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. Orchid announced a reunion in December 2023.
Quick Facts Background information, Origin ...
Orchid |
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Origin | Amherst, Massachusetts, U.S. |
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Years active | 1997–2002, 2023-present |
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Past members |
- Jayson Green
- Will Killingsworth
- Jeff Salane
- Brad Wallace
- Geoff Garlock
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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.[2] On December 5, 2023, the band announced their first shows in over 20 years.[3]
Orchid's musical style, which primarily has been described as hardcore punk and screamo, is highly dissonant, fast, and chaotic.[8][2] It combines the melodic and poetic approach of post-hardcore[9] and emo[10] with the extremity of powerviolence (a fusion sometimes termed emoviolence) and grindcore.[10] 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."[11]
Orchid is considered a prominent and quintessential band in screamo.[2] 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.[9]
Canadian post-hardcore band Silverstein covered "Destination: Blood" on their album Short Songs.[12] A tribute album, Epilogue of a Car Crash!, was released in 2013 on Dog Knights Productions.[13] Piet Onthel covered "Weekend At The Fire Academy" on their demo in 2018.[14] Letters of Marque covered "Lights Out" on a compilation titled Spring Roots & Lullabies, a charity compilation released in 2023.[15]
Final line-up
- Jayson Green – vocals, keyboards, percussion (1997–2002, 2023-present)
- Will Killingsworth – guitar, keyboards (1997–2002, 2023-present)
- Jeffrey Salane – drums, percussion (1997–2002, 2023-present)
- Geoff Garlock – bass (1999–2002, 2023-present)
Past members
- Brad Wallace – bass (1997–1999)
Compilations
- Dance Tonight! Revolution Tomorrow! + Chaos Is Me (Ebullition, September 10, 2002)
- Totality (Clean Plate, CD January 15, 2005, Vinyl 2014)
Singles & EPs
- We Hate You Demo (Self-Released, 1997)
- Split with Pig Destroyer (Amendment, 1997)
- Orchid 7" (Hand Held Heart, 1998)
- Split with Encyclopedia Of American Traitors (Witching Hour Records, 1998)
- Split with Combat Wounded Veteran (Clean Plate, 2000)
- Split with The Red Scare (Hand Held Heart, 2000)
- Split with Jeromes Dream (Witching Hour Records, 2000)
Compilation appearances
- "Weekend at the Fire Academy" on Songs Of The Dead (1998, Ape Records)
- "September 18th, 1993" featured on Falafel Grind (1999, Obscene Productions)
- "How Far It's Gone" featured on Better Luck Next Time (1999, Witching Hour Records)
- "Flip The Tape" featured on Tribute To Fort Thunder (US Pop Life Vol.12) (2001, Contact Records)
"Orchid". NTS. Retrieved August 29, 2018. Greg, Pratt (September 22, 2010). "Altered States, Grindcore Special part 2". Terrorizer (181). United Kingdom: Miranda Yardley: 43. Another interesting sub-subgenre was this strange crossover of first-generation emo and grind. Bands like Reversal of Man or Orchid may not have stood the test of time, but it was a pretty cool sound at the time and one that was pretty uniquely American
"Emotional Breakdown – Recension/Orchid – Totality" (in Italian). Emotional Breakdown. Archived from the original on January 7, 2008. Retrieved October 20, 2009. Italian: "[Orchid] trovate concentrata tutta l'essenza della musica più straziante che possiate immaginare: corde vocali tirato allo spasimo fino a strapparsi, suoni cupi e disperati. Ovvero tutte quelle caratteristiche che loro, da maestri indiscussi, hanno insegnato a tanti proseliti e che qui troviamo in tutto il loro cinico splendore."