Rorschach (band)

Rorschach
Rorschach live in New York City in 2009
Rorschach live in New York City in 2009
Background information
OriginNew Jersey, U.S.
Genres
Years active1989–1993, 2009–2012
Labels
SpinoffsDeadguy, Kiss It Goodbye
Past membersCharles Maggio
Andrew Gormley
Nick Forte
Keith Huckins
Chris Laucella
Thom Rusnak

Rorschach was an American hardcore punk band from New Jersey that existed from 1989 to 1993 and again from 2009 to 2012. Their typical blend of hardcore with dissonant metal elements provided an inspiration to many later metalcore and post-hardcore bands.

History

The first release by the band, Remain Sedate, shows the band's sound at a stage when they played fast, heavy hardcore with a metal slant and raspy hardcore vocals. At this time they also drew heavy comparisons to Die Kreuzen for their bizarre chord progressions and Charles Maggio's unearthly howl.[1] However, as the band progressed, they developed a slower, more sinister, sludge sound that was influenced by New York band Swans.[1] Additionally, the vocals developed into high-pitched, tortured screaming rather than shouting, due in part to voice problems Maggio was experiencing at the time. This change in sound can be heard primarily on their second full-length release, Protestant. Shortly after issuing this album, the group disbanded, some members eventually joining Deadguy and Kiss It Goodbye.

Rorschach has performed occasional reunion shows from 2009 through 2012.[2]

In the 2012 film Zero Dark Thirty, the Rorschach song "Pavlov's Dogs" is used to torture suspected terrorists.[3]

Musical style and legacy

Critics have categorized Rorschach's music as hardcore punk[4] and metalcore.[5] They incorporated elements of powerviolence.[6]

Rorschach have cited influences including Neurosis, Blast, Die Kreuzen, Black Flag, Cro-Mags, Prong, Voivod, Metallica, Slayer,[7] Born Against, Burn, Citizen's Arrest, Raw Deal, Breakdown, Underdog, Sick of it All, Youth of Today[8] and Corrosion of Conformity.[9]

Rorschach helped to pioneer the metalcore genre,[10] with their take on the genre being more dissonant than their contemporaries. During the early 1990s, their style was somestimes called "noisecore".[11] They were major influence upon the development of screamo[7] and mathcore.[12] Alongside Heroin, Downcast, Born Against, Econochrist, 1.6 Band and Merel, they influenced a wave of bands in the early 1990s to push Revolution Summer emo into more extreme directions, which included Chino Horde, Policy of 3, Native Nod and Still Life.[13]

Rorschach have been cited as an influence by Starkweather,[14] Coalesce,[15] Converge,[16] Cave In,[17] Jeromes Dream,[18] Off Minor,[19] Pg.99[20] and Saetia.[21]

Members

Final line-up
  • Charles Maggio – vocals (1989–1993, 2009–2012)
  • Keith Huckins – guitar (1989–1993, 2009–2012)
  • Nick Forté – guitar (1989–1993, 2009–2012)
  • Andrew Gormley – drums (1989–1993, 2009–2012)
  • Tom Rusnak – bass (1991–1993, 2009–2012)
Previous members
  • Chris Laucella – bass (1989–1991)

Discography

YearAlbumTypeLabel
1990Remain SedateStudio albumVermiform Records
1991NeedlepackEPWardance Records
1991Split w/ NeanderthalEPVermiform Records
1993ProtestantStudio albumGern Blandsten Records
1993Close Your Eyes and See DeathLive albumComo Caca! Edizioni
1993Split w/ Operation MindfuckEPLund Castle Core Records
1994Split w/ 1.6 BandEPChainsaw Safety
1995AutopsyCompilation albumGern Blandsten Records
2009Remain Sedate/ProtestantCompilation albumGern Blandsten Records

