Soul Embraced

**Labels:** | * Clenchedfist Records
* Solid State Records
* Blood & Ink Records
 **Other members:** | Arthur GreenJohn LeComptJeremiah Scott

**Soul Embraced** is a death metal band that began out of Little Rock, Arkansas in the United States. The project began in 1997 as a side-project between Rocky Gray on Lead Guitars and David Sroczynski on Drums. However, the project broke up after writing one song in 1998, but came back in 1999, with the lineup of Gray, his brother-in-law Chad Moore on Vocals, Rhythm Guitarist Charlie T. West and Living Sacrifice Drummer Lance Garvin.

## History

### Origins and *For the Incomplete* (1997-2000)

Soul Embraced formed in 1997, with the lineup of Rocky Gray and David Sroczynski, who were a part of the band Shredded Corpse. The two wrote one song together and the band broke up in 1998.

In 1999, Gray came back to the project, alongside Living Sacrifice bandmate Lance Garvin on Drums, his brother-in-law Chad Moore on Vocals and Charlie T. West on Rhythm Guitars. The four recorded an EP, titled *The Fleshless*, independently. The next year, in 2000, the band released their debut album, *For the Incomplete*, through Clenchedfist Records, a label that had released Narcissus, Outcry, Thy Pain, Kekal and Grace For the Fallen.

### *This is My Blood*, *Immune* and following years (2001-2006)

In 2001, the band recorded a cover song by Living Sacrifice off of their album *Reborn*, titled "Truth Solution". The track was featured on a compilation released by Clenched Fist, which also featured covers from labelmates Kekal, Crutch, Crimson Thorn, and Mindrage. That year, West departed from the band. Following West's departure, the three remaining members hired on two live members, Arthur Green (Living Sacrifice, ex-Eso-Charis) and John LeCompt (ex-Mindrage, ex-Evanescene) on Bass and Rhythm Guitars respectively.

In 2002, the band recorded their sophomore album, *This Is My Blood*, which debuted the band's signing to Solid State Records. The album featured the first release without West and also featured Green and LeCompt, despite being only Live members. The following year, in 2003, the band recorded and released their third studio album, *Immune*. That same year, *For the Incomplete* was re-released by Blood & Ink Records.

The album came out with only the lineup of Garvin, Moore and Gray.Over the next few years, the band were inactive, as Gray focused more on performing with Evanescence. In 2006, Green and LeCompt departed the live lineup, with Jeff Bowie (Becoming Saints) joining on as their first official Bassist and Jack Wiese joining on Rhythm Guitars.

### *Dead Alive,* lineup instability, signing with Rottweiler Records, *Mythos* and Hiatus (2007-2014)

In 2007, Wiese departed from the band, with Devin Castle taking over Rhythm Guitars and Backing Vocals. Now, the lineup consisting of Moore, Gray, Garvin, Castle and Bowie, began to work and record to their fourth, and most popular album, *Dead Alive*. By 2009, the band saw the departure of Castle and Garvin, with Garvin spending more time working with Living Sacrifice. Gray took over Garvin's position, while the band hired on two new Lead and Rhythm Guitarists, Cody Smith and Ed Collins respectively. Bowie departed in 2012, with Jon Dunn of Demon Hunter taking over on Bass. That year, the band were done with their contract with Solid State and decided to find a new label, leaving on amicable terms.

At this time, the band began to work on their newest album, *Mythos*, which was released in 2013. The album was the band's fifth studio album and was their debut for their new label, Rottweiler Records, based out of Indiana and featured acts such as Grave Robber, Pantokrator and Abated Mass of Flesh, the final band having their EP produced by Gray. The album also featured guest vocals of Bruce Fitzhugh and Jeremiah Scott providing additional Rhythm Guitars to the album. The following year, in 2014, Collins departed, Garvin rejoined the band, Gray went back to Lead Guitars and Smith went to Rhythm Guitars. The band went on a hiatus for the next several years.

