Soulbender

Soulbender is a heavy metal band formed in Seattle, Washington, by musicians hailing from both Seattle and Vancouver, including Queensr?che guitarist Michael Wilton and My Sister's Machine vocalist Nick Pollock. Their sound was described as post-grunge, and the band focused more on the metal side of the genre. Other founding members were guitarist Dave Groves and drummer Wes Hallam, both of whom played in the Vancouver band Fallen Angel. This band has also featured two former members of the 1990s metal band Peace and Silence; Travis Bracht (also of Second Coming) and Chuck Miller.

History - Formation (2001-2003)

Soulbender initially began as a solo project of Queensr?che guitarist Michael Wilton in conjunction with two longtime friends, guitarist Dave Groves and drummer Wes Hallam. Through a mutual friend, producer and engineer Eric Janko, Michael was introduced to vocalist Nick Pollock, formerly of Alice N' Chains and My Sister's Machine. Soulbender played their first live show opening for Queensr?che vocalist Geoff Tate's solo band at the EMP in Seattle in June 2002. They also performed at the very first Layne Staley Tribute later that August.

Soulbender (2003-2007)

With the addition of bass player Marten Van Keith, who also hailed from Vancouver according to Wilton, the group released their self-titled debut album through Licking Lava Records in 2004 and they immediately began to tour in support of the album. Prior to the release of the album, Sefany Jones of KNAC was given a demo CD of six songs. In her review, she wrote, "The overall feel of this album is entrancing, inasmuch as I would describe Tool." She also likened it to Marilyn Manson, Alice in Chains, and Michael Monroe. Wilton said in an interview a year later that "a lot of people are apparently comparing it to Alice in Chains and Tool." Despite playing a couple sellout shows, the band has experienced much difficulty getting off the ground due to Wilton's Queensr?che duties. Wilton compared this predicament to that of singer Maynard James Keenan, who pulls double duty with Tool and A Perfect Circle, saying "I'll do a little tour here with one band and a little tour there with the other band." Van Keith was replaced in 2005 by bass player Chuck Miller, formerly of the band Peace and Silence.

Lineup changes and hiatus (2007-2011)

In 2007, Pollock and Hallam stepped down from their respective roles as vocalist and drummer and replaced by Travis Bracht of Second Coming and Ray Hartman; Bracht has also worked with Miller in Peace and Silence. This lineup performed at the sixth annual Layne Staley Tribute along with Daughtry in 2007.

In a 2009 interview, Wilton said Soulbender was "six songs into" finishing a second album that they were planning to release sometime that year. However, as of 2011, this album still has not been released. Wilton has continued touring with Queensr?che, Pollock is currently focusing on his longtime project Tanks of Zen, and Bracht has founded another project called Post Modern Heroes.