Emery (band)

Emery is an American post-hardcore band formed in Rock Hill, South Carolina, in 2001 by Toby Morrell, Devin Shelton, Matt Carter, Josh Head, Joel Green, and Seth Studley. The band relocated to Seattle in order to reach a more music-centered scene.<ref name=":0">Template:Cite web</ref>

Best known for their singles "Walls" (2004) and "Studying Politics" (2005), as of 2025, Emery have released 9 studio albums, 4 live albums, numerous EPs and singles.

History

2000s: Formation and peak years

Emery formed in 2001 in Rock Hill, South Carolina, but moved to Seattle in search of a better musical environment. The band was named after a first grader that Toby Morrell met while working as an intern for a teacher in college. The four members in the band at the time, Toby Morrell (vocals/guitar), Devin Shelton (drums), Matt Carter (guitar/keyboards), and Joel "Chopper" Green (bass) left Rock Hill for Seattle on September 11, the day of the terrorist attacks; they found out about the attacks when they stopped at a Cracker Barrel restaurant in North Carolina. Most of the members are from the bands Sachul, Joe 747, Simply Waynes and Oogie Brown.Template:Citation needed After a little while Seth Studley, who was one of the original members of the band, broke out of a serious relationship and followed them to Seattle and resumed his post as drummer. Because Seth took over drums, Devin took the position of guitarist.

After making Emerald City their new home in Seattle, Emery signed a record deal with Tooth & Nail Records, also of Seattle, in 2002.<ref>[[[:Template:AllMusic]] Emery signs with Tooth & Nail Records] AllMusic. Retrieved November 30, 2008.</ref> Wasting no time, Emery paired up with producer/engineer Ed Rose and worked on their debut album, The Weak's End. It was produced at the Black Lodge Studio in Eudora, Kansas.<ref>Where Emery recorded their first CD last.fm. Retrieved December 1, 2008.</ref> The record was released in January 2004 by Tooth & Nail Records. Emery toured extensively to promote their new release.

While touring, Seth Studley decided to leave the band in order to get married and Emery had to look for a new drummer.<ref>Reason why Seth Studley Left Emery Korg.com. Retrieved November 30, 2008.</ref> While touring with Haste the Day, Dave Powell was brought out to audition. Powell was officially put in the band in November 2005. Powell originally played in the Indianapolis-based metalcore/hardcore band The Bowels of Judas.

Soon after touring, Emery went back into the studio to record their next record with production done by Aaron Sprinkle this time around. The band took five weeks in recording sessions. The Question was released on August 2, 2005. "Studying Politics" was released as the album's first single with a video emerging on June 29, 2005.<ref>Template:YouTube. Retrieved November 30, 2008.</ref> On November 21, 2006, Emery re-released The Question, adding a DVD, five acoustic versions of previously recorded songs and two new demo tracks, which were produced by Matt Carter. The DVD included a documentary film of Emery, live songs and bonus footage.

After the re-release, Joel "Chopper" Green was asked to leave the band. On September 19, 2006, Emery posted a blog on their website explaining the departure.<ref>Blog Post from Emery and Joel Green Template:Webarchive Emerymusic.com. Retrieved December 1, 2008.</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> After Green's departure, Devin and Toby both took over duty as bassist. Typically, whoever doesn't have lead vocals on a song is the one playing bass.

While touring with Underoath in Australia, Emery announced that they were releasing a new album, I'm Only a Man, which leaked onto the internet before its official release on October 2, 2007. It was produced by Ryan Boesch and Matt Carter and recorded at Dark Horse Recording Studio in Tennessee. It received mixed reviews. Emery released a deluxe edition of the album as well, which featured four acoustic songs that were recorded while on the Take Action Tour with The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus and DVD with live footage and a documentary. The iTunes version of the deluxe edition also added a bonus track called "Whoa! Man".

Emery announced in an interview on TVU that they finished a new 8-track EP entitled While Broken Hearts Prevail, which was released on October 28, 2008. They began premiering some of the new material while on tour opening for The Almost, including "Edge of the World".

