I am King is the second full-length by Pittsburgh’s Code Orange (sometimes: Code Orange Kids), recorded and produced by Converge guitarist Jacob Bannon. The Converge influence is sometimes evident, particularly in the structure of tracks 3 and 7, but Code Orange are fully their own band, integrating freely from all forms of modern punk, hardcore, and “heavy music” (think Unwound) and cooking up a wicked stew. I’m particularly fond of the contrast between the three vocalist’s screaming styles, and the overall heaviness. But Code Orange can’t be pigeonholed as simply hardcore; the smoldering guitars and melodic vocals on track 3 would be a hit on any modern rock radio show. My favorite record of the last nine months by far! RIYL: Converge, Helmet, heavier 90’s subpop bands, cream of the crop.

FCCs: None that I noticed after MANY listens

Recommended: 3, 4, 6, 9, 1

1. Capsule history of modern punk, from dbeat to mid-90’s nyhc to blast beat to metalcore
2. Screaming over ragged bass, to a heaving uphill guitar riff and stuttering
3. Beautiful slow build to heavy rock, clean singing, timeless and genre-defying
4. Frantic opening to best single growl on the record (at :23), super raw section, to fast ending
5. excellent grunting and shouting over atonal riff
6. Super harsh minor seconds that get doubled by second guitar, to a lurching and dragging
7. heavy rock a la 90’s subpop with melodic sampled singing
8. short with some blast beats
9. really heavy syncopation like early helmet, awesome
10. Wailed clean vocals on chorus
11. Lots of rhythmic shifts, more excellent screaming