iSound

Where do Soil fit amidst the modern age of superficial hard rock heroes and fleeting, nu-metal fancies? They don’t—And that’s the beauty of the Chicago five-piece. Unlike many of their contemporaries—who have more piercings than they do hooks, and louder hair than their music—frontman Ryan McCombs, guitarists Adam Zadel and Shaun Glass, bassist Tim King and drummer Tom Schofield have honed their skills through the more traditional avenues of musical success, namely, independent releases that chart their growth, show after show of live conditioning, and a chemistry that is rooted in years of development and experience.

The power of their independent efforts El Chupacabra (1998) and Throttle Junkies (1999) on MIA Records led to their signing with J Records, who released Scars in the fall of 2001. The major-label debut spawned the hard rock anthem “Halo,” which exploded at Active Rock across the country, triggering more than a year on the road, tours ranging from sold-out a...