In an interview with Toby Morrell, Emery announced that they would be releasing a new album called ...In Shallow Seas We Sail. Up until the announcement of Emery re-signing to Tooth & Nail Records, it was unsure if the band would seek a new label, since their contract had expired.<ref>Interview With Toby Morrell, Underthegunreview.net. Retrieved December 2, 2008.</ref> They re-signed with Tooth & Nail and soon gave out information on their new release.

On April 7, 2009, Emery released a new song entitled "Cutthroat Collapse" on their Myspace, Purevolume, and iTunes. On May 29, 2009, Emery put ...In Shallow Seas We Sail in its entirety up on their Myspace. On June 2, 2009, ...In Shallow Seas We Sail was officially released. Emery also confirmed during a chat thread on AbsolutePunk that their first music video off of the new album was going to be "Cutthroat Collapse".<ref>Emery Online Chat hosted at Absolutepunk.net Absolutepunk.net Retrieved on October 6, 2009</ref>

During their headlining U.S. tour, Emery had selected dates filmed for a DVD in the works. The release date is unknown at this time. Emery set out on tour supporting Underoath on their fall/winter headlining tour for the rest of the year. In the summer of 2010 they went on the "Scream it Like You Mean it" tour with Silverstein, Ivoryline, Dance Gavin Dance, We Came as Romans, Sky Eats Airplane, and I Set My Friends on Fire.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

2010s: Continued career

On January 26, 2011, it was announced that the band's fifth album, We Do What We Want, was set to be released on March 29, 2011.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The band also released a clip of a song titled "Scissors".<ref>[1]Template:Dead link</ref> Another song titled "Curse of Perfect Days" was released to Christian rock radio stations.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

On January 31, 2011, vocalist, rhythm guitarist, and bassist Devin Shelton announced he was taking an "indefinite hiatus" from Emery.

On February 1, 2011, a song titled "The Cheval Glass" was released on the band's Facebook, YouTube and Myspace page.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> On February 17, 2011, the band announced that We Do What We Want would be released through both Tooth & Nail and their hardcore/metal subdivision Solid State Records reflecting the heavier sound of the album. "Lyrically I think this is our most personal, spiritual album. It talks about our faith and God, but it never gets too preachy, because it's basically talking about me and things I've gone through," shares Morrell. "I can't not tell the truth of who I am, and this time I explored that even further — just points in my life, or in the other guys' lives. Some lyrics are about challenging authority and God, and is God real, and what that even means. " <ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Emery headlined the "Do What You Want" tour alongside the bands To Speak of Wolves, and Hawkboy (formerly As Cities Burn).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>Template:Primary source inline While on tour, the band has announced that they would be coming out with an acoustic album.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> On March 28, 2011, Emery released a stream of their new album We Do What We Want on AOL.com.<ref>Template:Cite webTemplate:Cbignore</ref>Template:Primary source inline

On May 9, 2011, Emery released a music video for the song "The Cheval Glass".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> On August 9 they released a music video for the song "Scissors".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

On October 18, 2011, Tooth & Nail released Ten Years, a compilation album gleaned from Emery's first four albums.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2012, Matt Carter and Toby Morrell worked on the acoustic project titled Matt & Toby. As a result, a self-titled album was released on November 19, 2012, through Tooth & Nail Records. In the support of the album Matt & Toby toured a "Living Room Tour" in October–November 2012 and January–February 2013. During the shows they played songs from the album as well as Emery songs and some covers in acoustic.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In 2013, Emery left Tooth & Nail/Solid State Records and established their own label, BadChristian Music.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2013–2014, Emery played a two-part The Weak's End 10th Anniversary tour where it was joined by Devin Shelton.<ref>[2]Template:Dead link</ref>

Emery's sixth studio album You Were Never Alone, funded via crowdfunding, was set to be released in mid-2014 but the release date was later pushed back.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> On April 28, 2015, the band released a music video for the song "Hard Times".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> You Were Never Alone was released on May 19, 2015, via BadChristian Music,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and it appeared on several Billboard charts: No. 69 on the Billboard 200,<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> No. 1 on Top Christian Albums,<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> No. 6 on Independent Albums,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> No. 8 on Alternative Music<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> No. 10 on Top Rock Albums<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> and No. 31 on Top Album Sales.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In June 2015, guitarist Matt Carter began releasing his podcast Break It Down With Matt Carter.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The first 12 episodes were a track-by-track breakdown of You Were Never Alone featuring interview with other band members, producers, and friends from other bands.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In October 2015, Carter and Morrell released a two-part episode of the Break It Down podcast explaining how You Were Never Alone is a concept album,<ref>Template:Citation</ref><ref>Template:Citation</ref> with each song's lyrics inspired by a story from the Bible.

