Soil (often stylized as SOiL) is an American rock band that was formed in Chicago, Illinois in 1997. After some independent releases, the band was the first rock group signed to J Records and achieved mainstream success with their major label debut, Scars, in 2001. The J Records second album, Redefine, was released in 2004 and the band embarked upon a worldwide tour to follow. In late 2004, frontman Ryan McCombs left the group. He would go on to become the new vocalist of Drowning Pool the following year. The band recruited ex-Diesel Machine vocalist A.J. Cavalier as its new singer and released two more studio albums (True Self and Picture Perfect) through independent labels in 2006 and 2009 respectively. Soil continued to tour worldwide and achieved strong independent success. The band had brief line-up changes until fall 2011. Soil reunited with Ryan McCombs on a tour commemorating the tenth anniversary of their landmark album, Scars. The line-up is currently completed with fellow original members Tim King (bass) and Adam Zadel (guitar), who are the only two members to have stayed with the band from its inception until present. The band released their sixth studio album, Whole, in 2013. They released a greatest hits album titled Scream: The Essentials in 2017. History Beginnings and early releases (1997–2000) Soil was originally formed in 1997 by three of four members of death metal act Oppressor, joined by guitarist of another death metal act Broken Hope – as a side project to their other bands. Ryan McCombs was later recruited for vocal duties. The original line-up of the band was Ryan McCombs (vocals), Shaun Glass (Broken Hope), Tom Schofield, Tim King, and Adam Zadel (all three ex-Oppressor). The band got its name from the Entombed song "Rotten Soil" by opting to simply drop the "Rotten" part and stick with "Soil". Soil released two independent EPs, Soil (on Olympic Records) and El Chupacabra ( on M.I.A.). In 1999, Soil released their debut album Throttle Junkies, however, M.I.A closed down two months after its release. It was around this time that all the members of Soil left their other bands to focus on Soil as their main project. Rise to popularity and McCombs' departure (2001–2005) With the song "Halo" gaining major radio attention, labels began a bidding war for a deal with Soil. The band would ultimately be signed to J Records by music industry