By John Sturm
A while back I reviewed the excellent second album from “vintage rock” darlings Orchid. The success of that album has led to The Zodiac Sessions, a re-package and re-release of the band’s first EP Through The Devil’s Doorway and début album Capricorn in one set with updated artwork from singer Theo Mindell. Rather than being a gratuitous cash-in from the record label, what this serves to show is the progression Orchid has made since their inception in 2006.
What these 13 tracks show is a band finding its niche, finding it’s soon. It shows the melding together of their influences to form a sound and style that has its feet in the past but its head and heart in the future. Let’s get it out of the way early shall we: yes, there is a distinct whiff of Sabbath and pre-bloated by excess Zeppelin here. It’s hard not to hear the sound of the guitars, bass and drums and not hear the sound of classic 70s rock and hard rock (or “vintage rock” as it’s now being called apparently). When the chorus of ‘Capricorn’ swaggers into view you can picture drummer Carter Kennedy’s arms flailing around his kit, crashing into cymbals much like Bill Ward did in his heyday.
‘Into The Sun’ sounds like it could easily be on a Diamond Head record with its chugging riff and solo fills. ‘Electric Father’ oozes menace and aggression with its brooding low end and vocal effects. ‘Albatross’ displays a wonderfully melancholic attitude (although it does lose points for sounding far too much like Planet Caravan for its own good). ‘Son Of Misery’ opens with such a funky bass and drum pattern it’s hard resisting the urge to get up and wiggle your hips suggestively at a member of the opposite sex. And when it slips effortlessly into the rock and roll bluster of ‘No One Makes A Sound’ it’s like someone just handed you an ice cold beer, a pack of cigarettes and the keys to a Harley. It’s a glorious 1-2 combination to wrap things up.
As I mentioned earlier, this is the roots of Orchid (**groans at pun**) and serves to show not only that the band had a clear vision of their music and path from the very beginning but also highlights just how much of a progression as songwriters they've undergone. These earliest recordings very clearly display their Sabbath influence. When the band isn't channelling the Sabs but use them as a blueprint, that’s when Orchid becomes its own entity. This is a great record. But do yourself a favour and buy Mouths Of Madness at the same time. This is band is no one trick pony, don’t let this release fool you into believing you know Orchid. What this is, is a blueprint for what was to come.
