Embodyment
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1992 |
| Headquarters | Arlington, Texas , United States |
| Products | Christian rock music, deathcore, alternative metal albums |
Embodyment was a Christian rock ensemble originating from Arlington, Texas, established in 1992 under the name Supplication, initially performing death metal. Their first full-length record, Embrace the Eternal, is recognized as one of the pioneering releases in the deathcore genre.[1][2] Following this album, Embodyment transitioned from extreme metal to embrace an alternative rock and nu metal sound on The Narrow Scope of Things, progressively adopting a softer musical approach on later works.
Throughout their career, the band shared stages with groups such as Living Sacrifice, Zao, Training for Utopia, P.O.D., and No Innocent Victim.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name
History
The origins of Embodyment trace back to a death metal outfit named Supplication, comprising Andrew Godwin on lead guitar, Jason Lindquist handling vocals, Kevin Donnini on bass, and Jason Donnini on drums. After Jason Donnini's departure, Mark Garza took over drumming duties, accompanied by Taylor Smith joining as rhythm guitarist and vocalist. Following their initial demo Persistent Sin, the group rebranded themselves as Embodyment. Subsequently, Smith exited the band and was succeeded by Kris McCaddon as lead vocalist.
The band toured alongside acts like Living Sacrifice, P.O.D., and Zao, releasing demos such as Corrosion of the Flesh and a self-titled demo. Their demo recordings attracted the interest of Brandon Ebel from Tooth & Nail Records, facilitated by Jason Stinson of Overcome, culminating in their signing.
In 1997, Embodyment secured a deal with Solid State Records and debuted with Embrace the Eternal, embracing a deathcore style that combined predominantly new compositions with reworked demo tracks. Solid State later released a compilation titled [1993-1996] featuring early demos, including an unreleased song “Halo of Winter” on its compilation album.
Following the dismissal of vocalist Kris McCaddon, Sean Corbray joined the lineup, bringing a fresh vocal approach showcased on The Narrow Scope of Things. This release marked a departure from heavy metal roots toward alternative metal and hard rock, blending melodic singing with occasional screamed vocals.
Their third album under Solid State, Hold Your Breath, maintained the alternative rock style with purely sung vocals. The final studio effort, Songs for the Living, further minimized metal elements.
Seeking label backing, Embodyment initially marketed Songs for the Living as an industry demo but ultimately issued it through XS Records, managed by Mike Lewis (former Puller vocalist) and Bruce Fitzhugh of Living Sacrifice—both longstanding collaborators. During this period, Garza left to attend to personal matters. The band dissolved in early 2004 due to exhaustion from touring and shifts in musical direction.
Original members Andrew Godwin, Mark Garza, and Kris McCaddon later established The Famine, revisiting their metal origins. Godwin also engaged in projects including Pyrithion and Hope Deferred, while Garza became involved with Constant Seas, Lhoist, and participated in Living Sacrifice's 30th anniversary tour.
In February 2011, Embodyment released a five-track EP entitled Forgotten, containing previously unreleased material from the Songs for the Living sessions.
Members
Final roster
- Sean Corbray – lead vocals (1999–2004)
- Derrick Wadsworth – bass guitar (2000), rhythm guitar (2000–2002), drums (2003–2004)
- Jason Lindquist – lead vocals (1992–1994), rhythm guitar (1994–1997, 1999–2000), bass guitar (2000–2004) (Hope Deferred)
- Andrew Godwin – lead guitar (1992–2004) (formerly of The Famine, Pyrithion, Hope Deferred)
Former members
- Kris McCaddon – lead vocals (1994–1999) (previously with The Famine, Demon Hunter, Society's Finest)
- Taylor Smith – rhythm guitar and vocals (1992–1994)
- James Lanigan – rhythm guitar (1997–1999)
- Kevin Donnini – bass and backing vocals (1992–1998)
- Mark Garza – drums (1992–2003) (ex-The Famine, Lhoist, Constant Seas)
- Timeline
<timeline> ImageSize = width:800 height:auto barincrement:20 PlotArea = left:100 bottom:90 top:0 right:10 Alignbars = justify DateFormat = mm/dd/yyyy Period = from:01/01/1992 till:01/01/2004 TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal format:yyyy ScaleMajor = increment:2 start:1992 ScaleMinor = increment:1 start:1992
Colors =
id:Vocals value:red legend:Vocals id:BV value:pink legend:Backing_vocals id:LGuitar value:teal legend:Lead_guitars id:RGuitar value:brightgreen legend:Rhythm_guitars id:Bass value:blue legend:Bass id:Drums value:Orange legend:Drums id:Album value:black legend:Studio_album id:EP value:gray(0.55) legend:Other_release id:bars value:gray(0.95)
Legend = orientation:vertical position:bottom columns:4 BackgroundColors=bars:bars
LineData =
layer:back at:06/01/1993 color:EP at:01/01/1994 color:EP at:01/01/1996 color:EP at:07/14/1998 color:Album at:01/01/1999 color:EP at:04/25/2000 color:Album at:10/09/2001 color:Album at:06/01/2002 color:EP at:10/08/2002 color:Album
BarData =
bar:Kris text:"Kris McCaddon" bar:Sean text:"Sean Corbay" bar:Andrew text:"Andrew Godwin" bar:Taylor text:"Taylor Smith" bar:Jason text:"Jason Lindquist" bar:James text:"James Lanigan" bar:Derrick text:"Derrick Wadsworth" bar:Kevin text:"Kevin Donnini" bar:Mark text:"Mark Garza"
PlotData=
width:11 textcolor:black align:left anchor:from shift:(10,-4) bar:Kris from:01/01/1994 till:08/03/1999 color:Vocals bar:Sean from:08/06/1999 till:end color:Vocals bar:Andrew from:start till:end color:LGuitar bar:Taylor from:start till:01/01/1994 color:RGuitar bar:Taylor from:start till:01/01/1994 color:BV width:3 bar:James from:01/01/1997 till:01/01/1999 color:RGuitar bar:Jason from:start till:01/01/1994 color:Vocals bar:Jason from:01/01/1994 till:01/01/1997 color:RGuitar bar:Jason from:(01/01)/1999 till:(06/01)/2000 color:Rguitar bar:Jason from:(06/01)/2000 till:end color:Bass bar:Derrick from:(01/01)/2000 till:(06/01)/2000 color:Bass bar:Derrick from:(06/01)/2000 till:(01/01)/2003 color:Rguitar bar:Derrick from:(01/01)/2003 till:end color:DruMs bar Kevin from:start till :01 /01 /1_999 color :Bass bar :Kevin from:start till :_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ width :3 bar :Mark from:start till :_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
</timeline>
Discography
Studio albums
- Embrace the Eternal (1998, Solid State)
- [1993-1996] (1999, Independent)
- The Narrow Scope of Things (2000, Solid State)
- Hold Your Breath (2001, Solid State)
- Songs for the Living (2002, XS Records)
- Forgotten EP (2011)
Demos
- Persistent Sin (under the name "SUPPLICATION") - 1993
- Corrosion Of The Flesh - 1994
- Embodyment (three-song demo) - 1996
- Industry Demo (early iteration of Songs for the Living) - 2002
Non-album tracks
- "Halo of Winter" featured on This is Solid State Vol. 1 (1998)
- A collection of five songs released digitally between 2003 and 2004, later assembled as the Forgotten EP (2011) available on Apple iTunes and Amazon.com