Abandon all hope, ye who enter here.
Soulbruise: A semblance of smoldering memories recollected in a voice of primordial longing; a screaming of universal disdain for the oppressive greed with hand on heart.
Vocals: Truth in the totality of psychological reason breathed in a voice of defiant clarity.
Guitars: Splitting planets, grinding tectonics, subduction zones.
Bass: Tidal bulging, ice-pack degradation.
Drums: Pulsars, supernova, the temporal works of the universe punctuated by the beating rush of life.
Synthesizers: Toxic waste, landfills, strip mines, and human incursion.
Members: The totality of all humankind assembled from the beginning of time.
History: Continuing to live in the waste of humankind’s mutual indiscretions. The ever-falling man cast out from its onset hopeful in the handfuls of air grabbed by the eternally fallen species.
Musical Style: From the depths of inner-earthen hell, pure soul excoriation.
Musical Influences: The tormented screams of impotent humankind grinding against itself, pulverized between the planes of what could be and the pathetic reality we die to procreate.
Similar Bands: The cannons of Napoleon; chlorine-charged artillery shells falling in the trenches of No Man’s Land; B-24’s performing night raids at Angels One Five over Dresden.
Background
Soulbruise is a nu/groove metal project that began in 1999. The seven tracks featured here - “Body Farm", “Waterbrain”, “You're In My Way Again”, “DV8Child”, “ACP”, “12 Minus 1”, and “Cattle Prod” - were originally recorded between August and November of 2000 at Argon Forest Studios under the guidance of audio engineer Michael Habib. While never widely released in their original form, these early recordings played a formative role in shaping what would eventually become Soulbruise’s 2025 debut album, Rebirth.
Mp3.com
The closest Rebirth ever came to an official release was in the early 2000s, when its songs were hosted on Mp3.com, a popular music distribution and file-sharing platform at the time. The tracks were available for streaming and download for just a short period before the site was eventually shut down. During this time, physical CDs were also offered for purchase through the site, though only a small number of Rebirth CDs were ever produced. Today, just a few of those original CDs are known to exist. While it's unclear how many listeners encountered these songs back then, it's likely that the music of Soulbruise remained largely undiscovered.
The Remix
The idea of revisiting and remixing these original recordings lingered for many years. But in late 2022, a renewed effort was made to recover the original files and bring in a fresh set of ears for a modern mix and master. After a couple years of false starts and unfortunate setbacks, the project eventually landed in the masterful hands of audio engineer Henrik Larsson at Deadman Audio in Stockholm, Sweden. By the spring of 2025, Larsson had the tracks remixed, remastered, and ready for release. It’s important to note that during the remix, none of the original instrument or vocal tracks were re-recorded. Aside from a few small drum edits made in 2023, what you hear is exactly what was laid down in 2000.
So, could Soulbruise have made a bigger splash back when nu metal was at its height? Are these songs too much a product of their time? Maybe. Or maybe they were always meant to surface now. That’s up to the listener to decide. Regardless, over two decades later, Rebirth finally sees the light - remixed, remastered, and true to the raw energy and spirit of its era.
Thanks for listening.
— Soulbruise
Rebirth Track Listing
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Body Farm (3:30)
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Waterbrain (4:22)
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You're In My Way Again (4:20)
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DV8Child (5:16)
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ACP (4:43)
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12 Minus 1 (3:54)
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Cattle Prod (5:57)
All tracks written, arranged, and performed by Soulbruise in 1999-2000.
All tracks originally recorded, mixed, and mastered by Michael Habib at Argon Forest Studios in 2000.
All tracks remixed and mastered by Henrik Larsson at Deadman Audio (Henrik@DeadmanAudio.com) in 2025.
Thanks to all of those who have made Soulbruise possible.