CRACKING-THE CODE
THEY’RE NOT THE kind of band that finishes a song and then delivers a rehearsed speech to the crowd. They don’t dwell on chart numbers or write music for the times. And they’re not easy to categorize. Yet Code Orange are one of the most exciting and forward-thinking new ultra-aggressive bands — and they’re not even that new. Arising from gritty Pittsburgh as Code Orange Kids in 2008 when they were barely teenagers, the group released several galvanic hardcore demos and EPs before signing to Deathwish Inc. in January 2012. Since then, they’ve released four albums, changed their name and evolved into an eclectic and sonically unpredictable band that seamlessly combines hardcore, metal, alternative, noise-rock and industrial into their contorted tunes.
As complex and variegated as their music has been, many of the band’s greatest accomplishments — including the Grammy-nominated 2017 record Forever and the new offering Underneath — have stemmed largely from impulse.
“When I write a chord progression, I let my emotions and my subconscious guide what I play,” explains guitarist and vocalist Reba Meyers, who co-formed the band back in middle school with vocalist, keyboardist and former guitarist Eric “Shade” Balderose, along with drummer Jami Morgan. “Some of my favorite parts start out as fuck-ups. Instead of correcting them, we might listen to them and then go, ‘Wow, that’s fuckin’ cool.’ And it will drive the songs in different directions.”
Growing up in a punk scene that encouraged breaking the rules — as long as a band remained heavy and retained its integrity — Code Orange quickly diverged from their hardcore formula and eagerly became stranger and more musically schizophrenic over the years. Their most monumental growth spurt began in late 2017 with the addition of second guitarist Dominic Landolina, whose razor-honed riffs and higher-end sound complimented Code Orange’s hardcore progressions. In addition to featuring a new range of Pantera- and Slipknot-inspired passages, is propelled by a sometimes random-sounding array of digitally manipulated guitar noises that complement Balderose’s caustic industrial programming, pushing to more diverse avenues that open up more lanes to explore alongside Balderose’s caustic industrial programming and the band’s digitally warped production techniques. But it’s not like someone