On December 14, 2015, the band released an eight-track EP, We Wish You Emery Christmas, as a free download.<ref>Template:Cite webTemplate:Cbignore</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

On April 30, 2016, Emery released an Emery Acoustic: Live in Houston EP.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

On March 17, 2017, Emery started a crowdfunding campaign for the next album with the $50,000 goal reached one day after the campaign start. Every backer was given an instant download of Emery: Classics Reimagined EP including re-done versions of "So Cold I Can See My Breath", "As Your Voice Fades", and "The Smile, The Face".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

On November 17, 2017, Emery released Revival: Emery Classic Reimagined, an album containing all three tracks from Emery: Classics Reimagined EP plus seven more songs from the band's catalogue rearranged in acoustic.<ref>Revival: Emery Classic Reimagined by Emery on Apple Music, iTunes Store</ref>

On November 9, 2018, Emery released their seventh album, Eve.<ref>Jesusfreakhideout.com: Emery, "Eve" Review</ref>

In 2019, a limited four-track 15 Year Anniversary Split EP was released by Hawthorne Heights and Emery exclusively for their co-headlined 15 Year Anniversary Tour that year. The split was only made available on CD for VIP tour bundle packages, and was ultimately released on streaming services on November 24, 2024, titled Hawthorne Heights / Emery EP.<ref>Hawthorne Heights & Emery 15 Year Anniversary – ZRockR Magazine</ref>

2020s: Recent activity

On June 5, 2020, Emery released their eighth album: White Line Fever. The band has stated on social media that the album's themes are built heavily around the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, and where the band was during the occurrence of the events, as they'd just left their home town and departed for Seattle the day of.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In 2021, Emery released I'm Only a Man (Studio Update) — a new, rerecorded from scratch, remixed and remastered version of their 2007 album I'm Only A Man — and three live albums, The Weak's End (Live Version), The Question (Live) and I'm Only a Man (Live Version).

On November 23, 2021, Emery released a live captured version of their then-upcoming ninth studio album Rub Some Dirt on It.<ref>Emery - Rub Some Dirt on It (Video)</ref> The album was released on June 24, 2022, via Tooth & Nail Records.<ref>Emery announce new album 'Rub Some Dirt on It' - Lambgoat</ref>

On November 25, 2022, Emery released Blue Christmas EP. On March 31, 2023, Songs We Love EP, a cover songs compilation, was released.

Style

While the band avoid the stigma of being labeled a "Christian band", the members are all Christian, exploring a wide variety of lyrical themes in their music.Template:Citation needed The band sound varies between post-hardcore,<ref name="Sputnik" /> melodic hardcore,<ref name="apple1" /> emo,<ref name="Sputnik" /><ref name="buzzgrinder1">Template:Cite web</ref> hard rock,<ref name="underthegunreview1" /> alternative rock,<ref name="altpress1" /> and metalcore.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

BadChristian, Knuckle Breakers and Emeryland

In early 2010s Toby Morrell, Matt Carter and their friend, pastor and former Emery bassist Joey Svendsen ran a blog titled Un-learning, where they wrote about moral and religious issues. The intent was usually to hold open discussions about sensitive topics, while getting a variety of different viewpoints (Christian, atheist, etc.)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2013, Un-learning was rebooted as BadChristian. In addition to being a blog, BadChristian also served as a podcast where the three hosted discussions with guests such as Underoath, Norma Jean and Thrice among others.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> BadChristian also served as the band's own label titled BC Music. The label roster included Emery, Matt & Toby, The Classic Crime, Vocal Few,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Kings Kaleidoscope,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Abandon Kansas,<ref>Template:Cite webTemplate:Cbignore</ref>Template:Primary source inline Pacific Gold,<ref>Template:Cite webTemplate:Cbignore</ref>Template:Primary source inline Zach Bolen (of Citizens & Saints) and House of Heroes.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In mid 2010s, BadChristian published numerous e-books (such as "BadChristian, Great Savior", "The M Word", and BadChristian Tackles the Lighter Topics) and released the BadChristian app for iOS, Android, and Windows Phone, which provided free mobile access to the BC blog, podcasts and some BC Music releases.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In 2021, BadChristian's YouTube channel containing all the materials since 2013, was renamed to Knuckle Breakers. On November 24, 2021, Emery released a video version of their ninth studio album, Rub Some Dirt On It, via Knuckle Breakers YouTube Channel.<ref>Emery - Rub Some Dirt on It</ref>

