As we collectively gasp at the cascading horrors of 2025, Amherst’s favorite sons are unleashing their first crop of unreleased music in 20 years in the form of The Skull Sessions. A far cry from your standard collection of lo-fi demos, The Skull Sessions is an aural catalog of the revered hardcore band at their sonic and creative apex.
While these songs might be over two decades old, the stunning quality and urgency present in these recordings serve as the perfect fighting music for a new age.
Tracks 1 – 6: Following the success of their groundbreaking debut album, Orchid were looking to go in a more experimental direction with their follow-up. Craving a new degree of creative freedom, the band began to entertain serious thoughts about making their second LP themselves. These six songs were the first tracks ever recorded at guitarist Will Killingsworth’s now legendary Dead Air Studio. Serving as proof of concept as well as a venue to explore new sonic terrain, this document was never released or shared outside of the group. Orchid would later go on to record and produce their self-titled album themselves.
Tracks 7 – 13: Following a string of well received singles and split 7”s on various underground imprints, Orchid discussed the possibility of releasing their first proper studio album with Kent McClard of Ebullition Records. As McClard seemed passively interested but not entirely certain that he wanted to put out their record, the band endeavored to convince him the only way they knew how.
Recorded live in one take on a Fostex 16 track reel to reel in the Hampshire College after hours classroom that doubled as their practice space, Orchid played through a blistering set that included two tracks from the then-unreleased split with Combat Wounded Veteran as well as five songs intended for the forthcoming LP. Needless to say, Ebullition relented after hearing the tape and agreed to release their debut full-length, the now-iconic Chaos Is Me.
For The Skull Sessions‘ vinyl release, Orchid obtained the very tape that they had mailed to Kent over 25 years ago. Now freshly digitized and remastered, this recording has never been shared beyond Ebullition and the band until now.
Two tracks from The Skull Sessions are available to hear now via Orchid’s Bandcamp page, with the full album set for digital release on March 7th. An extremely limited edition of skull-shaped physical copies (in variants of black, red, and violet) can be purchased exclusively in person during Orchid’s current West Coast tour which is now underway.
Following a string of sold out East Coast dates which reunited Orchid live for the first time in 22 years, The Doom Loop Tour continues on the West Side. Kicking off in Seattle last night, the run will continue through Portland, San Francisco and the Los Angeles area. Each night includes a special handpicked lineup including support from Iron Lung, Great Falls, Physique, Bastard Noise, Regional Justice System, Agriculture and more. For more info and tickets go here.
