•
Rating:
THE REVIEW
In the beginning, there was chaos. And no, we're not talking about the universe here. We're talking about Screamo.
Chaos.
One word, but above all, a concept that five American guys from the East Coast knew perfectly well when in 1999 they decided to release an LP titled 'Chaos Is Me', leaving an indelible mark on the history of hardcore. There isn't much to say about the record; the title already speaks for itself.
Describing Orchid's music is not very difficult: it's extreme, uncompromising, desperate, alienating. Sure, describing it is one thing, but imagining it, especially if you're unfamiliar with similar musical genres, I find it very challenging. But it doesn't matter; Orchid's goal wasn't to scandalize; their objective was to give desperate kids like them the best possible outlet.
When in 2000, just a year after the aforementioned 'Chaos Is Me', they released 'Party Tonight! Revolution Tomorrow!', Orchid had reached greater compositional maturity and managed to compose their definitive album. If 'Chaos Is Me' ended like the epilogue of a high-speed car crash, 'Party Tonight! Revolution Tomorrow!' is the action of the psychopath who immediately after the crash gets into another car and launches once again at maximum speed to feel the adrenaline of the race and the final crash one more time.
The record opens with "Destination: Blood", and as the frantic screams of Jayson Green and the wild rhythms of the other three madmen start, you already know how it will end. You already know it'll be very short, but the intensity will be inhuman. You already know there will be very few moments of pause, but you don't care: it's too late to back out now. You can only hope to survive these 12 minutes of madness and destruction, and only when you hear the last notes of "...And The Cat Turned To Smoke" fade away, you will really feel safe. But for the rest of the time, all you need to do is let go and enjoy the ride.
"I make the sounds that you can't understand
This is my critique!
This is my Subversion!
This is My Revolution!"
They are Orchid, and together with their peers such as Pg.99 and Circle Takes The Square, they have helped make the world a better place to live in.
Loading comments slowly
Summary by Bot
This review highlights Orchid's 'Dance Tonight! Revolution Tomorrow!' as a definitive screamo album that builds on their breakthrough 'Chaos Is Me'. The music is described as extreme, chaotic, and intense, yet cathartic for listeners. The album's relentless energy and compositional maturity make it a landmark in hardcore music. Its 12-minute burst of raw emotion and high-octane soundscape is both a challenge and an unforgettable experience.
Orchid
Orchid are an American screamo/hardcore punk band from Amherst, Massachusetts, active from 1998 to 2002. Revered for blistering brevity and intensity, they helped define emoviolence with records like Chaos Is Me (1999), Dance Tonight! Revolution Tomorrow! (2000), and Gatefold (2002). Early work was recorded with Kurt Ballou.03 Reviews
