Kaddish (band)

Kaddish
Also known asAgent Orange
OriginDundee, Scotland
GenresScreamo
Years active2001–present
LabelsParade Of Spectres, Make-That-A-Take, Les Disques Rabat-Joie, Internationale, Black Lake, This One's For The Crew, Autumn Jams, Boslevan, the Ghost Is Clear, Missed Out
Members
  • Dom Smith
  • John Cumiskey
  • Chris Mylles
Past members
  • Mark Finnie

Kaddish (originally Agent Orange) is a Scottish screamo band from Dundee. Formed in 2001 by Mark Finnie (vocals), Dom Smith (guitar), John Cumiskey (bass) and Chris Mylles (drums), they released only two demos and one split EP in their first nine years as a band. They were a foundational band to the Scottish emo and screamo scene, with their fusion of the genre with black metal and Scottish folk music melodies being adopted by many subsequent acts throughout the nation. In 2010, they released their self-titled debut album. That year, Finnie departed from the band, leading to Smith to take on vocals. Their second album Thick Letters to Friends was released in 2014, followed by What World Was Still? in 2018.

History

The band formed in 2001,[1] in Dundee,[2] under the name Agent Orange.[3] Their founding lineup consisted of Mark Finnie (vocals), Dom Smith (guitar), John Cumiskey (bass) and Chris Mylles (drums).[4] They later took the name Kaddish in reference to the Jewish hymn the Kaddish, inspired to do so by the Allen Ginsberg poem "Kaddish" (1956).[5]

During their early years, they helped to establish the Scottish emo, which developed the name "Ecossemo",[6] a portmanteau of Ecosse and emo.[7] The venue they played most frequently in their early years was Conroy's Basement in Dundee. Run by Make That A Take Records, through their participation, it became a central venue to the scene.[2] They recorded their first demo in 2002, then a second in 2006.[8] They performed solely in Dundee and other east coast Scottish cities, introduced to the western coast touring circuit by the metalcore bands Madman is Absolute and Co-Exist.[9] They often shifted between long periods of activity and inactivity.[10] In 2008, they performed in Edinburgh alongside London band Narwhal, who criticised them for solely performing in Scotland. Soon, Battle of Wolf 359, a band featuring members of Narwhal, offered Kaddish a support tour of mainland Europe, which they accepted.[11] During this tour, they performed at Cry Me a River Festival in Peckeloh, Germany.[12]

In 2010, following the release of their debut self-titled album, Finnie departed from the band. Smith took on vocal duties instead.[4] On 29 August 2014, they released their second album Thick Letters To Friends,[13] a collaborative release by record labels Black Lake, Make-That-A-Take, Boslevan and the Ghost is Clear Records.[10] That night, they headlinded the album's release show at Kage Nightclub in Dundee, with support from Stonethrower, Carson Wells and the Sinking Feeling (who were last minute replacements for Bonehouse).[14] On 28 November 2018, they premiered their third album What World Was Still? through Idioteq.com,[15] officially released two days later through Black Lake and Make-That-A-Take Records Records.[16] They contributed the song "Scattered Islands Of A Shattered Idea" to the 2022 compilation album This Is Scotland Not LA 2.[17]

Musical style

Critics have categorised Kaddish's music as screamo.[18][19][20][21] They incorporate elements of black metal,[22] progressive rock and jazz.[2] Punktastic writer Samarth Kanal called their style "a brilliant combination of hardcore and emo."[23]

Their songs are chaotic,[23] generally based around stark changes in dynamics,[4] incorporating irregular time signatures,[24] blast beats, singalongs,[10] emotional, pained vocals[25] and melodic guitar playing, sometimes making use of melodies inspired by Scottish folk music.[26] Many of the lyrics on What World Was Still? discussed Brexit.[15]

They have cited influences including Circle Takes the Square, Bruce Springsteen,[27] Tool,[28] Shotmaker, Maximillian Colby, 400 Years and Fugazi, as well as their contemporaries in Santo Caserio, Laeto, Mesa Verde, Meandgoliath, Battle of Wolf 359, Dirtdrinker, Snowblood, Carson Wells, Stonethrower and Bonehouse.[4]

