Enemy Soil (band)

Enemy Soil was a grindcore band from Sterling, Virginia, first formed in 1991. The band played a style of grindcore that was influenced heavily by hardcore punk, and featured many line-up changes throughout its run, with frontman Richard Johnson acting as its core. Because the group initially was unable to find a suitable drummer, earlier Enemy Soil recordings featured a drum machine.[1][2] The group's music was also politically-motivated early in their career, however later recordings instead featured introspective topics for lyrics.[3]

Enemy Soil
OriginSterling, Virginia
GenresGrindcore, hardcore punk
Years active1991–1999
2001, 2017–present (reunions)
LabelsSelfmadegod, Bones Brigade, Relapse, Clean Plate, Profane Existence Far East, Insolito, Slap-a-Ham
Associated actsPig Destroyer, Agoraphobic Nosebleed, Pg. 99, City of Caterpillar, Frodus, Drugs of Faith, Exploding Meth Lab, Blower, Initial State, Random Green, Virginia Creep, Vastum, Reeking Cross
Websiteenemysoil.drugsoffaith.com
MembersRichard Johnson
J.R. Hayes
Adam Perry
Russ Mason
Past membersCory Stevenson
Jeff Kane
Brian Harvey
Omid Yamini
T.L. Smoot
Doshu Tokeshi
Shane Privette
Criag Lenc
Tim Caicedo

The group eventually broke up in the spring of 1999 after releasing numerous splits and records. Members went on to form or join many bands, including Pig Destroyer, Pg. 99, and Agoraphobic Nosebleed, among others.[4][5][6] French label Bones Brigade Records issued the two-disc compilation Smashes the State! in 2001, containing most of the band's discography, excluding the Casualties of Progress extended play.[7] The group reformed in 2001 for a special one-off reunion show at CBGB in New York City.[8] Footage from this show, as well as shows dating between 1996 and 1998, was released on the 2009 Selfmadegod live DVD Smashes the State Live.[8][5]

In June 2017, the band announced via the official Enemy Soil website that the group has reformed for a few reunion shows, including an appearance at Maryland Deathfest 2018.[9]

Members

Current
  • Richard Johnson – guitar (1991–1999, 2001, 2017–present), bass, vocals (1998–1999)
  • Adam Perry – drums (1997–1999, 2017–present)
  • J.R. Hayes – vocals (1996–1997, 2017–present)
  • Russ Mason – bass, vocals (1991–1992, 1993–1996, 1997–1998, 2017–present)

Previous
  • Cory Stevenson - bass (1998)
  • T.L. Smoot – vocals (1998)
  • Jeff Kane – bass (1997–1998), guitar (2001)
  • Omid Yamini – bass (1997, 2001)
  • Brian Harvey – bass (1995–1996), drums (1996–1997, 2001)
  • Doshu Tokeshi – vocals (1993–1996)
  • Shane Privette – vocals (1993, 1995)
  • Tim Caicedo – vocals (1993)
  • Mark Lee – vocals (1993)
  • Criag Lenc – bass (1993)

Timeline

Discography

Extended plays
  • Casualties of Progress 7" (1995, Relapse) (reissued on CD with bonus tracks in 2008)[10]
  • War Parade 7" (1996, Slap-a-Ham)
  • The Ruins of Eden 10" (1997, Insolito) (released on CD with bonus tracks in the US through Clean Plate)
  • Fractured Theology 3" CD (1998, Profane Existence Far East) (reissued on 12" vinyl through Drop Out)

Splits
  • Split cassette with Parasitic Infestation (1993, Open Eye)
  • Split 7" with Wadge (1994, Break It Out)
  • Split 7" with Desperate Corruption (1996, Bovine)
  • Split cassette with Abstain (1997, Noise Induced Deafness)
  • Split 7" with Reversal of Man (1997, Fist Held High)
  • Split 7" with Agoraphobic Nosebleed (1997, Bovine)
  • Split 7" with Corrupted (1997, HG Fact)
  • Document #2 split 7" with Pg. 99 (1999, Sacapuntas)

Live releases
  • Live at Fiesta Grande #5 flexi 7" (1997, Clean Plate)
  • Live in Virginia 7" (1998, Dwie Strony Medalu/Czarny Kot)
  • Smashes the State Live DVD (2009, Selfmadegod)

Compilation albums
  • Smashes the State! 2xCD (2001, Bones Brigade)
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References
  1. Childers, Andrew (June 7, 2008). "As the Drum Machine Rolls On: How Enemy Soil Broke New Grindcore Ground". grindandpunishment.blogspot.com. Grind and Punishment. Retrieved 2017-06-18.
  2. "Weedcore.com Interview with Richard Johnson". enemysoil.drugsoffaith.com. Enemy Soil. January 1998. Retrieved 2017-06-18.
  3. "Jackal Blaster Interview with Russ Mason". enemysoil.drugsoffaith.com. Enemy Soil. 2005. Retrieved 2017-06-18.
  4. Shane, Mehling. "Enemy Soil - Smashes The State!". decibelmagazine.com. Decibel Magazine. Archived from the original on 2010-02-06. Retrieved 2017-06-18.CS1 maint: BOT: original-url status unknown (link)
  5. Alisoglu, Scott. "Enemy Soil - Smashes the State Live". blabbermouth.net. Blabbermouth. Retrieved 2017-06-18.
  6. Pratt, Greg (April 24, 2009). "Enemy Soil - Smashes the State Live!". exclaim.ca. Exclaim!. Retrieved 2017-06-18.
  7. Alfano, Chris (2001). "Deluge Interview with Richard Johnson". enemysoil.drugsoffaith.com. Enemy Soil. Retrieved 2017-06-18.
  8. "Supreme Brutality Interview with Richard Johnson". supremebrutality.net. Supreme Brutality. Retrieved 2017-06-18.
  9. DiVita, Joe (2017-06-26). "Bloodbath, Eyehategod, Wormrot Among First 25 Bands Announced for 2018 Maryland Deathfest". loudwire.com. Loudwire. Retrieved 2017-10-04.
  10. Pratt, Greg (June 16, 2008). "Enemy Soil - Casualties of Progress". exclaim.ca. Exclaim!. Retrieved 2017-06-18.
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