Biography

Formed in 2004, Emphatic are a driving hard rock/post-grunge band based out of Omaha, Nebraska. Founded by guitarist Justin McCain, the band, which in its early days consisted of only McCain and singer Patrick Wilson, released its self-titled debut independently in 2005, despite signing on with Universal. In 2008, Emphatic released an EP, Goodbye Girl, whose success on the Billboard Heatseekers chart would see them eventually sign with Atlantic Records. With a major label behind them, Emphatic recruited drummer Dylan Wood, bassist Alan Larson, and guitarist Lance Dowdle to round out the lineup for 2011's Damage, which once again found the band on the Billboard charts. Though an injury to Wilson stalled their touring aspirations, Emphatic eventually made it out on the road with a guest vocalist filling in while they opened the Carnival of Madness Tour. Though it looked like Emphatic were picking up steam, with their songs used by the WWE and the CBS show Criminal Minds, they were dropped from their label, resulting in the band dissolving. Determined to keep things going, McCain began recruiting again, bringing on Fuel vocalist Toryn Green, Cellador's Bill Hudson, the Autumn Offering's Jesse Saint, and drummer Patrick Mussack. Back from the dead with a new lineup in place, Emphatic scored a deal with Capitol Records, where they released their 2013 album, appropriately titled Another Life. In 2015, McCain announced he had ended Emphatic and re-formed his group as Through Fire. ~ Gregory Heaney, Rovi