 | Tracklist:
Le Desordre C'est Moi
Aesthetic Dialectic
In G and E
New Jersey Vs. Valhalla
Weekend At The Fire Academy
Frame Code
The Action Index
Death of a Modernist
Boy With No Arms
Invasion U.S.A.
Epilogue Of A Car Crash.
Release Date: | |
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On 26 Lists
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4 of 4 thought this review was well written
Orchid. A screamo band from Massachusetts formed by a few members that went to the same college. They released a handful of LP's and shared them with contemporaries. I believe this is their first LP. What makes them good?
Well, for one, the short yet chaotic style of their songwriting. The first song I've heard was "Aesthetic Dialectic" through Fourfa. It blew me away. With the opening scream of "All of this means nothing!" and the descending guitars at a fast paced, below grind tempo with swirling tones. The drummer was like a machine, accenting the music. I interpret the lyrics as a blow to the post-emo scene, with lines like This should mean more but it can't. So dance. dance. Dance to the sounds of america's best dressed fake out." and "D.C. made me and the rest of this mess".
What gets me about their songwriting is that the intensity of the music makes thirty seconds seem like a roller coaster ride. Don't get me wrong, there still is variety in the album. "New Jersey vs Valhalla" is a good example, slower paced, but still bursts like a nailbomb after the mid-tempo intro. Orchid is good at doing that, going from cautious to grindish. "The Action Index" is one of my favorites, not being all about speed. The song bursts near the middle, but it's more calculated and yielding.
The lyrics are full of anger and the vocalist doesn't hesitate to show his emotion in the lyrics, but they seem somewhat cryptic. "Death of a Modernist" is a 54 second slap in the face with blast beats and Green yelling When I die 1,000 birds will fly out of my mouth!, not all at once. Only lyrics in the song before it slows down half-way in, strikes a few more chords, and then dies. Green does a great job on the vocals, but I'm suprised I didn't hear him choke and blood squirt out of his neck from his constant assault on the mic. It's a higher than mid range shriek-scream, but the lyrics can still be somewhat deciphered. He does get opportunities to talk, the whole song "Weekend At The Fire Academy" is half barked half talked.
What I don't like is the lack of variety. Yeah, the songs can hold their own, but as an album it sounds alike. I listen to the album from start to finish without skipping, like it was intended to. Opportunity for introspection is out of the question. Only a few songs give way, slow down, and let the listner reflect. I don't like that, I like time for self-reflecting. "Aesthetic Dialectic", again, is the crown jewel. The descending half-talked beatdown is one of the only opportunites on the album for reflecting before the relentless assault starts again.
The instrumental work should get credit for giving the listener an onslaught. The guitars have a Discharge-esque tone, especially in the intro of "New Jersey vs Valhalla". They do some good work with coming up with melodies and lines. I like the drummers style, he's a blasting machine. Bass isn't much of a gem here, staying back in the mix behind the guitars. Epilouge Of A Car Crash is a strong track with a lovely build up. The last track begins with a 1 and a half minute intro, a Saetia-esque intro before exploding into blast beats. That intro basically makes the song and sets the mood.
If Orchid took more time, were more cautious, were more calculating, and were overall more varied, then this album would get a solid 5. It's still a good effort of sheer music from the heart. But it just lacks that certain luster because of the lack of variety. Not very diverse.
Songs to check out? Aesthetic Dialectic, Weekend at the Fire Academy, The Action Index, Invasion USA.
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| Recent reviews by this author | | | |
Album Rating: 3.5
First review in a long time, how was it?
Oh, and if you want a taste of this, my AIM is Arrakakaka. Hit me up.This Message Edited On 08.14.06
| | | Album Rating: 3.5
Bump.
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Cool review. I have no knowledge over Emo but I might give this a shot.
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Nice job, one of my least favorite screamo groups though.
| | | Album Rating: 3.5
Well, Zebra, this would be like a kid who can't swim making a dive into a 15 foot deep pool. This would not be a good place to start with, nine, zip, nada. I can reccomend some good places to start with emo. Oh, and this is screamo.
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emo/screamo is essentially the same thing.
Orchid is awesome, although most people I know started with Circle Takes the Square.
Digging: A Day To Remember - And Their Name Was Treason
| | | Album Rating: 3.5
I started with CTTS.
| | | Album Rating: 4
This is probaly the height of their dissonant whirlwind of chaos, as noticed by the title. Best track on here is Epilogue of a Car Crash. And I disagree with the bands you say For Fans Of, Pg.99 is good but I would say Neil Perry, Joshua Fit For Battle, Jeromes Dream, and Usurp Synapse would be better bands for people to check out if they dig Orchid or vice versa.
Digging: Weekend Nachos - Unforgivable | | |
orchid are f'ucking intense!
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Word.
| | | Album Rating: 4
This is some insane shiz.
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This is my favorite album of all time.
Digging: And We Danced - The Koppenheffer Sessions
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I wouldn't go that far but it is good.
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Aesthetic Dialectic is my favorite from this. amazing lyrics hereThis Message Edited On 09.24.07
Digging: Lil Wayne - Da Drought 3
| | | Album Rating: 5
Death of a Modernist and Epilogue of a Car Crash are the best songs on here, the second one especially is good.
Digging: Animal Collective - Spirit They've Gone, Spirit They've Vanished | | |
You say you miss those days but we did it right. quit the habit. started smoking again. i was crying, you were laughing. hit in the face blood on the snow we were never happier.
Epilogue has some sad fucking lyrics.
| | | Album Rating: 4
album rules along with their album "Dance Tonight! Revolution Tomorrow!"
Digging: A Place to Bury Strangers - Exploding Head | | |
Dance Tonight is better, but s/t is still their best. I haven't been able to get into this as much as the rest of their stuff.This Message Edited On 11.14.07
| | | Album Rating: 4
album rules along with their album "Dance Tonight! Revolution Tomorrow!"
So right :thumb:
| | | Album Rating: 5
This is their best  .
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