Orchid (hardcore punk band)
Orchid is an American screamo and hardcore punk band from Amherst, Massachusetts. Originally active from 1997 until 2002, they released several EPs and splits as well as three studio albums. The band consists of lead vocalist Jayson Green, drummer Jeffrey Salane, guitarist Will Killingsworth, and bassist Geoff Garlock.
For the Californian band of the same name, see Orchid (heavy metal band).
Orchid
Amherst, Massachusetts, U.S.
1997–2002, 2023-present
- Ebullition
- Clean Plate
- Jayson Green
- Will Killingsworth
- Jeff Salane
- Geoff Garlock
- Brad Wallace
Orchid released their first album, Chaos Is Me, in 1999 followed by their second album, Dance Tonight! Revolution Tomorrow! in 2000. Their third studio album, Gatefold, was released in July 2002. Later in the same year, in September, Orchid released a compilation of both their first and second albums on CD, containing all 21 tracks from both. However, after the release of both of these albums, the band split up. In 2005, a compilation album titled Totality was released posthumously. It comprised 24 tracks, featuring out-of-press and hard-to-find B-side and split EP materials that were previously only available on vinyl.[3] On December 5, 2023, the band announced their first shows in over 20 years.[4]
History[edit]
The band was formed while Jayson Green, Will Killingsworth, and Brad Wallace were studying at Hampshire College, and Jeff Salane was attending the University of Massachusetts Amherst in early 1998. They played their final show in their original run on July 9, 2002.[5]
Jayson Green later formed a hardcore punk supergroup named Violent Bullshit, with members of Black Army Jacket and the Fiery Furnaces.[6] Jayson Green, Will Killingsworth, and Geoff Garlock currently play together in the band Ritual Mess.[7]
In December 2023, Orchid announced a reunion and tour in 2024.[8]
Style and legacy[edit]
Orchid's musical style, which primarily has been described as hardcore punk and screamo, is highly dissonant, fast, and chaotic.[9][3] It combines the melodic and poetic approach of post-hardcore[10] and emo[11] with the extremity of powerviolence (a fusion sometimes termed emoviolence) and grindcore.[11] Italian site "Emotional Breakdown" gave a positive review of Orchid's compilation album Totality, saying: "[Orchid] are the concentrated essence of the most poignant music you can imagine: the vocal cords that are pulled until they tear, the music sounds dark and desperate. They possess all these characteristics as the undisputed masters they have taught many proselytes, in all of their cynical splendor."[12]
Orchid is considered a prominent and quintessential band in screamo.[3] Lars Gotrich, when writing for NPR music, credited Orchid alongside bands Pg 99, Circle Takes the Square and Majority Rule as being prominent influences on emotional post-hardcore.[10]
Canadian post-hardcore band Silverstein covered "Destination: Blood" on their album Short Songs.[13] A tribute album, Epilogue of a Car Crash!, was released in 2013 on Dog Knights Productions.[14] Piet Onthel covered "Weekend At The Fire Academy" on their demo in 2018.[15] Letters of Marque covered "Lights Out" on Spring Roots & Lullabies, a charity compilation for Trans Lifeline released in 2023.[16]