Young Orchids
Afterglow
Atlanta, GA
“Vivid collage of indie, doo-wop, punk, and rock”
What stands out most about Young Orchids’ debut release is that it doesn’t sound like a first album. The production is polished, the harmonies are exquisite, each track seems complete, and the album flows perfectly along, as if each song was especially written to follow the next. The way the band combines musical stylings is also impressive. The sound throughout the album ranges from pop rock in the vein of Oasis, to a darkness reminiscent of Deftones, with splashes of doo-wop, ’70s-inspired punk, and even a tinge of classic rock. The beauty is in how these sounds are merged within each track to create a fully cohesive and vivid album.
The album opener, “Wipeout,” is a melancholy escapade through lush guitars and an angst-ridden vocal melody. The moodiness dissipates as the album plays on. Songs like “Hey Marshall” deliver an energized, crisp guitar riff behind raspy vocals and a punk rock core, while “Daysleeper” and “While You’re Young” are temperate throwback tunes seemingly inspired by the pre-’60s musical era. “Twelve Feet Tall” switches gears again, bringing a heavier tone to the middle of the record with an outlaw spirit that could find itself on the next Young Guns soundtrack. The final track, “Slow Down” is an ambient and alluring close to an album that moves along at just the right pace.
Produced, mixed and engineered by Kris Sampson at Sampson Sound Studios, Atlanta // Additional production by Young Orchids at Checkboard Studios, Atlanta // Mastered by Don McCollister at Nickel & Dime Studios, Atlanta