Black Orchid Empire – Scissormouth (2026)
Since their first album, Archetype, in 2016, UK-based Black Orchid Empire has put itself forward as a metal band that doesn’t let its ferocity overwhelm its melodic sensibilities. Technical masters all, Paul Visser (guitar and lead vocals), Dave Ferguson (bass), and Billy Freedom (drums) continue to release music true to their vision, having indisputable metal chops and an ability to reach beyond the snares of the genre (like vocals that sound like vomiting) to reach a broader audience. Their music is somewhat in the vein of Tool, and I like to think of them as the metal band that non-metal people can listen to.
Last Friday, February 13, they released their new single ‘Scissormouth’ at the top of a stack of songs that were released in 2025 as The Labyrinth EP. ‘Scissormouth’ opens with a winding, snarly unison line with guitar and bass that gives way to Visser singing, “I’m pretty like darkness while you sleep”, while his guitar whines above him. When the bass and drums kick in with a killer groove, it’s barely half a minute in, and Black Orchid Empire has your ears without wasting a single second.
Technical proficiency is one thing. Being able to draw people in with a catchy melody and simple arrangement choices is something entirely different. The band doesn’t spend too much time on the flashiness of the intro but instead gets straight to the heart of the song. Visser’s voice has a clean sound that stands out in contrast to the distorted guitars, gritty bass, and clashing drums. He’s also especially nimble around the chorus and on the interlude, going in and out of falsetto with ease.
The interlude section, with its simple, haunting piano chords and its drawn-out, plaintive melody, gives the song a point of contrast, a moment that feels like catching your breath before the band delivers its chunky outro. Throughout, the instrumental interplay keeps the engine of the song firing on all cylinders, while Visser’s voice grabs you as the emotional and almost introspective point of contact.
It’s that combination of two seemingly disparate things that makes Black Orchid Empire so listenable and intriguing for someone who doesn’t really care that much about metal. ‘Scissormouth’ is another triumph for the band.
Find out more about Black Orchid Empire on their official website, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and Spotify.
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