Rorschach Test (band)
Rorschach Test is an American industrial band from Denver, Colorado, formed by James Baker.
Rorschach Test | |
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Origin | Denver, Colorado, United States |
Genres | Industrial metal |
Years active | c.1992–early 2000s, reformed 2010s |
Labels | E-Magine, Slipdisc |
Website | rorschachtestband |
James Baker
Baker was a young minister based in Denver until being defrocked in the early 1990s for his allegedly heretical questioning of church doctrine.[1]
He began writing music and lyrics after leaving the church. Soon after, he met guitarist Benjamin Anderson, from Yuma, Arizona, and the two began writing songs together.[2] Baker and band members began composing "metallic, industrial songs with a definite debt to Ministry and Skinny Puppy but including elements of conventional metal."[1]
History
Rorschach Test formed in Denver, Colorado, with Baker joined by Anderson, guitarist Kris Geren, and keyboard player/programmer Troee Keer.[2][3] They later relocated to Seattle where they were signed to Chicago-based label Slip Disc Records.[3] They enjoyed a successful career during Seattle's lively music scene in the 1990s. They toured North America playing shows with bands including Korn, Type O Negative, Genitorturers, and Queensrÿche.
The band's second album, Unclean, was released in 1998 on Slip Disc.[3] They later signed to E-magine, who reissued the album in 2000.[3]
The band's third album, Peace Minus One (2000), was listed as a "must hear" album by CMJ New Music Report, who described it as "one part raw metal, one part industrial...sharper than a bag full of razor blades."[4] It also reached the top ten of the CMJ Metal chart.[5] The band, along with Bile and Videodrone, Snake River Conspiracy, and N17 embarked on the 'Bush And Gore 2000' tour of the US that year.[6]
In 2004 former Rorschach Test guitarist Aaron Slip joined Prong.[7]
After breaking up in 2002, the band reformed after a hiatus of more than ten years, with a new album, American EyeDull, planned.[8]
Discography
- The Eleventh (1996)
- Unclean (Slipdisc 1998)
- Peace Minus One (E-Magine 2000)
- American EyeDull (TBD)
References
- McIver, Joel (2002). Nu-Metal: The Next Generation of Rock & Punk. Omnibus Press. p. 109. ISBN 0-7119-9209-6.
- Prato, Greg. "Rorschach Test biography". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved January 23, 2010.
- Stone, Doug "Unclean Review", Allmusic. Retrieved October 10, 2015
- "Loud Rock", CMJ New Music Report, 22 May 2000, p. 32
- "Metal", CMJ New Music Monthly, September 2000, p. 69
- Mancini, Rob (2000) "Rorschach Test, Bile, Videodrone, More Line Up "Bush/Gore" Tour", MTV, July 17, 2000. Retrieved October 10, 2015
- Sharpe-Young, Garry (2005) New Wave of American Heavy Metal, Zonda Books Limited, ISBN 978-0958268400, p. 244