In 2019, Emery launched a fan club named Emeryland.<ref>JFH News: Emery Launches Emeryland Community and New Single, "The Noose"</ref> Emeryland membership gave access to exclusive recordings and releases (such as In Shallow Seas We Sail (Live) and Palmetto EP), exclusive merch items, Knuckle Breakers Discord community, etc. <ref>Emeryland</ref> BadChristian podcast was rebooted as Songs & Stories podcast, and moved to Emeryland fan club.

Side projects

• Toby Morrell had a side project entitled I Am Waldo. The music is based on the book of Psalms and mostly acoustic.<ref>I Am Waldo's MySpace Myspace.com. Retrieved December 6, 2008</ref>
• Devin Shelton's side project was called Devinitely. Initially, his music was mostly R&B and was made using GarageBand.<ref>Devinitely's Myspace Template:Webarchive Myspace.com. Retrieved December 6, 2008.</ref> After parting ways with Emery in 2011, Shelton decided to play solo under his own name and released a debut album, Life & Death, on January 22, 2013. It features 10 tracks, including an alternative version of "Crumbling", which was originally released as a bonus track for Emery's We Do What We Want (2011).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Shelton released his follow-up album, Sensation, on January 6, 2017. It features 12 tracks.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• Dave Powell is in an indie rock band called Beyond Oceans with Jason Barnes and Brennan Chaulk (both formerly of Haste the Day). In early 2013, he agreed to play drums on the upcoming reunion/farewell album by Trenches, but later was replaced by original band drummer Zach Frizzell.<ref>Template:Cite webTemplate:Cbignore</ref>Template:Primary source inline
• Matt Carter and Toby Morrell joined forces to create a side project named Matt and Toby Band. They released one full length, self-titled album in October 2012 under this side project and were on various living room tours in the United States following its release. Matt and Toby have said they look to release more music under this name. In 2017, the project released I Quit Church.

Members

Current members<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

• Toby Morrell — lead vocals (2001–present), bass (2006–present), rhythm guitar (2001, 2022–present)
• Devin Shelton — lead vocals (2001–2011, 2013–2014, 2015–present), bass (2006–2011, 2013–2014, 2015–present), rhythm guitar (2001–2006), drums, percussion (2001)
• Josh Head — unclean vocals, keyboards, synthesizer, backing vocals (2001–present)
• Matt Carter — lead guitar, backing vocals (2001–present), rhythm guitar (2006–2017), keyboards (2001, 2022–present)
• Dave Powell — drums, percussion (2005–present)
• Chris Keene — rhythm guitar, backing vocals (2017–present), lead guitar (2022–present)

Former members

• Joey Svendsen — bass (2001)
• Joel "Chopper" Green — bass (2001–2006)
• Seth Studley — drums, percussion (2001–2004)

Former touring musicians

• Andy Nichols – bass, backing vocals (2011–2013, 2015), drums, percussion (2016)
• Matt MacDonald – bass, backing vocals (2015)
• Jeremy Spring – bass, backing vocals (2014)
• Dane Andersen – drums, percussion (2012)
• Andrew Nyte – drums, percussion (2013)

Timeline

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Discography

• The Weak's End (2004)
• The Question (2005)
• I'm Only a Man (2007)
• ...In Shallow Seas We Sail (2009)
• We Do What We Want (2011)
• You Were Never Alone (2015)
• Eve (2018)
• White Line Fever (2020)
• Rub Some Dirt on It (2022)

External links

• Template:Official website
• Emery biography at Tooth & Nail Records
• Template:AllMusic
• Template:Usurped
• Emery interview at AbsolutePunk.net