Orchid announce album of previously unreleased recordings, share 2 songs

Friday brought the release of a new Saetia song, and today we get to hear the first new previously unreleased music from Orchid in 20 years. Theirs isn’t new though; they just announced The Skull Sessions, a collection of two shelved recording sessions: a live practice recording of material that ended up on their 1999 debut album Chaos Is Me (and the same year’s split with Combatwoundedveteran) and a studio test recording of material that ended up on their 2002 self-titled album. Here’s more details, via press release:

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.

It comes out on March 7, and two songs are streaming now: “No We Don’t Have Any T-Shirts” from the self-titled portion and “The Action Index” from the Chaos Is Me portion. Listen to both below and pre-order the album here.

Orchid also have West Coast reunion shows happening this month, with tons of great openers varying by date. Full schedule below.

Skull Sessions by Orchid

Tracklist
1. No We Don’t Have Any T-Shirts
2. Discourse Of Desire
3. Tigers
4. Fashion Meets Passion
5. I Wanna Fight
6. Let’s Commodify Sexuality
7. Panopticism
8. Frame Code
9. The Action Index
10. Epilogue Of A Car Crash
11. Eye Gouger
12. T-120
13. Weekend At The Fire Academy

Orchid — 2025 Tour Dates
2/09: Seattle, WA – The Black Lodge
(w/ GAG, Carrion Spring, Depiction of a Man)

2/10: Seattle, WA – Substation
(w/ Iron Lung, Great Falls)

2/11: Portland – Revolution Hall
(w/ Iron Lung, Great Falls, Physique)

2/13: San Francisco – Great American Music Hall
(w/ Jerome’s Dream, Strangelight)

2/14: Oakland at Eli’s Mile High Club
(w/ Kowloon Walled City, Greyhound)

2/15: Los Angeles, CA – The Belasco
(w/ Jerome’s Dream, Bastard Noise, Regional Justice Center)

2/16: Pomona, CA – The Glass House
(w/ Agriculture, Habak)