Bassist Hrag Chanchanian and drummer Patrick Spain completed the lineup under the band's original name, Downside.
The band released an EP entitled "For Testing Purposes" and an album called Sleep in 2001.
They released two albums with Wind-up Records, before disbanding[1] after the departure of vocalist Eric Victorino on January 19, 2008.
The album was featured on the Billboard Top Heatseekers chart, where it peaked at number forty-one.
[6] The album contained a lot of revised material from their previous Internet-only release When It's All Burning, and EP Now the Industry is Outnumbered.
[8] During 2004, the band toured with Alien Ant Farm, dredg, Smile Empty Soul, Finger Eleven, Nonpoint, and Skindred.
Victorino stayed in New York City for two weeks to undergo treatment, at which time he wrote most of the lyrics to songs that would become the band's next release.
The remaining band and crew drove home to California, stopping in numerous cities to go bowling with fans who had tickets to see the canceled tour dates.
On July 17, 2007, the band released their second full-length album, titled Strata Presents The End of the World.
Between November 29, 2007, and December 16, 2007, Strata toured the West Coast of the U.S., beginning in Orangevale, California, and finishing in San Francisco.
[citation needed] On January 19, 2008, vocalist Eric Victorino announced that he was leaving the band, stating that he wanted to explore his creativity,[1] and encouraging fans to "let this be a time of growth and evolution, a celebration of the past eight years and anticipation of what's to come."
The band was subsequently disbanded, with Hernandez and Robison forming a new project titled Beta State.
[1] Victorino later started a new band named The Limousines, and also published two books; a short story and poetry compilation titled Coma Therapy, and Trading Shadows for Sunshine: A Loosely Chronicled Descent into the World of Exercise Bikes and Antidepressants.
In early 2014, Victorino and Hernandez began posting pictures and videos of the members practicing songs from both of their studio albums as well as setlists, causing rumor of a reunion.
[4] Without announcement on the band's official social media page, Strata released a six-song EP called The Sawmill Sessions on March 8, 2016, to iTunes,[13] among other digital retailers.