Compilation appearances

  • God's Chosen People (1993, Old Glory)
  • Fear of Smell 12" (1993, Vermiform)
  • Look At All The Children Now (1990, Evacuate)
  • Forever 7" (1990)
  • Computer Cougar - Charles Maggio, Nick Forte
  • Deadguy - Keith Huckins
  • Die 116 - Andrew Gormley
  • Kiss It Goodbye - Andrew Gormley, Keith Huckins, Thom Rusnak
  • Playing Enemy - Andrew Gormley, Thom Rusnak
  • Shai Hulud - Andrew Gormley
  • Radio To Saturn - Nick Forte
  • Bone of Contention - Keith Huckins, Charles Maggio

References

  1. 1 2 "Powerviolence: The Dysfunctional Family of Bllleeeeaaauuurrrgghhh!!". Terrorizer no. 172. July 2008. pp. 36–37.
  2. ↑ "RORSCHACH". Facebook.com. Retrieved September 25, 2020.
  3. ↑ "'Zero Dark Thirty': Interrogating Reality | VICE". Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved September 11, 2017.
  4. ↑ Capone, Ryan Duffy; Photo: Sean (October 1, 2008). "Charles Maggio From Rorschach". Vice Media. Retrieved August 5, 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  5. ↑ "After the Firestorm – The Incarnation of Metalcore". Heavy Blog is Heavy. August 22, 2017. Retrieved August 5, 2026.
  6. ↑ "Disappearances". MAXIMUM ROCKNROLL. Retrieved August 5, 2026.
  7. 1 2 Alva, Freddy. "On Suffering Remembered: Rorschach's Needlepack 25th Anniversary". Retrieved August 5, 2026.
  8. ↑ Rettman, Tony (May 13, 2022). "FROM THE NYHC BOOK ARCHIVES: CHARLES MAGGIO (RORSCHACH)". No Idols. Retrieved August 5, 2026.
  9. ↑ Bubblegum, Black. "an interview w/ Charles Maggio of Rorschach (who are in the middle of their short run of reunion dates)". BrooklynVegan. Archived from the original on August 1, 2018. Retrieved August 5, 2026.
  10. ↑ Enis, Eli. "10 Most Influential Metalcore Albums of All Time". Revolver. Retrieved August 5, 2026.
  11. ↑ D, Sergeant (June 7, 2010). "The History of Metalcore/Screamo". MetalSucks. Retrieved August 5, 2026.
  12. ↑ Breihan, Tom (June 6, 2022). "Watch Members Of Converge, The Dillinger Escape Plan, & More Cover Botch's Mathcore Classic "To Our Friends In The Great White North"". Stereogum. Retrieved August 5, 2026.
  13. ↑ "BANDS, DIE AUF GRAVITV/EBULLITION/GERN Bl SIND ODER SEIN KÖNNTEN ODER SEIN MÖCHTEI". ZAP (81): 55. 1991. Retrieved August 3, 2026.
  14. ↑ Barnhart, Alton (November 4, 2008). "Starkweather: Sheer Stubbornness and Musical Brutality Visit Salt Lake for a One-Show Tour - SLUG Magazine". www.slugmag.com.
  15. ↑ "History". Archived from the original on October 13, 2016. Retrieved August 5, 2026.
  16. ↑ "ABOUT". Jacobbannon.com. Retrieved August 5, 2026.
  17. ↑ F, Cédric N. , Ben (November 14, 2019). "Stephen Brodsky & Adam McGrath (Cave In)". THE THANKS LIST. Retrieved August 5, 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  18. ↑ Christie, John. "Jeromes Dream Emerges Unblemished from a Time Capsule (Interview)". Archived from the original on February 25, 2021. Retrieved August 5, 2026.
  19. ↑ Norman, Dave (May 10, 2016). "(((((OPENmind/SATURATEDbrain))))): ***JAMIE BEHAR from OFF MINOR & SAETIA exclusive interview***". (((((OPENmind/SATURATEDbrain))))). Retrieved August 5, 2026.
  20. ↑ "Pageninetynine look back on "Document #7"". Invisible Oranges. Retrieved August 5, 2026.
  21. ↑ "Interview: Billy Werner (Saetia, Hot Cross)". www.noecho.net. December 12, 2018. Retrieved August 5, 2026.
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