L-R = Alex Wrathell (Drums), Brian Jones (Guitar), Keith MacLeod (Guitar), Jason Szeto (Bass), Josh Hogan (Vocals)
Orchid’s Curse formed way back in 2005 with their first release in 2006. 18 years have passed and they have withstood the test of time. Whether persevering through member changes or a pandemic, the band continues to push forward and release new music. “The Decay” is their sixth release and will highlight that the band has no plans to stop creating music any time soon.
Musically, “The Decay” is their most mature work yet, consisting of five songs with a variety of different musical influences but also still having the Orchid’s Curse signature sound. Listeners will experience a two-minute thrash banger, a six-minute melodic epic, and everything in between with lyrics that explore the decline and decay of our modern society. The band shares their excitement:
“We are elated to finally be releasing THE DECAY to the masses. Writing for this album started before the pandemic and we are glad the time to release it is finally here. One positive is that with the shutdowns we had a lot of extra time to spend refining these songs to ensure it was the most mature and competent release to date. With each new album we always try to continue to progress and up the ante musically and artistically. We all feel really confident in these songs and this release as a whole.”
They say variety is the slice of life and Orchid’s Curse delivers exactly that. This succinct journey runs the gamut from slow and sludgy to fast and relentless. The EP was produced by the band’s rhythm guitarist, Brian Jones; mixed and mastered by Mike Bowers (Pale Ache), and the EP artwork was done by lead guitarist, Keith MacLeod.
With something for everyone, “The Decay” will be enjoyed by a wide range of metalheads, including those into Darkest Hour, At the Gates, and The Black Dahlia Murder.
“The Decay” is out now and can be heard via its full stream premiere on Decibel Magazine HERE.
Album pre-order – https://orchidscurse.bandcamp.com/
Track Listing:
1. Better Men – 5:42
2. Dead Idols – 4:24
3. The Divergence of Man – 4:45
4. Divided by Everything – 2:31
5. Pay to Prey – 6:24
EP Length: 23:47
For more info: Orchidscurse.com | Facebook.com/orchidscurse | Instagram.com/orchidscurse
About: With over a decade of musical output, Orchid’s Curse continues to create a beautiful amalgamation of brutal metal, progressive melody, and intelligent thought-provoking lyrics. Whether in a live setting or on an album, Orchid’s Curse refuses stagnation and orders your full attention.
Since forming in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia in late 2005, Orchid’s Curse has positioned itself at the forefront of the highly underrated East Coast metal scene in Canada. Ensuring that every show left the band drained of all they had and every album was created with the most care and the best team they could find. Now with their sixth release “The Decay” ready to release, the band continues to position itself at the forefront of maritime metal.
Metalsucks.net captured the band’s goal of blending various genres of metal, declaring “Orchid’s Curse is one of those bands that play around with melodeath, groove, thrash, and occasionally prog with enough fluidity to rid themselves of any sort of pesky sub-genre tags and earn the simple, yet elegant classification of ‘metal’.” while Canada’s Hellbound.ca recognized the bands continued progression and growth over the years stating, “Few bands demand that each album be a progression, a growth, in the way that Orchid’s Curse does. No musical influence is turned away, but everything is twisted, melded into an intense metal experience that makes your head bang one moment and your toes tap the next”
Since 2006 Orchid’s Curse has shared the stage with an incredibly diverse lineup of bands including, The Black Dahlia Murder, Children of Bodom, Every Time I Die, Cancer Bats, 3 Inches of Blood, Goatwhore, Exhumed, Fuck the Facts, KEN Mode, Misery Index, Counterparts, Baptized in Blood, Martyr, Beneath the Massacre, Vilipend, Ion Dissonance, Neuraxis, L’Espirit du Clan, Unexpect, Trigger Effect, Ninjaspy, Unbreakable Hatred, Misguided Aggression, Greber and many more.
“Orchid’s Curse is one of those bands that plays around with melodeath, groove, thrash, and occasionally prog with enough fluidity to rid themselves of any sort of pesky sub genre tags and earn the simple, yet elegant classification of ‘metal’.” – Metal Sucks
“Orchid’s Curse employ their familiar tactic of borrowing the techniques of multiple genres, from filthy death metal riffs to hardcore barks, progressive guitar explorations and dirge-like, doom-influenced song structures.” – Exclaim!
“Thick, brutal, aggressive and borderline cacophonous, at times, Voices is relentlessly engaging and explosive while maintaining a decisively melodic essence.” – Exclaim!
“heavy riffs built for headbanging” – Metal Storm
“Cynics & Liars, is very much an EP which epitomizes everything good about metal in 2016” – PureGrainAudio / V13
“Orchid’s Curse are versatile, able to play everything from menacing thrash to accessible melodeath to punishing metal” – HeavyMetal.About.com
“Every song punches you right between the eyes” – Mettalworx
“This album is just laced with hook after hook. Whether it be a classic metal riff, a psyched out interval or just a standard heavy rock n’ roll beat; the album is catchier than an STD on 2-for-1 night at a brothel.” – Echoes and Dust
