Ones To Watch: Black Orchid Empire

Black Orchid Empire are Paul Visser (guitars, vocals), Dave Ferguson (bass, vocals) and Billy Freedom (drums).

Black Orchid Empire perfectly sum up their mesmeric music with four words; ‘Melody. Power. Beauty. Ferocity.’ Nowhere is this self-proclaimed musical ethos more evident than monumental current single 'Celebrity Summer’. Embracing the quiet/loud dynamic, the song opens with gorgeous plaintive guitar work and euphonious singing from voluminously bearded singer Paul before it swiftly kicks into gear with pummelling drums, Queens of the Stone Age-esque guitars licks and spitting vocals. The sublime song then centres on a towering and hook-laden chorus that instantly gets into your cranium and stays there for days.

Since their inception seven years ago, Black Orchid Empire have been finely honing these sumptuous sounds with a series of scintillating headline tours, prestigious support slots with the likes of Biffy Clyro and Skunk Anansie (Skin herself says she loves BOE for their “beautiful melodies coupled with tear your face off riffs”) and festival dates at the likes of Camden Rocks, Germany’s Taubertal Festival and our very own Planet Rockstock.

November 2016 saw the release of Black Orchid Empire’s potent debut album ‘Archetype’, which showcased their considerable talents and was rightfully met with widespread critical acclaim. Searing single ‘God Is Awake’ was also cherry-picked as Kerrang! Radio's track of the week. Since then they’ve penned a deal with German imprint Long Branch Records and recorded their second album ‘Yugen’ at The Recording Studio in London, which will see the light of day on Friday 25th May. With support dates with InMe and Black Map also on the horizon together with a Thursday performance in the Doghouse Tent at Download Festival, the future is looking extremely bright for Black Orchid Empire.

See Black Orchid Empire at the following shows:

MAY 2018
Derby Hairy Dog – 7th (/w InMe)
Scunthorpe Lincoln Imp – 8th (/w InMe)
Bristol The Lanes – 9th (/w InMe)
Milton Keynes Craufurd Arms – 10th (/w InMe)
Worcester Marrs Bar – 11th (/w InMe)
Bolton Alma Inn – 12th (/w InMe)
Huddersfield Parish – 30th (/w Black Map)
Milton Keynes Craufurd Arms – 31st (/w Black Map)

JUNE 2018
London Camden Rocks Festival – 2nd
Glasgow Broadcast – 3rd (/w Black Map)
Manchester Gulliver's – 4th (/w Black Map)
Donington Download Festival – 7th
York Pile Up Festival – 22nd

You can keep up to date with Black Orchid Empire by visiting their official website and following them on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.