- Band Members: Bryan Whiteman, Matthew Barber, Anthony Brock, Matt Breen
- Genre: Rock & Alternative
- Influenced by: Saves the Day, Refused, The Beatles, Glassjaw, Stone Temple Pilots, Led Zeppelin, The Smashing Pumpkins, Nirvana, At the Drive-In
- Followed By: Douglas
- Similar Artists: The Panic Division, The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus, Manuel Mijares, Thursday, Boys Night Out, A Static Lullaby, Senses Fail, Emery, Bleed the Dream, Aiden, Greeley Estates, Scary Kids Scaring Kids
Gritty emo-rockers Emanuel formed in 1998 amid a heavy indie rock scene in their hometown of Louisville, KY. Initially coming together while in junior high, the group -- Matt Breen (vocals/guitar), Bryan Whiteman (bass), Matthew Barber (guitar), and Anthony Brock (drums) -- drew influence from bands like the Beatles and Led Zeppelin to Smashing Pumpkins and Nirvana. Working to develop their sound throughout their teens, the group had taken on a decidedly harder and screamo-tinged edge upon graduation from high school. Shopping demos around to various labels -- and shortening their name to simply Emanuel from their original moniker Emanuel Nice -- the group signed with Vagrant Records in late 2004. Their full-length Soundtrack to a Headrush was issued in March 2005. By the end of the year, Breen focused on vocals as the band became a five-piece with the addition of second guitarist Devin Tripplet. Over the next year, two of their songs were used in video games: "Search and Destroy" was licensed to Tony Hawk's American Wasteland, and "Viscera" was released on the ATV Offroad Fury 4 soundtrack. In 2007, the group released their sophomore album, Black Earth Tiger. ~ Corey Apar, All Music Guide