Chris Sorenson Saosin – Ad-Free

When fans discuss the legacy of Saosin, the conversation almost always orbits around two polarizing vocalists: the raw, youthful energy of Anthony Green on the epochal Translating the Name EP (2003) and the polished, mainstream tenor of Cove Reber on the full-length Saosin (2006) and In Search of Solid Ground (2009). Lost in the static between these two titanic frontmen is the steady, low-end heartbeat of the band’s most tumultuous era: bassist and co-founder Chris Sorenson .

For nearly two years, Saosin toured as an instrumental act or with fill-in vocalists. Sorenson took over the band’s business affairs, booking tours and managing finances. During this "lost period," the band recorded the The Grey EP (later repurposed as demos). Listen to the bass in the track "Mookies Last Christmas" (written during this time)—it’s a masterclass in tension. Sorenson plays a simple, syncopated eighth-note pulse that feels like a ticking clock, mirroring the anxiety of a band without a singer. When the young Cove Reber was brought in, Sorenson became his biggest on-stage ally. In live videos from 2005-2007, you’ll notice Sorenson standing stage right, head down, hair covering his face, plucking relentlessly. He was the metronome. While Reber learned the ropes and Burchell posed, Sorenson did the mathematical work. chris sorenson saosin

Chris Sorenson was the anchor. In a genre defined by chaos, breaking points, and vocal dramatics, he was the guy holding the rhythm section together with his bare hands. He didn't sing the words, but for seven crucial years, he was the reason Saosin never collapsed into the ocean. When fans discuss the legacy of Saosin, the

In early 2010, Sorenson quietly left Saosin. The announcement was muted—a stark contrast to the fireworks of Green’s exit. He was replaced by Chris Kamrada. Unlike the dramatic narrative of "singer fired" or "singer returns," Sorenson simply faded into the wings, citing a desire to pursue production work and a quieter life. Today, Chris Sorenson rarely gives interviews. He has resurfaced occasionally playing with bands like Monster in the Machine, but he remains a ghost in the machine of Saosin’s history. Yet, when Anthony Green returned to Saosin in 2014 for reunion shows, the band performed the Translating the Name EP. They did so without Sorenson—and while the reunion was emotional, attentive fans noted the absence of that specific low-end rumble. Sorenson took over the band’s business affairs, booking

While Sorenson was never the lead singer, his tenure from 2003 to 2010 represents the connective tissue of Saosin’s golden age. He wasn’t just a hired gun; he was a principal songwriter, the band’s de facto manager for a period, and the quiet architect of the low-end grooves that defined their transition from cult hardcore heroes to major-label hopefuls. Sorenson’s history with Saosin begins in the fertile Virginia hardcore scene. Before relocating to Southern California, Sorenson was playing in the band Open Hand. He met drummer Alex Rodriguez, and together with guitarist Beau Burchell and a young Anthony Green, the first iteration of Saosin crystallized in 2003.

The self-titled 2006 album (often called The Black Album or The Beetle Album ) is his finest recorded hour. Tracks like "It’s So Simple" and "Voices" showcase his ability to shift from aggressive, distorted pick-attack to warm, finger-picked melodic runs. However, his crowning achievement is the bridge in "You’re Not Alone." As the song explodes, Sorenson plays a climbing, almost funky bass run that lifts the chorus higher than the guitars alone ever could. He was the unsung melodic counterpoint to Burchell. By the time In Search of Solid Ground was released in 2009, the wheels were coming off. The album was plagued by production issues, label drama, and internal strife. Sorenson, who had carried the administrative weight of the band for nearly six years, was burnt out. He had also started to struggle with the physical toll of relentless touring.

While Burchell’s glistening, harmonized guitar leads and Green’s sky-high wails got the spotlight, Sorenson provided the anchor. On Translating the Name , his bass isn’t just following the guitar. In tracks like "Seven Years" and "3rd Measurement in C," Sorenson employs a melodic, driving style—locking in perfectly with Rodriguez’s intricate hi-hat work while dancing around Burchell’s chords. He played a five-string bass (a rarity in the genre at the time), which gave Saosin’s breakdowns a subterranean weight that separated them from their peers. When Anthony Green left the band abruptly in early 2004 to focus on Circa Survive, Saosin faced extinction. Most bands would have folded. Instead, Sorenson stepped up. He and Burchell locked themselves in a room and wrote the skeleton of what would become the Cove Reber era .