Kaddish were a founding band of the Dundee hardcore scene, influencing bands from the area including Stonethrower, Bonehouse, Please Believe, Mesa Verde and Carson Wells.[24] In a 2019 article, Idioteq editor Karol Kamiński called them "the Scottish royalty of screamo".[29] the Skinny stated that their Thick Letters To Friends "may be the genre-defining LP of the decade."[22] In a 2015 article, Audio Addict writer Steven Fox named them as one of the forefront contemporary screamo bands and the most prominent Scottish screamo band.[10] Their 2010 self-titled album was widely influential upon European screamo bands.[30]

Kaddish pioneered a distinct, Scottish subgenre of emo,[31][24] merging elements of 2000s mainland European screamo, 1980s Revolution Summer emo and black metal, as well as philosophical and confessional lyrics.[24] Kamiński also used the term "ecossemo" to refer to this style, calling it "Scottish screamo influenced emo".[15]

Members

Current
  • Dom Smith – guitar (2001–present), vocals (2010–present)
  • John Cumiskey – bass (2001–present)
  • Chris Mylles – drums (2001–present)
Former
  • Mark Finney – vocals (2001–2010)

Discography

Studio albums
  • Kaddish (2010)
  • Thick Letters to Friends (2014)
  • What World Was Still? (2018)
Splits
  • Battle of Wolf 359 / Kaddish (2008; split EP with Battle of Wolf 359)
  • Polina / Bonehouse / Kaddish / Todos Caerán (2013; split album with Polina, Bonehouse and Todos Caerán)
Demos
  • Demo 1 (2002)
  • Demo 2 (2006)

