SOILENT GREEN began to take shape circa October, 1988. Guitarists Brian Patton, Donovan Punch and drummer Tommy Buckley joined forces, hooked up with a bassist and vocalist, and set about building their legacy in the fertile soil known as the NOLA (New Orleans, LA) extreme scene, and in what has become their second home - Texas.

In 1992, Scott Williams stepped in on bass and Brian accepted a "side" gig with the infamous EYEHATEGOD, jumping into their hectic recording and touring schedule. A year later, vocalist Ben Falgoust joined the SOILENT GREEN fold. Shortly thereafter, SOILENT cut their only demo, which garnered them a deal with the fledgling label Dwell, and churned out their debut full-length 'Pussysoul' in mid-1994. 'Pussysoul' was met with equal parts delight and horror. Some rejoiced in their potent molotov cocktail of all things metallic, while others were repulsed by the absolute hatred of it all.

SOILENT GREEN sporadically played gigs around Brian's hectic EYEHATEGOD schedule, and ultimately managed to join the Southeastern and Texas portions of EXTREME NOISE TERROR's summer 1995 U.S. tour. The group also recorded a split 10" w/ GRIEF, and made an appearance on the 'Cry Now, Cry Later' double 7" compilation (both issued by Pessimiser/Theologian).

1996 saw the band remain relatively inactive while Brian fulfilled EYEHATEGOD commitments, but '97 kicked into gear almost immediately when SOILENT linked up with PANTERA and CLUTCH for a run of dates throughout Texas. Shortly thereafter, the group entered Festival Studios with engineer Keith Falgout (CRISIS, CROWBAR) and laid down the tracks which would eventually comprise 'A String Of Lies.' The remainder of 1997 saw the group complete more Eastern U.S. dates with the likes of CRISIS, ANAL CUNT and CHOKE that ultimately led to another string of dates throughout the Southeastern U.S. with PANTERA in early 1998.

February 1998 brought 'A String Of Lies,' the first chapter in the SOILENT GREEN/Relapse Records story. 'A String Of Lies' unloaded a thirteen-minute blitzkrieg of brutal metal-grind madness. Vicious, multi-faceted vocals, a rhythm section with drill-team precision, frantic guitar runs, wicked breakdowns and funeral dirge swamp-grooves comprised this teaser EP, but the best was yet to come.

Upon the release of 'A String Of Lies,' the band hit the road on a venomous three-week tour of the Eastern U.S. with labelmates BRUTAL TRUTH, impressing upon audiences the raging fury and intensity that SOILENT GREEN brings to each and every live performance. Immediately following this jaunt, the band returned to Louisiana and dove right back into writing material for their next release. After completing the new tracks, “the GREEN” played a stunning set at the 1998 Milwaukee Metalfest delighting all in attendance. The new songs, coupled with the band's ability to pull off the intricate riffs live, and vocalist Ben Falgoust's absolutely commanding stage presence, served as a much-needed wake-up call. Soon after, SOILENT joined up with buddies CROWBAR and EYEHATEGOD as part of the "Nawleans Swamp Tour," a two- month swing which included a blistering appearance at the '98 World Series Of Metal in Cleveland.

Carefully blending guitar runs of seemingly every variety, 'Sewn Mouth Secrets' further developed the group's patchwork metal-grind mixture, effortlessly blending the most extreme elements of metal, sludge and hardcore, resulting in a record that redefined the sound SOILENT GREEN had become known for. From the surprising opening of "It Was Just An Accident" to the fly-by suddenness of "Openless" and the mellow, luring intro of "Her Unsober Ways," 'Sewn Mouth Secrets' was an overwhelming display of creativeness and confidence delivered by a band that had only just begun to realize their potential. In response to 'Sewn Mouth Secrets,' Rolling Stone called SOILENT GREEN “One of the ten best hard and heavy bands” in existence, a claim that was magnified by the fact that the remainder of the list was comprised of BLACK SABBATH, PANTERA and others.

A U.S. tour with NAPALM DEATH and ISIS in May/June 2000 let fans experience a taste of what the band's new recording 'A Deleted Symphony For The Beaten Down' had in store. The incomparable SOILENT GREEN has expanded on their unique mixture of hardcore, sludge, and swampy metallic blues with 'A Deleted Symphony....' Burying the conventions of their peers, SOILENT GREEN took their sheer musical force and Falgoust's commanding vocals to new heights. SOILENT's oscillating, intricate guitar work collided with masterful tempo changes -- the schizophrenic rhythmic patterns are furious yet inventive in their splendor.

