Code Orange – Pub 4 – Kimi Hanauer – lo

Two New, Melodic Code Orange Songs

Pittsburgh hardcore outfit Code Orange recently released two new songs from their upcoming album Forever, which show off a different, more melodic side of the group.

The first, “Bleeding in the Blur”, deals in big, open chords and squealing feedback but focuses on clean singing from guitarist Reba Meyers. The band’s always had a little Seattle in them, but this song really accentuates the grungier elements of their sound, particularly in the big guitar solo three minutes in.

The second, “Ugly”, growls instead of purrs, but still fixates on midrange groove and a huge, sing-along chorus. “Live like a loser / Die like a king” sounds like something Lemmy would have written. Hear the song, listen to this episode of BBC1’s Radio Rock show and skip to 1:37:01 (or hear the whole thing, Frank Carter’s the special guest and he’s always entertaining).

Neither of these songs typify Forever. The record still focuses on the band’s kind of Converge-ish brand of metallic hardcore – even though Covnerge has also recorded tunes like these. But they are the songs that stick out, in part because they’re different. My inner optimist loves these tracks because they show a subtlety the band’s hinted at before but never embodied. My inner pessimist hates them because through a really jaded lens they resemble nu metal. both views are probably correct in their own way.

Forever is out this Friday via Roadrunner Records. Follow Code Orange on Facebook. See the band on tour at the following dates.

JANUARY
13 Pittsburgh, PA Rex Theater (Record Release Show)
17 Detroit, MI El Club
18 Chicago, IL Subterranean
20 Denver, CO Marquis Theatre
21 Salt lake City, UT Kilby Court
24 Seattle, WA The Vera Project
25 Portland, OR Analog Café & Theater
27 San Francisco, CA Thee Parkside
28 Los Angeles, CA Union
29 Mesa, AZ The Underground
30 Austin, TX Barracuda

FEBRUARY
1 Houston, TX Eastdown Warehouse
3 Orlando, FL Backbooth
4 Atlanta, GA The Masquerade – Purgatory
5 Raleigh, NC Kings
6 Richmond, VA The Broadberry
7 Baltimore, MD Ottobar
8 New York, NY Marlin Room at Webster Hall
10 Worcester, MA The Palladium

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