Temple of Soil is a band from Sioux Falls, South Dakota that all started when two friends decided to do a cover of a Killswitch Engage single. Jorelle Schoeberl and Chayse Burmeister knew that after creating the cover that the chemistry was there to create something more. Chayse is well known in the regional music scene not just as a musician, but as a producer who has built a reputation for understanding heavy music. He also plays in God Cult, so this wasn’t his first rodeo. Jorelle brought his own experience to the table as well. Having well over 20 years in the music scene and previously playing in Pray for Villains.
Growing up on a diet of Killswitch Engage, Soilwork, Unearth, Shadows Fall, Throwdown and All That Remains, the two had a very clear picture of the kind of band they wanted to be. The focus on the music was to be heavy, melodic, and honest. They started writing together and the songs came naturally. Their first two singles “Know My Worth” and “Infinity” started making the rounds in the local Sioux Falls scene and people responded in force. The band quickly got their first show offer, the day after their first single dropped. The offer was a big one, a main stage slot at Four Winds Music and Arts Festival in Sioux Falls in August.
As the sound grew, so did the band. Colby “CJ” Roy, a local podcaster and die hard early 2000s metalcore fan, came on board for bass duties. For their debut live performance John Schultz of the Sioux Falls Alternative band Emerald Skies took the drum kit and Ryder Lesch who is a friend of Chayse came in on rhythm guitar. Five members, all cut from the same cloth, all fans of the same era.
The band is set to release their self-titled debut EP which was produced by guitarist Chayse. Having a producer in the band who has already earned his stripes in the regional scene meant the EP got the treatment it deserved without any compromise. The debut EP displays the band passion for a period of time which many consider one of the most foundational and influential periods of heavy music history.
If you are a fan of the early 2000’s metalcore sound, this is the band for you
The band also released a single “Know My Worth” that will be part of their upcoming self-titled debut EP. The single encapsulates the emotional turmoil of self-worth and coming to realization that someone you care about may not be the person for you. The vocal performance is filled with hatred and mental exhaustion almost like they are trapped in a never ending cycle of toxicity. As the song progresses the vocals become more confident and the instrumentation starts to follow through each lyric enhancing the core meaning of the song. The instrumentation mirrors every emotion and it surrounds the vocals in a manipulating way.
Interviewer: How did the band first come together?
Temple of Soil: “The band got its start when Chayse (lead guitarist/primary songwriter) contacted Jrail(vocals and lyrics/co-writer) to provide vocals on cover of Rose of Sharyn by Killswitch Engage. They had such a blast doing that recording that they decided to write their own 2k metalcore style music.”
Interviewer: Where did the band name come from?
Temple of Soil: “The name combines aspects of 2 of our biggest influences, Killswitch Engage and Soilwork. We combined part of Killswitch Engage’s song Temple from Within and Soilwork’s own name. ”
Interviewer: What themes naturally appear in your music?
Temple of Soil: “We tried to keep it true to the themes that made 2k metalcore so popular and relatable. Themes of empowerment, loss, perseverance, and personal growth are some of the things we’ve heard from our fans.”
Interviewer: How would you describe your sound to someone who’s never heard you before?
Temple of Soil: “Aggressive yet melodic, with catchy hooks, memorable solos and that thunderous low end.”
Interviewer: What bands or artists shaped your music the most?
Temple of Soil: “Killswitch Engage, Soilwork, and Throwdown are the big 3, but really we are fans of that whole era of metalcore so we try to incorporate that overall feel.”
Interviewer: What makes your band different from others in your scene?
Temple of Soil: “Our current scene is filled with mostly hip hop, hardcore, deathcore, death metal, thrash metal and rock bands. We are the only actual metalcore act in our area.”
Interviewer: What kind of energy do you try to bring onstage?
Temple of Soil: “We are all experienced in our scene with different bands but have yet to play our first show in this particular band. Having just released our first single on new years day we were offered our first show at Four Winds Music and Arts festival in Sioux Falls the very next day. What we expect to provide is a high energy show that plays to all of our strengths, from Chayse’s ability to freestyle guitar riffs and impromptu solos, Colby’s ability to latch onto that with his bass, and Jrail’s complete unpredictability as a frontman. We honestly have no idea what he’s going to say or do on stage, for instance a few years ago he pierced his nipple on the very stage we are playing on.”
Interviewer: What keeps you motivated creatively?
Temple of Soil: “We have a drive to capture what made the early 2000s special to us, both as musicians and music lovers.”
Interviewer: What’s one thing you’ve learned from being in a band?
Temple of Soil: “Its like being in a relationship with 5 other people, if one of them isn’t happy no one is. Its about compromise and working together to make something great.”
Interviewer: What’s next for the band?
Temple of Soil: “We just finished recording our EP last month. We expect to drop one more single in June and then the full EP in July. With our stage debut in August.”
Interviewer: What do you want new listeners to remember after hearing your music?
Temple of Soil: “We mostly want you to feel what we felt as we crafted these songs. To find something you can relate to and maybe give you something that keeps you coming back for more. From the early indications on Spotify this seems to be the case. With an average of 4.5 plays per listener.”