'A Deleted Symphony For The Beaten Down' is an absorbing effort, showcasing SOILENT GREEN's immense talent while solidifying their place amongst extreme music's elite.

While touring on the Extreme Music For Extreme People tour (alongside MORBID ANGEL, EXHUMED and ZYKLON) near tragedy was avoided in late 2001 when SOILENT GREEN's van rolled numerous times on an icy, snow-covered stretch of Eastern Washington highway. Patton and Williams suffered broken bones in the shoulder area while Buckley and the crew escaped with minor injuries. After several months of re-cooperating, another tragic van accident occurred in the outside Chicago area in April 2002, while on the GWAR tour, that left Jonny Model (touring bass player at the time) injured with a broken collar bone. Ben Falgoust bore the brunt of the injuries and was forced to endure not only numerous surgeries, but also rehabilitation to learn to walk again. Due to the accidents the band was forced to cancel their remaining dates on both tours.

After an extended period of recovery, the band, remaining focused through all the adversity, hit the road for a short "Comeback" tour which saw SOILENT GREEN levelling stages in 26 cities through August 2003. This tour saw the addition of Tony White (guitar) and Scott Crochet (bass) to the fold. Since then, the revamped and revitalized SOILENT GREEN have been busy working on new material for their next Relapse release.

New Orleans underground rock kings SOILENT GREEN deliver Confrontation, their long-awaited new full length album. Returning with a vengeance, SOILENT GREEN has channeled the unexpected hardships they have faced over the past four years -- including tragic deaths and near death auto accidents -- into the most intensely focused album of their career. Recorded at Mana Studios, in Tampa, Florida by Producer / Engineer Erik Rutan (PREMONITIONS OF WAR, HATE ETERNAL), Confrontation is the new album from an amazing band that has faced overwhelming challenges head on and emerged stronger than ever.

Source: Label Officiel: http://www.relapse.com

They say only the strong survive and for Louisiana swamp grinders Soilent Green, no truer words were ever spoken. Hardly strangers to adversity, Soilent's two-decade-old history is fraught with lineup changes, van collisions, murder, suicide and a hurricane casualty. And yet, they soldier on, driven by passion, patience, perseverance and a will to dominate.

Named after a 1970s sci-fi flick about a scandalous food substitute made from dead people, intended to save a nation crippled by the effects of global warming, Soilent Green was formed in 1988 by guitarists Brian Patton, Donovan Punch, drummer Tommy Buckley, and vocalist Glenn Rambo following their communal exodus from NOLA death metal troupe, Nuclear Crucifixion. Rambo eventually left the band and Patton — doing double-duty with his “side” gig Eyehategod —Punch and Buckley were eventually joined by bassist Scott Williams and vocalist Ben Falgoust of local death/grinders Paralysis. Following a bevy of demos and myriad local gigs, the band signed to Dwell records and released the now-legendary 1995 Pussysoul debut upon unsuspecting ears. A raw, downtrodden fusion of death, grind, dark hardcore and doom with subtle blues swagger seemingly inherent to bands from the Bayou State, Pussysoul proved without question that Soilent had something viable to offer adventurous ears. But it was the band's live performance that told a far more detailed story. Marked by Falgoust's commanding stage presence, a penchant for instrumental precision and a collective sonic crush, Soilent Green quickly became a cult favorite among ‘heads searching for something more ominous in their metal diets.

Two support slots with Pantera helped stir the interest of the uninitiated. By '98 the band signed to the higher profile Relapse Records and released the now-infamous String of Lies EP. Graced by the stunning artwork of Czechoslovakian painter Alfons Mucha, the String Of Lies EP was a 13-minute torrent of unapologetic, chest-caving brutality and a precursor to the quick-tempered Sewn Mouth Secrets. Bottom-heavy, maniacally brooding and adorned again with Mucha's illustrations, Sewn Mouth Secrets helped redefine the meaning of “extreme.” Driven by its innovative guitar work, plunge-to-pummel rhythms, bipolar pace fluctuations, blues-based swamp grooves and razor-grazed vocals all seething under Falgoust's tense, sadistic lyrics, anyone with ears agreed: Sewn Mouth Secrets was every bit the proverbial diamond in the rough. Even Rolling Stone reacted to its far-reaching ferocity, tagging the band "One of the ten most important hard and heavy bands." Despite their still relatively underground status, the band had earned a place among metal's most elite.

