MACHINA is a Little Rock, Arkansas based band featuring former EVANESCENCE members John LeCompt and Rocky Gray alongside former FUTURE LEADERS OF THE WORLD vocalist Phil Taylor and bassist Thad Ables. Both Le Compt and Gray, who quit the multi-platinum EVANESCENCE in 2007, also held a joint tradition with KILL SYSTEM, SOUL EMBRACED and MOURNINGSIDE. Gray had also played with SHREDDED CORPSE and LIVING SACRIFICE.

Between 8th and 10th February 2008 the band collaborated with Mick Mars of MÖTLEY CRÜE on a song entitled 'Save You' at the guitarist's personal studio. Album recordings throughout mid 2008 were conducted with producer Toby Wright and engineer James Musshorn. Branded 'To Live & Die In The Garden Of Eden', these sessions were finally wrapped up in July 2009.

In mid 2009 it was learned that four founding members of EVANESCENCE, guitarists Ben Moody and John LeCompt and drummer Rocky Gray, had joined forces with high profile 'American Idol' contestant Carly Smithson and former METHODS OF MAYHEM bassist Marty O'Brien to form a new band called THE FALLEN. The new group's name alluded to EVANESCENCE's 2003 major label debut album, 'Fallen', which by 2009 had sold over seven million copies in the USA. Smithson had previously sang EVANESCENCE's 'Bring Me to Life' during the 2008 'Idols Live' US tour.