Alternative Nu-Metal with trad Metal riffing sensibilities. Oddly, Chicago's SOIL comprised of a trio of erstwhile OPPRESSOR Death Metal veterans guitarist Adam Zadel, bassist Tim King and drummer Tim Schoefield together with ex-BROKEN HOPE musicians. Guitarist Shaun Glass had also previously operated as bassist for Thrash Metal act SINDROME.

SOIL bowed in with the November 1998 mini-album 'El Chupacabra'. SOIL gained the valuable opening slot on OZZY OSBOURNE's 2001 American tour as the full length 'Scars' album drew in strong sales placed near the quarter of a million mark. The band would be announced as support to the January 2002 American SOULFLY and STATIC X joint headlining package. The band would make their UK debut on the 24th of January with a gig at London's Camden Underworld venue supported by KILL II THIS and ONEDICE. The band would hook up with the 'Ozzfest' touring festival in 2002, adding their own 'Off Fest' dates in league with DROWNING POOL, FLAW, and ILL NINO along the way. Preceding issue of the March 2004 album 'Redefine' SOIL put in a short burst of UK headliners and North American support dates to STAIND. Headline US shows in March saw MY RUIN as support act. 'Redefine', shifting over 14,000 copies in its first week of sale, debuted on the Billboard charts at no. 78. It would go on to sell just shy of 65,000 copies over the next quarter.

SOIL took time out of Summer touring allied with SHINEDOWN to record acoustic tracks at Chasin Jason Studios in Dallas, Texas. On hand as producer would be PANTERA and DAMAGEPLAN man Vinnie Paul. However, in July the band parted ways with their label J Records. Frontman Ryan McCombs opted out in September, apparently to prioritise his family life, but in November SOIL announced the addition of DIESEL MACHINE frontman A.J. Cavalier to the group's ranks.

On the 23rd February 2005, SOIL, alongside ANTHRAX, DROWNING POOL and DISTURBED, featured in a special show at Chicago's Aragon Ballroom was organised to cover bereavement costs for the family of DAMAGEPLAN security guard Jeffrey "Mayhem" Thompson and medical expenses for injured DAMAGEPLAN crew members John "Kat" Brooks and Chris Paluska. SOIL covered DAMAGEPLAN's 'Save Me' in their set.

In June word leaked that ex-SOIL vocalist Ryan McCombs had joined DROWNING POOL. The band signed to New York's DRT Entertainment in September, entering the studio the following month with producer Ulrich Wild to cut the 'True Self' album, eventually released March 2006 in the UK, but not until May in North America.

The band put in a significant appearance at the METALLICA and KORN headlined 'Download' festival in Castle Donington, UK on June 9th, WICKED WISDOM frontwoman Jada Pinkett Smith joining the group onstage for a rendition of 'Halo' during their performance. US dates in November saw the band packaged with LACUNA COIL and 36 CRAZYFISTS. Further North American shows were set to follow with IN FLAMES and LACUNA COIL in December. However, the group withdrew from these concerts, opting to SHINEDOWN instead.

Shaun Glass launched a side project dubbed DIRGE, described as "total fucking extreme metal in a very modern thrash together with A TEXAS FUNERAL vocalist Jermz and the THE BLANK THEORY, CHACOPA and THE DOOMSDAY SOCIAL drummer James Knight.

SOIL teamed up with BRAND NEW SIN and LENNON for a UK tour commencing at the Bristol Bierkeller on January 10th 2007. SOIL, SEEMLESS and LIGION teamed up for "True Rock Tour" in May. The band opened for HELLYEAH in June.

The band contracted a European deal with Germany's AFM Records during 2009. The group's new album was recorded at Groovemaster Recording Studios in Chicago with Grammy-nominated producer Johnny K. For the US release then mixed by Dave Fortman, SOIL struck deal with Driven Music Group, the Phoenix, Arizona based music label and entertainment company created by Brian "Head" Welch, the controversial erstwhile guitarist of KORN. However, this relationship dissolved and Bieler Bros. Records picked the 'Picture Perfect' album up for a U.S. release on 20th October.

SOIL was added to KITTIE's U.S. headlining tour, kicking off on 27th September in New York City, alongside running mates ARKAEA and STRAIGHT LINE STITCH.