Donovan left the band following the SMS touring cycle and was replaced by Ben Stout who played with Falgoust in the then-newly formed Goatwhore. Together they recorded the critically acclaimed A Deleted Symphony For The Beaten Down in 2001. Carrying on the band's now signature method of aural disobedience, A Deleted Symphony…'s tighter, moodier, slugecore/blues concoction was immediately received by raised horns, open arms and media accolades across the board. But a van collision in Washington during the close of the Extreme Music For Extreme People tour with Morbid Angel, Exhumed and Zyklon brought Soilent's momentum to a halt with Patton and Williams suffering significant shoulder injuries. The crash forced the cancellation of all remaining shows. Following several months of recovery, the band — an apparent black cloud shadowing their every move — suffered a second van crash on the outskirts of Chicago while on the Gwar tour in the spring of 2002. The accident left touring bassist Jonny Model with a broken collar bone and Falgoust incapacitated from the waist down. Undeterred by the sudden flux of bad luck, the frontman underwent a series of surgeries and intensive physical therapy and by the summer of 2003 — donning a leg cast and cane — was patrolling the stage on a 26-date “comeback” tour which featured new recruits, Tony White on guitar and Scott Crochet on bass. Arguably the target of some ancient voodoo curse, tragedy struck the band again in 2003 when former bassist Scott Williams was found dead, the apparent victim of a murder/suicide.

2005's fittingly titled Confrontation was the sound of a band unleashing four years of hostility and frustration. Recorded at Mana Studios in Tampa, Florida with producer/engineer Erik Rutan, Confrontation served as a cooperative band purge of sorts; a releasing of demons as it were. Dirty, down-tuned and booming, laced with see-sawing tempo shifts, suffocating sludge riffs and a penetrating production, the record was another solid Soilent display of but it would hardly break their streak of bad luck. Just a few weeks after its North American release, Hurricane Katrina, one of the five deadliest hurricanes in US history, destroyed much of the north-central Gulf Coast, particularly Louisinaia and greater New Orleans. Former vocalist Gene Rambo was found dead in his home, while friends and family members were temporarily displaced.

The New Chapter…

Newly signed to Metal Blade, this year's aptly titled Inevitable Collapse in the Presence of Conviction sees the Soilent Green machine — Buckley, Crochet, Falgoust and Patton — strengthened by its hardships and rejuvenated by a new label home. Recorded again with Erik Rutan at Mana Studios, Inevitable Collapse bleeds with debilitating emotion from the epically heavy salvo of “Mental Acupuncture” to the bare-knuckled exigency of “A Pale Horse and the Story of the End.” Blast-laden and Confrontationally heavy with the manic time shifts, sludgy breakdowns, Southern charm and sheer instrumental prowess for which the band has become so synonymous, Inevitable Collapse in the Presence of Conviction marks the band's most varied and instrumentally accomplished record to date.

“It's definitely the most level-headed record we've done in a long time,” comments Patton, whose more-lethal-than-ever guitar skills add a new dimension to the Soilent landscape. “All the chaos we've had in the past few years has kind of calmed down a bit.”

Based loosely around the band's history of struggle and general feelings of hopelessness and dejection and punctuated by John Van Fleet striking cover design, Inevitable Collapse is a 42 minute soundtrack to reality; Falgoust's varying vocal tones and cutting verbalization bringing its concept to the forefront with crippling urgency.

“It's the basic idea of no hope. It's in reference to the history of Soilent Green and also just life in general,” Falgoust notes of the record's unofficial theme. “Everybody is always picturing things with a happy ending, but life's not always like that. Every individual out there gets to a point where they feel like they've struggled to a point and never got anything out of it. It happens every day. That's the point of this record. Sometimes, even when you put your all into something and work hard, things don't always work out in the end. That's just the way life falls sometimes.”

“It's a pretty heavy name,” adds Patton. “I came up with it with Ben. I've been dealing with a lot of issues in life. We've had a lot of deaths in our little circle. Glenn passed away in the hurricane, our old bass player ended up getting shot and you know, we've had a lot of issues with just family. It hasn't been all peaches and cream out in this area. So it's just a depression type theme; when you're given hope and it's taken from you. It's pretty heavy. Ben's got a lot going on in his brain so. And I must say,” he adds with a laugh, “he makes it really hard for crowds to yell out titles of songs.”

Inevitable Collapse in the Presence of Conviction will be released in North America on April 15th, followed by a series of tours throughout 2008.

Source : MySpace