Style, influences, and legacy[edit]

The band is typically seen as a vital part of the "San Diego sound", an early style of post-hardcore originating from San Diego that was popularized by bands such as Swing Kids and Heroin. The group's first three releases were issued by Gravity Records, a label that is also considered to have played an important role in the "San Diego sound".^[9] The band's early recordings, such as The Lady Is A Cat, displayed a somewhat "basic" hardcore punk sound, while In Love With Jetts introduced a much more spastic, noisy style that the band would later be known for. The group's final album, Gems Of Masochism, introduced synthesizers and an overall gothic aesthetic, both musically and visually. The band has been described as post-hardcore,^[2] art punk,^[10] emo,^[10] post-punk,^[3] and no wave.^[3] They have been described as pioneers of screamo as well.


The band has gone on to name many influences, including mid-late 1980s DC emo and hardcore bands such as Ignition and Rites of Spring. The Birthday Party was also a major early influence for the group, and the somewhat strange style of The Nation of Ulysses also inspired the group majorly. Vocalist Aaron Montaigne has also stated that the vocal style of Chris Thompson (of the late 1980s Washington, DC hardcore group Fury) shaped his own style of desperate, fearful vocals.^[1]


Antioch Arrow are now considered a highly influential band for their time. At the Drive-In once stated how the group influenced them,^[11] as well as The Blood Brothers.^[12] The experimental noise rock band Racebannon has also described Antioch Arrow as an early influence.^[13]