They say only the strong survive and for Louisiana swamp grinders Soilent Green, no truer words were ever spoken. Hardly strangers to adversity, Soilent’s two-decade-old history is fraught with lineup changes, van collisions, murder, suicide and a hurricane casualty. And yet, they soldier on, driven by passion, patience, perseverance and a will to dominate.

Named after a 1970s sci-fi flick about a scandalous food substitute made from dead people, intended to save a nation crippled by the effects of global warming, Soilent Green was formed in 1988 by guitarists Brian Patton, Donovan Punch, drummer Tommy Buckley, and vocalist Glenn Rambo following their communal exodus from NOLA death metal troupe, Nuclear Crucifixion. Rambo eventually left the band and Patton — doing double-duty with his “side” gig Eyehategod —Punch and Buckley were eventually joined by bassist Scott Williams and vocalist Ben Falgoust of local death/grinders Paralysis. Following a bevy of demos and myriad local gigs, the band signed to Dwell records and released the now-legendary 1995 Pussysoul debut upon unsuspecting ears. A raw, downtrodden fusion of death, grind, dark hardcore and doom with subtle blues swagger seemingly inherent to bands from the Bayou State, Pussysoul proved without question that Soilent had something viable to offer adventurous ears. But it was the band’s live performance that told a far more detailed story. Marked by Falgoust’s commanding stage presence, a penchant for instrumental precision and a collective sonic crush, Soilent Green quickly became a cult favorite among ‘heads searching for something more ominous in their metal diets.