Freshly rechristened Code Orange – formerly known as Code Orange Kids, have come surging out of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania with another outrageous foray into the world of demonically heavy music. Set loose by Deathwish Inc., I Am King – the band’s second full-length release, blurs the already hazy lines between hardcore, metal and punk. This remorseless four piece are set to rip and tear the genre to pieces; their weapons of choice? Titanic beatdowns, shattering vocals and jarring riffs.

Title track ‘I Am King’ demands attention from its first sludgy chord, tearing along with unrelenting haste before singing off with a butchering beatdown. This abrasive vibe refuses to fade away, blending dominant breakdowns with discordant riffs and chaotic song structures, Code Orange push their sound into new realms. ‘Dreams in Inertia’ highlights the artistry behind this record, a murky song filled with hauntingly reverent vocal lines, foreboding guitars and rolling drums. ‘Alone in a Room’ and ‘Starve’’ share the same unsettling atmosphere. Their lingering guitar melodies and muffled vocals take this album a few more steps into the darkness, making it clear why this band have such a devoted cult following.

‘Unclean Spirit’ and ‘Thinners of the Herd’ pull you from the obscure stylistic sounds of ‘Dreams of Inertia’, ‘Alone in a Room’ and ‘Starve’ only to unleash some untainted hardcore punk ferocity. Rapid, dissonant and above all else monstrous, these tracks assert Code Orange’s skill for smashing out songs which would make even the most reserved person tear a venue apart.

This album stands tall, glaring menacingly and unforgivingly into the eyes of its listener. Surpassing any preconceptions of its quality, I Am King is one of the finest heavy records I’ve heard this year. The kids have grown up and Code Orange have raised the bar.

Track list – I Am King:

1. I Am King
2. Slowburn
3. Dreams in Inertia
4. Unclean Spirit
5. Alone in a Room
6. My World
7. Starve
8. Your Body is Ready….
9. Thinners of the Herd
10. Bind You
11. Mercy

Code Orange: Facebook / Bandcamp / Order I Am King