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To put this show in perspective, the only time I ever saw the legendary, early ’90s era hardcore band Rorschach the first time around was in January of 1993. That was almost 17 years ago! Improbably enough, they reformed for a brief East Coast tour with no plans for any new recordings or future tours, so I feel fortunate to have caught them. Here’s the kicker. They sounded better than they did in the early ’90s. Way better. Just by coincidence (or perhaps not), the same guy (JON HILTZ) who did the sound the first time I saw them was manning the soundboard on this day, but many years, better equipment, more experience, etc. produced a STUNNING and uber-loud mix that deadened my ears for almost a full 24 hours afterwards (and I was wearing earplugs). This was appropriate for a band with Rorschach’s uh, roar, and specifically that of gravel-voiced singer CHARLES MAGGIO.
I don’t like most metalcore (a genre Rorschach clearly influenced), but Rorschach were unique. It was like they were applying the twisted hardcore of early to mid ’80s stalwarts like DIE KREUZEN, B’LAST!, VOID, C.O.C. and others and fusing it with the speed metal (especially VOIVOD and SLAYER) favored by guitarist KEITH HUCKINS (who would later play with TIM SINGER in the awesome DEADGUY after Rorschach’s breakup in 1993). Perhaps this mix sounds common now, but back in 1991 or so it was a complete revelation. Their first album Remain Sedate, the Needlepack 7” and some of their compilation and split 7” tracks are some of the finest hardcore/punk recordings of the early ’90s. They fizzled out in 1993 with a mediocre 2nd Lp, Protestant, which traded in the much more memorable material from their earlier days for a more metallic sound and Maggio’s blood-curdling screams.
Against all odds, though, they were back and it was completely sick! The setlist veered a little too heavy towards Protestant for my taste, but live these songs always sounded way better, so I didn’t mind too much. Highlights? How about a great cover of KING CRIMSON‘s “21st Century Schizoid Man”? Opening with “Pavlov’s Dogs”? And the coup de grace, a version of BLACK FLAG‘s “My War” with Deadguy vocalist TIM SINGER trading off verses with Maggio! Wow!
Openers 1.6 Band remain one of the finest and most underappreciated bands of the same era. A perennial opener for the mighty Rorschach, 1.6 Band have a unique sound that’s one part late ’80s DC post-hardcore, one part NYHC (circa singer KEVIN EGAN, previously in BEYOND) and another part guitar wizardy courtesy of the absolutely unbelievable MIKE LAWRENCE YANNICELLI (the ROBERT QUINE of hardcore). They played mostly older stuff, but they said that the newer songs they played would be released digitally and on a 7” in the near future. I’m hoping that it veers closer to their 7“s than to their sole Lp release, which is good but not as great as their EPs.
The first band, Halo of Snakes, reminded me of lots of bands that would’ve played with either Rorschach or 1.6 Band back in the early ’90s. They were energetic, but lacked memorable material.