### Reunion (2017-present)

In 2017, the band created an Instagram account and in their biography, stated that a new album was coming soon. Following up with an announcement that Bowie returned to the band and were considering a new tour. In late 2017, the band performed at the Not So Silent Night event, alongside Grave Robber and XIII Minutes. Following the show, the band did an interview with Holy Metal Legacy, revealing that the band would be writing a new EP.

## Members

**Current**

* Chad Moore - Vocals (1999-present)
* Rocky Gray - Lead Guitars (1997-1998, 1999-2009, 2014-present), Rhythm Guitars (1997-1998, 1999-2006), Bass (1997-1998, 1999-2006), Drums (2009-2014), Backing Vocals (1997-1998, 1999-present)
* Cody Smith - Lead Guitars (2009-2014), Rhythm Guitars (2014-present)
* Jeff Bowie - Bass (2006-2012, 2017-present)
* Lance Garvin - Drums (1999-2009, 2014-present)

**Former**

* Charlie T. West - Rhythm Guitars, Lead Guitars (1997-1998, 1999-2001)
* Jack Wiese - Rhythm Guitars (2006-2007)
* Devin Castle - Rhythm Guitars, Backing Vocals (2007-2009)
* Ed Collins - Rhythm Guitars (2010-2014)
* Jon Dunn - Bass (2012-2017)
* David Sroczynski - Drums (1997-1998)

**Live**

* John LeCompt - Rhythm Guitars (2001-2006)
* Arthur Green - Bass (2001-2006)

**Session**

* Jeremiah Scott - Rhythm Guitars (2013)

## Discography

**Studio albums**

* *For the Incomplete* (2000)
* *This Is My Blood* (2002)
* *Immune* (2003)
* *Dead Alive* (2008)
* *Mythos* (2013)

**EPs**

* *The Fleshless* (1999)

**Other songs**

* "Truth Solution" - Living Sacrifice (2001)

## References

1. ↑ Portell, Paul (December 2, 2017). "Soul Embraced Interview". Facebook. Retrieved on October 11, 2018.
2. ↑ "EVANESCENCE Drummer's SOUL EMBRACED Resurrected: New Band Photo Available". Blabbermouth.net. December 17, 2006. Retrieved on October 11, 2018.
3. ↑ "Fleshless by Soul Embraced". New Release Tuesday. Retrieved on October 11, 2018.
4. ↑ "Clenchedfist Records". Discogs. Retrieved on October 11, 2018.
5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 mpo (April 8-10, 2002). "Soul Embraced interview". SkyHigh.faithweb.com. Retrieved on October 12, 2018.
6. ↑ Morrow, Matt (March 2003). "Soul Embraced". HM Magazine. Retrieved on October 12, 2018.
7. ↑ Steve (April 7, 2010). "Interview: Rocky Gray of Living Sacrifice, We Are The Fallen, And Others". Indie Vision Music. Retrieved on October 12, 2018.
8. ↑ JoshIVM (March 6, 2011). "Soul Embraced Leaves Solid State". Indie Vision Music. Retrieved on October 12, 2018.
9. ↑ "SOUL EMBRACED Inks Deal With Rottweiler Records". Untombed Zine. June 24, 2011. Retrieved on October 12, 2018.
10. ↑ Moss, Iain (June 17, 2013). "Get Plugged In: Rottweiler Records Press Release: New Soul Embraced Album "Mythos" Releasing July 9th". Jesus Wired. Retrieved on October 12, 2018.
11. ↑ JoshIVM (October 28, 2014). "Lance Garvin returns to Soul Embraced". Indie Vision Music. Retrieved on October 12, 2018.
12. ↑ Beard, Mason (February 12, 2017). "Soul Embraced Joins Instagram, state "New Album Coming Soon"". Indie Vision Music. Retrieved on October 12, 2018.
13. ↑ Beard, Mason (March 27, 2017). "Soul Embraced: New Old Member and Shows". Indie Vision Music. Retrieved on October 12, 2018.
14. ↑ Portell, Paul (December 2, 2017). "Soul Embraced Interview". Facebook. Retrieved on October 12, 2018.