Combatwoundedveteran / Orchid - Split 6” | Connective Tissue 1999

Combatwoundedveteran

(Tampa, FL)

Christopher Norris (Vocals)
Dan Raade (Guitar)
Bill (Guitar)
Dan Ponch (Bass, Vocals)
Mark Muenchinger (Drums)

Orchid

(Amherst, MA)

Jayson Green (Vocals)
Will Killingsworth (Guitar)
Brad Wallace (Bass)
Jeff Salane (Drums)

Basic Info:

Release Date: 1999
Label: Clean Plate Records
Runtime: 5:03
-Combatwoundedveteran: 2:53
-Orchid: 2:10
Tracks: 7
-Combatwoundedveteran: 5
-Orchid: 2

At a Glance:

Emoviolence, Grindcore, Screamo, Noisy, Chaotic, Frantic

Points on the Timeline:

These two Emoviolence legends were both peaking in 1999, with CVW and Orchid delivering Hall of Fame-worthy LPs, shaping the genre in their drastically different images. For Combatwoundedveteran, this year would be the absolute pinnacle of their careers, releasing their celebrated LP, this split with fellow seminal Emoviolence act Orchid and one more insane split with Scrotum Grinder.

Meanwhile, Orchid’s unbeatable run of releases would only start here; Dance Tonight! was in the works for next year, along with the legendary Skull Split with Jeromes Dream and a swan song in 2002. By 2003, both artists would disband, leaving immense legacies behind.

Shapes in the Sound:

This split moves a blistering pace, squeezing in seven songs in five minutes! CVW’s side is an absolute wall of sound from the frenetic instrumentation and manic screaming. The guitar is all-encompassing and the drums seem to suck the air out of whatever’s left. It’s very devastating and boisterous, even when not playing full-on Grindy Emoviolence.

Orchid’s sound has evolved from their last EP with Pig Destroyer, resembling Chaos Is Me in sound and production without the warm guitars. The format is much more dynamic, with just two songs totaling two minutes, and with the sudden tempo, aggression and volume shifts, it really does begin to embody chaos.

Threads in the Tapestry:

While this split isn’t the most well-known split from either artist, it demonstrates two influential Emoviolence acts coming together from one part of the East Coast to another during their primes and just absolutely tearing it up. The genre had been fleshed out for years prior, but this showcase just showcases the strength of its heavy-hitters.

Combatwoundedveteran - I KNow a Girl Who Develops Crime Scene Photos | Screamo HAll of Fame Class of 1999 Inductee

Release Information:

7/1/1998
No Idea. Records
Tampa, FL (Southeast)
Runtime: 19:09
Tracks: 19

Band Members:

Christopher Norris (Vocals)
Dan Raade (Guitar)
Bill (Guitar)
Dan Ponch (Bass, Vocals)
Mark Muenchinger (Drums)

At a Glance:

Emoviolence, Grindcore, Noisy, Manic, Aggressive, Sassy, Suffocating

Musical Analysis:

CWV delivers a noisy and oppressive Emoviolence album with this, their sole full-length effort. The Grindcore and Powerviolence influences are more prominent than ever with the distorted, metallic guitar riffs and chugs operating at a near-incomprehensible level, matching the suffocating and cacophonous drum performance. Tying the whole package together is the personality-and-brutality-driven vocals of Chris Norris (with backup from Dan), bringing the entire concoction to a fever pitch.

The only reprieve you get while listening to this record are the various samples that bridge some of the tracks together. Even then, most of these samples are strong political statements (or something silly to the same effect).

Historical Analysis:

This album is infamous for how deranged and stifling it is, integrating the heaviest of late 90s Hardcore and bashing it against their own fiery brand of Emoviolence. This release contrasts with Orchid’s 1999 classic Chaos Is Me on the production side, favoring the heaviness and sharpness of their distortion while Orchid’s wall of sound possesses a warmer tone. Both of these albums would be seminal for Emoviolence’s success in 1999 and beyond, but Grindcore would soon fall out of favor as a mixer. Because of this, even today, this is one of the heaviest and most insane Emoviolence records ever released.

Lyrical Analysis:

Confrontational, absurdist, self-deprecating and violent don’t even begin to describe the many, many lyrics on this album. Christopher Norris takes aim at everybody and everything; a constant thread is late-stage Capitalism, its dehumanizing nature, the manufacturing of desires, the destruction of authenticity, its pervasive control over all systems in life, human bodies being treated like machines, and modern Manifest Destiny. The Punk scene is also a common victim, as their lyrics spout about toxic masculinity in the scene and the anesthetic nature of mainstream art.

However, among the grotesque body horror imagery and biting metaphors lie messages of hope: even if civility is a lie, heroism is a joke, perfection is a lie and failure is guaranteed, in a world built for control, what they call weakness is your true strength. Use it to end cyclical violence, religious indoctrination and even destroy yourself - and everything you believed up to this point.

Combatwoundedveteran - What Flavor Is Your Death Squad Leader? | Screamo Hall of FAme Class of 1998 Nominee

Release Information:

1998
Schematics Records
Tampa, FL (Southeast)
Runtime: 7:13
Tracks: 10

Band Members:

Christopher Norris (Vocals)
Davy Bartlett (Guitar, Vocals)
Dan Ponch (Bass, Vocals)
Mark Muenchinger (Drums)

Genres, Influences and Characteristics:

Emoviolence, Grindcore, Frantic, Noisy, Chaotic, Dissonant

Musical Analysis:

With such a brief runtime and several tracks clocking in at under 30 seconds, the band utilizes immediacy to its fullest extent. Plentiful with noisy guitar feedback, blast beats, grotesque screaming from multiple vocalists and extremely heavy metallic guitar tones, the band throws caution to the wind and blends the quickest, most intense three seconds of explosive music with chaotic, formless sections of noise.

Historical Analysis:

With cleaner production than their 1996 EP, this ups the ante that the 11 Song 7” started, featuring some of the most brutal and punishing Emoviolence put to record yet. However, the band was still on the cusp of their biggest year by far with two excellent EPs under their belt.

Lyrical Analysis:

Once again, Combatwoundedveteran’s scathing take on Capitalism, Colonialism and overall Western culture produces genius, sardonic and quick lyrics. With topics like war as entertainment, violence as censorship and rebellion as commodification, you’d be hard-pressed to think the band ever had a positive thought. Still, the band presses on with even more daring subjects like how colonialist logic is self-destructive, how pain and suffering are used for profit, the choices we have in Captialism are illusory. These are among the most biting sociopolitical lyrics in the history of the genre to this point.