Biography
Chicago-based hard rock/alt-metal ensemble SOiL achieved mainstream breakthrough when their second studio album, Scars, arrived in 2001 and spawned the radio favorites "Halo" and "Unreal." Through multiple lineup changes the group has stayed a consistent presence on active rock airwaves, issuing a string of aggressive full-lengths that includes re.de.fine. (2004), True Self (2006), Picture Perfect (2009), Whole (2013), and Play It Forward (2022), all while guitarist Adam Zadel and bassist Tim King remained the only two members to appear on every release.
The band coalesced in 1997 with vocalist Ryan McCombs, drummer Tom Schofield, bassist Tim King, and guitarists Adam Zadel and Shaun Glass. Their first outing, the 1998 EP El Chupacabra!, preceded the 1999 debut album Throttle Junkies. National and international traction followed with Scars, driven by the potent singles "Unreal" and "Halo." An untitled EP surfaced in 2001, then re.de.fine. appeared in 2004 and featured its charting title track. McCombs departed that same year to join Drowning Pool; A.J. Cavalier stepped in as vocalist for the 2006 DRT release True Self, after which the band played European festivals and supported Sevendust, 10 Years, and Godsmack on U.S. tours. Picture Perfect arrived in 2009, led by the single "Like It Is," and marked Cavalier’s final studio effort with the group.
The next release was the live album Re-Live-ing the Scars: In London, captured in 2011 and issued in 2012. Whole, the sixth studio album, followed in 2013 and marked the return of original frontman Ryan McCombs. The first compilation, Scream: The Essentials, came out in 2017. In tribute to the late Taylor Hawkins, SOiL released a cover of the Foo Fighters’ “Monkey Wrench” in 2022; the track later appeared on the covers album Play It Forward. Restoration, a set of studio re-recordings of signature material, surfaced in 2023.
The band coalesced in 1997 with vocalist Ryan McCombs, drummer Tom Schofield, bassist Tim King, and guitarists Adam Zadel and Shaun Glass. Their first outing, the 1998 EP El Chupacabra!, preceded the 1999 debut album Throttle Junkies. National and international traction followed with Scars, driven by the potent singles "Unreal" and "Halo." An untitled EP surfaced in 2001, then re.de.fine. appeared in 2004 and featured its charting title track. McCombs departed that same year to join Drowning Pool; A.J. Cavalier stepped in as vocalist for the 2006 DRT release True Self, after which the band played European festivals and supported Sevendust, 10 Years, and Godsmack on U.S. tours. Picture Perfect arrived in 2009, led by the single "Like It Is," and marked Cavalier’s final studio effort with the group.
The next release was the live album Re-Live-ing the Scars: In London, captured in 2011 and issued in 2012. Whole, the sixth studio album, followed in 2013 and marked the return of original frontman Ryan McCombs. The first compilation, Scream: The Essentials, came out in 2017. In tribute to the late Taylor Hawkins, SOiL released a cover of the Foo Fighters’ “Monkey Wrench” in 2022; the track later appeared on the covers album Play It Forward. Restoration, a set of studio re-recordings of signature material, surfaced in 2023.
Albums
Singles
Black President (Brenda Fassie 60th Tribute)
2025
Malaika
2024
Thandwa Ndim
2023
Korobela
2018
Joy (We Are Family)
2013
Baninzi
2012
Joy
2011
Live
