SOiL

Released in 1997, this self-titled EP (often referred to as the 'Soil EP') serves as the foundational document for the Chicago-based outfit. While the band would later achieve massive commercial success with 'Scars' in 2001, this early recording showcases a much rawer, sludge-influenced version of their sound. The production is notably darker and less compressed than their major-label debut, highlighting the interplay between Tim King's prominent, distorted bass lines and the blues-inflected guitar work of Shaun Glass and Adam Zadel. This release predates the 'nu-metal' label being applied to the band, instead sitting comfortably alongside the heavier end of post-grunge and alternative metal. It captures the band in their most aggressive state, featuring early versions of tracks that would define their live set for years. For collectors and historians of the 90s metal scene, it represents the bridge between the underground groove metal of the early decade and the melodic hard rock dominance of the early 2000s.