Southern Mental Illness is a heavy metal band from La Fayette, Georgia.  Their sound is a combination of thundering bass, massive beats, blaring guitar solos and an aggressive vocal assault.  The band members are Neil Gilbert on lead guitar and lead vocals, Matt Whiteside on the bass guitar and background vocals, and Pierre Talley on the drums.
    The bands creation was a result of collaborations between Gilbert and Whiteside. The band took shape from 1999 to 2001. Southern Mental Illness may have begun in 1999, but the rebirth was undoubtedly the moment Talley became S.M.I.'s drummer in 2005.
    S.M.I. leaves an impression on every audience that witnesses their show. The band has welcomed many comparisons to bands like Pantera and Sepultura. The signature of a S.M.I. show is the pummeling pulse and wailing guitar solos. Visually, a S.M.I. show is a straight forward, no flash, take-it-as-it-is declaration of metal energy.