIVM (March 6, 2011) "Soul Embraced Leaves Solid State". Archived from the original on September 6, 2012. Retrieved October 1, 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link). Indie Vision Music. Retrieved on May 6, 2016.
  5. ^ "Soul Embraced announcement". Soul Embraced/Facebook.
  6. ^ "Lance Garvin returns to Soul Embraced". Indie Vision Music. Archived from the original on July 5, 2015.
  7. ^ Beard, Mason (February 12, 2017). "Soul Embraced Join Instagram, state "New Album Coming Soon"". Indie Vision Music. Retrieved February 15, 2017.
  8. ^ Beard, Mason (March 27, 2017). "Soul Embraced: New/Old Member and Shows". Indie Vision Music. Retrieved March 28, 2017.
  9. ^ Lloyd, Shari. "Soul Embraced – a Review of The Phantom Tollbooth". www.tollbooth.org. Retrieved June 22, 2017.
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