References

  1. ↑ Dom Smith (21 April 2021). Episode 8 - Kaddish - Part 2. Skramz Jamz (Podcast). Event occurs at 5m. Retrieved 22 November 2025. We think we started in 2001.
  2. 1 2 3 Kamiński, Karol (30 July 2021). "Dundee singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist CONCEPT CAR releases new EP; share eclectic inspirations - IDIOTEQ.com". Retrieved 22 November 2025.
  3. ↑ Johnston, Derrick (1 September 2016). "My Favourite Gig - Derrick Johnston". Hope Collective. Retrieved 22 November 2025.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Kamiński, Karol (18 August 2014). ""Stop trying too hard"! - New KADDISH album unveiled! - IDIOTEQ.com". Retrieved 22 November 2025.
  5. ↑ Dom Smith (21 April 2021). Episode 8 - Kaddish - Part 2. Skramz Jamz (Podcast). Event occurs at 2m20s. Retrieved 22 November 2025. We took the name from an Allen Ginsberg poem, it's the name of a Jewish prayer.
  6. ↑ "Kaddish". Make That A Take Records. Retrieved 22 November 2025.
  7. ↑ "Music: Emotional struggle". The National. 22 August 2015. Retrieved 22 November 2025.
  8. ↑ "MAKE YER ANE COMP VIII; IN SOLIDARITY WITH DUNDEE WOMEN'S AID". Make That A Take Records. 4 December 2020.
  9. ↑ Dom Smith (21 April 2021). Episode 8 - Kaddish - Part 2. Skramz Jamz (Podcast). Event occurs at 12m25s. Retrieved 22 November 2025. When we were a young band, like the bands on the west coast like Co-Exist, Madman Is Absolute, like those guys bringing us through to play proper like hardcore, metal gigs
  10. 1 2 3 4 Fox, Steven (Mar 13, 2015). "The State of: Emo". Audio Addict (22): 18. Archived from the original on 24 February 2023. Retrieved 6 April 2026.
  11. ↑ Dom Smith (21 April 2021). Episode 8 - Kaddish - Part 2. Skramz Jamz (Podcast). Event occurs at 5m30. Retrieved 22 November 2025. 2001 through to 2007... we were just being pals, playing music... and that was enough... and then we played a gig in Edinburgh with... Narwhal... and they were like "What the hell are you doing just being this kind of parochial Scottish band? Like why aren't you going out on tour and going down to England." From 2008, Battle of Wolf, they took us out on tour around Europe
  12. ↑ "The line-up 2011 - Cry Me A River Festival in Versmold - Raein, Alpinist..." www.reactwithprotest.org. Retrieved 22 November 2025.
  13. ↑ "Kaddish stream new album in full". www.punktastic.com. Retrieved 22 November 2025.
  14. ↑ ""As Autumn Falls" or Other Such Capers". Write Yer Ane Zine. 2 September 2014. Friday night saw the "official" launch of "Thick Letters To Friends", the incredible new LP from Kaddish... Stonethrower (featuring the aforementioned Mr. Middlemiss and Cal Sutherland, the man responsible for the album art) kicked things off... Next up were Glasgow indie/emo punks The Sinking Feeling who stepped in at the last minute to replace the sadly-missed Bonehouse, who were forced to withdraw on health grounds... The masterful Carson Wells then took to the floor
  15. 1 2 3 Kamiński, Karol (28 November 2018). ""What World Was Still?" - emo hardcore act KADDISH premiere 3rd LP! - IDIOTEQ.com". Retrieved 6 April 2026.
  16. ↑ Walker, Kyle (11 May 2018). "Tragical History Tour QnA: 'It's something that I built up into a monstrosity in my mind'". Inverness Courier. Retrieved 6 April 2026.
  17. ↑ Kamiński, Karol (15 June 2022). "This Is Scotland Not LA 2 compilation premiere & a deep dive into Scottish Hardcore - IDIOTEQ.com". Retrieved 6 April 2026.
  18. ↑ Reynolds, Camylle (February–March 2015). "KADDISH: Thick Letters to Friends: LP". Razorcake (84): 88. Emo-screamo, torn vocals drenched in desperation added uneasiness to their overall sound—as well as the vocals never quite synching with the melodies.
  19. ↑ BEYNON, BRYONY (August 2009). "DIY in London UK". Maximum Rocknroll (315): 48. They emphasize heavy screamo and punk products from around the globe, including BURNING TIMES, KADDISH and FURNACE.
  20. ↑ "North Of The Border: 2014 DIY Punk Preview". www.punktastic.com.
  21. ↑ "Tour Diary - Flatlands And Narwhal | ninehertz". www.ninehertz.co.uk. Retrieved 22 November 2025.
  22. 1 2 "Scottish Albums of the 2010s: Industry Picks - The Skinny". The Skinny. Retrieved 22 November 2025.
  23. 1 2 "Scottish Punk 2014 Rundown". www.punktastic.com. Retrieved 22 November 2025.
  24. 1 2 3 4 Johnston, Derrick. "Dundee DIY scene newsletter: September 2016 - The Skinny". www.theskinny.co.uk. The Skinny. Retrieved 22 November 2025.
  25. ↑ "Brain Fever (Can) / Bonehouse / Kaddish / The Shithawks". Write Yer Ane Zine. 30 July 2012. The pure anguish in Dom's vocal delivery is the kind of thing that stands the hair on the back of your neck on end
  26. ↑ Reynolds, Camylle (February–March 2015). "KADDISH: Thick Letters to Friends: LP". Razorcake (84): 88. frenetic melodic guitar and the echoes of traditional Scottish music.
  27. ↑ Dom Smith (21 April 2021). Episode 8 - Kaddish - Part 2. Skramz Jamz (Podcast). Event occurs at 33m50s. Retrieved 22 November 2025. First album you can maybe detect influences of bands like say Circle Takes the Square... while on Thick Letters... its a lot more driven, you know I grew up on Springsteen records, there's a bit of that in there.
  28. ↑ Dom Smith (21 April 2021). Episode 8 - Kaddish - Part 2. Skramz Jamz (Podcast). Event occurs at 13m25s. Retrieved 22 November 2025. My Biggest influence in terms of playing guitar... is Adam Jones from Tool
  29. ↑ Kamiński, Karol (5 February 2019). "Top 10 reasons you don't drop your Year End Lists before the year is fu*kn' over - IDIOTEQ.com". Retrieved 19 July 2026.
  30. ↑ "Kaddish". Metalorgie (in French). Retrieved 19 July 2026.
  31. ↑ "Carson Wells – 'Tread a Northern Path'". www.punktastic.com. Retrieved 22 November 2025.
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