Rorschach (band)

The first release by the band, Remain Sedate, shows the band's sound at a stage when they played fast, heavy hardcore with a metal slant and raspy hardcore vocals. At this time they also drew heavy comparisons to Die Kreuzen for their bizarre chord progressions and Charles Maggio's unearthly howl.^[1] However, as the band progressed, they developed a slower, more sinister, sludge sound that was influenced by New York band Swans.^[1] Additionally, the vocals developed into high-pitched, tortured screaming rather than shouting, due in part to voice problems Maggio was experiencing at the time. This change in sound can be heard primarily on their second full-length release, Protestant. Shortly after issuing this album, the group disbanded, some members eventually joining Deadguy and Kiss It Goodbye.

Rorschach has performed occasional reunion shows from 2009 through 2012.^[2]

In the 2012 film Zero Dark Thirty, the Rorschach song "Pavlov's Dogs" is used to torture suspected terrorists.^[3]

Critics have categorized Rorschach's music as hardcore punk^[4] and metalcore.^[5] They incorporated elements of powerviolence.^[6]

Rorschach have cited influences including Neurosis, Blast, Die Kreuzen, Black Flag, Cro-Mags, Prong, Voivod, Metallica, Slayer,^[7] Born Against, Burn, Citizen's Arrest, Raw Deal, Breakdown, Underdog, Sick of it All, Youth of Today^[8] and Corrosion of Conformity.^[9]

Rorschach helped to pioneer the metalcore genre,^[10] with their take on the genre being more dissonant than their contemporaries. During the early 1990s, their style was somestimes called "noisecore".^[11] They were major influence upon the development of screamo^[7] and mathcore.^[12] Alongside Heroin, Downcast, Born Against, Econochrist, 1.6 Band and Merel, they influenced a wave of bands in the early 1990s to push Revolution Summer emo into more extreme directions, which included Chino Horde, Policy of 3, Native Nod and Still Life.^[13]

Rorschach have been cited as an influence by Starkweather,^[14] Coalesce,^[15] Converge,^[16] Cave In,^[17] Jeromes Dream,^[18] Off Minor,^[19] Pg.99^[20] and Saetia.^[21]

Final line-up

• Charles Maggio – vocals (1989–1993, 2009–2012)
• Keith Huckins – guitar (1989–1993, 2009–2012)
• Nick Forté – guitar (1989–1993, 2009–2012)
• Andrew Gormley – drums (1989–1993, 2009–2012)
• Tom Rusnak – bass (1991–1993, 2009–2012)

Previous members

• Chris Laucella – bass (1989–1991)

• Computer Cougar - Charles Maggio, Nick Forte
• Deadguy - Keith Huckins
• Die 116 - Andrew Gormley
• Kiss It Goodbye - Andrew Gormley, Keith Huckins, Thom Rusnak
• Playing Enemy - Andrew Gormley, Thom Rusnak
• Shai Hulud - Andrew Gormley
• Radio To Saturn - Nick Forte
• Bone of Contention - Keith Huckins, Charles Maggio