Code Orange Forever.
Code Orange (previously known as Code Orange Kids) is an American hardcore punk/beatdown/entombedcore/sludge metal/whatevertheyfeellike band that formed in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in 2008. The band signed to Deathwish Inc. for their first two studio albums Love Is Love/Return to Dust (2012) and I Am King (2014). Since their third record, Forever (2017), the band has been a part of the Roadrunner Records roster.
Current members:
- Eric "Shade" Balderose - Guitars, keyboards, programming, electronic percussion, backing vocals
- Reba Meyers - Lead/backing vocals, guitars, formerly bass
- Jami Morgan - Lead/backing vocals, occasional guitar, formerly drummer
- Joe Goldman - Bass, backing vocals
- Dominic Landolina - Guitar
- Max Portnoy - Drums
Discography:
- Love Is Love/Return to Dust (2012)
- I Am King (2014)
- Forever (2017)
- Underneath (2020)
- The Above (2023)
Tropes:
- Careful with That Axe: the band really likes to do this.
- "I Am King" does this Twice.
- "Bleeding in the Blur" has another prominent example at the very end of the song.
- Other examples include "Starve" and "Real".
Real: (Music stops.) RRAAGGGGGHHHHHHH!!! - "I Am King" does this Twice.
- Darker and Edgier: Their take on
Mark Crozer's "Live in Fear/Broken Out of Love", as the entrance theme for Bray Wyatt's "The Fiend" persona. - Genre Mashup: Originally a Sludge Metal tinged Entombedcore/Hardcore Punk band. Starting with I Am King, the band dove headfirst into this by adding Beatdown Hardcore, Industrial Metal, Alternative Rock, Post-Hardcore and Dream Pop. Forever continued to develop the beatdown, industrial metal and alternative rock influences while bringing back the sludge metal influence and added Groove Metal, Alternative Metal, Industrial, Harsh Noise, and even a touch of Hip-Hop. The Hurt Will Go On EP added significant Glitch influences into the mix as well, which are then carried over to Underneath.
- Genre Roulette: as of I Am King and Forever, this is their modus operandi
- Genre Throwback: "Out for Blood" and its music video are a deliberate throwback to early 2000s industrial rock.
- Hardcore Punk: Especially Love Is Love/Return to Dust.
- Industrial Metal: Flirts here and there as a result of Eric's electronic influences.
- Kaleidoscope Hair: Eric dyes his hair different colors seemingly at random.
- Lead Drummer: While the band splits vocals, the lion's share is handled by Jami Morgan, who is also seen most often in interviews.
- Long Runner Lineup: Eric, Jami, and Reba have been together since 2008. Joe joined in 2011 when Reba moved from bass to guitar after two guitarists quit in succession, while Dominic joined in 2017 and Max (son of Dream Theater drummer Mike Portnoy) moved up from touring to full member in 2023.
- Metal Scream: Jami is type 1, Eric is type 2, and Reba is type 3.
- Metalcore: One of the heaviest examples in modern times.
- Nu Metal: They went in a heavily nu and industrial-based direction circa Forever, and appeared to have gone even further in this direction circa Underneath.
- Punctuated! For! Emphasis!: LAST! ONES! LEFT!
- Soprano and Gravel: A harsh vocal example, with Eric's growls playing gravel to Reba's/Jami's higher screams.
- Stop and Go: Extensively used in many of their later songs, with "Real" and "Swallowing the Rabbit Whole" being good examples.
- Surprisingly Gentle Song: "Dreams in Inertia" from I Am King. "Dream 2" from Forever, and to varying extents, "Ugly". "Bleeding in the Blur" and "Hurt Goes On" count, too. note
