Get Out Your 3-D
Glasses
In addition to
“Extended Player”, EP apparently stands for “Extra Psychedelic.” The red/blue glasses 3-D cover art is a cool touch that hints at this from the start. Orchid’s latest release has four tunes, and
they are all on the more trippy side of the spectrum. Once again however, this band has put out a
flawless masterpiece of old-school heaviness.
There are some who
discredit Orchid as a Sabbath rip-off.
While Orchid is clearly inspired by Black Sabbath, and some of their
songs seem to be inspired by specific Sabbath tunes, Orchid is no Sabbath
rip-off. What makes Orchid so special is
that they have managed to create a truly authentic Black Sabbath Sound (from
the first five albums mainly) while maintaining truly inspired and fresh
songwriting. Black Sabbath means so much
to everyone reading this blog, and here we have a band with a fresh take on
that sound. Orchid brings energy to a sound that has been sorely lacking in today’s music scene. They have released a total 27 tunes amongst
their albums by my count, and not a one is anything less than sincere and
inspired. I swear Orchid haters would
complain about a freakin’ birthday cake.
Orchid is one of my
favorite bands. I would love to get the
opportunity to see them live. If the
vids on YouTube are any indication, they are great in concert. Anyhow, here are a couple of “Official
Videos.” First is the title track from
the new EP, “Sign of the Witch.”
Now if you already like Orchid, go check out the rest of the EP. The other tunes are greater than or equal to this one. But if you're new to Orchid, you need to check out "Capricorn", their most well-known tune. The vocals make me think of "The Thrill Of It All" from Sabbath's "Sabotage" but the tune is cleverly woven from other influences. Mark Thomas Baker, Orchid's guitar player, although he is unashamed of his love for Tony Iommi, says "my main influence as far as what I do today really comes from being heavily into Jimmy Page."
Orchid is:
- Theo Mindell - vocals, synthesizer, percussion
- Mark Thomas Baker - guitars
- Keith Nickel - bass
- Carter Kennedy - drums
Back next weekend; stay heavy in the meantime and check out Grownman's posts. -ULTRA
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