Salem Orchid was a death metal band from London UK. Formed in 1988, they are best known for a two-track demo released in 1991 composed of the songs 'Sempiternal Suffering' and 'The Nirvana Of Agony'. The line-up at this time consisted of Jason Mendonça (Vocals and Guitar), Steve Wood (Guitar), Dan Temple (bass guitar) and David Gray (Drums). The demo became well known for its satanic lyrical content and high speed playing, and attracted attention from Cacophonous Records who were interested in signing the band, however the deal was never signed after previous band member Jeff Godwin threatened legal action as he had come up with the original band name.
The band split shortly after and re-emerged in 1992 with a line-up of Nikkie (ex-Crematorium & Necrocannibal Dissection) on Vocals and Guitar, Steve Wood (Guitar), Matt Platts (Bass Guitar) and David Gray (Drums). Matt Platts was later replaced by Andrea Zoccoli(ex Crematorium & Necrocannibal Dissection).
The band emerged again in 1995 with a new line-up of Matt Platts (Guitar, vocals), Peter Theobalds (Lead Guitar), Caroline Batt (Bass Guitar) and David Gray (Drums). The music was much more experimental than before as the band began taking large influences from bands such as Killing Joke and Sonic Youth and mixing them with extreme metal. The band also played live under different names. Only demo tapes are known to exist from this phase.
David Gray, Jason Mendonca and Peter Theobalds later regrouped as Akercocke in 1997, taking influence from all of the previous incarnations of the band, and to date have released five albums in the blackened death metal genre. A limited edition release of Akercocke's debut album Rape of the Bastard Nazarene featured early Salem Orchid songs as bonus tracks.
David Gray currently plays drums in black metal band Voices and is the live drummer for My Dying Bride.
Peter Theboalds currently plays bass for End Of Level Boss.
Matt Platts later became the drummer for industrial metal band Interlock and is currently the drummer for Primitive Graven Image
Famous quotes containing the word salem:
“I have always endeavored to acquire strict business habits; they are indispensable to every man. If your trade is with the Celestial Empire, then some small counting house on the coast, in some Salem harbor, will be fixture enough.”
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)