Orthodox
Biography
“The sound of ORTHODOX is the opposite of what most associate with the laid-back energy and country-fied twang of their native Nashville, Tennessee. ORTHODOX’s distinct, nu-metal-tinged brand of metallic hardcore has carved its own lane with their Century Media debut, Learning to Dissolve. “I think Nashville is really no different here than in any other city,” says frontman Adam Easterling, whose family background is rooted in the city’s country music industry. “There’s no major city where hardcore is at the forefront of the music business. But the musicians here are of a higher caliber because it is so competitive. If anything, it sets the bar a little higher.”
Learning To Dissolve is the punctuation on a journey that began with 2017’s Sounds of Loss. From the inception, ORTHODOX were nothing short of a standout, blending together riffs that wouldn’t be out of place on a Slipknot record coupled with Easterling’s blunt, Jonathan Davis-esque howls. But, like their sonic brethren in Knocked Loose or Vein.FM, while the influence of the 90’s/00’s is there, ORTHODOX doesn’t merely pay homage to their influences, it exceeds them. “From the beginning, we went in our own direction regardless of what anybody thought,” states Adam. “We didn’t grow up listening to hardcore. We grew up on bands like Linkin Park and System of a Down.” With Learning to Dissolve, those influences have refined themselves into a sound that is urgent and unforgettable from the album’s opening track, “Feel It Linger” to the personal and aural meltdown of closer, “Voice in The Choir”.
The hardcore-borne energy translates to ORTHODOX onstage. Ask anyone who’s seen ORTHODOX over the years giving from basements and DIY venues to giving the like of The Acacia Strain, Kublai Khan and Spite a run for their collective monies. No member stays in place as instruments flail, drumsticks shatter and Easterling channels personal demons leaving the audience nothing short of transfixed. “Live it all comes together.” says Adam. “There’s no do-overs or corrections. It’s as real and honest as it gets.”