By Jake Crown, August 2008

Orquid, Sound Study Recordings

I haven’t taken Liquid Limbs’ debut full-length Orquid out of my crappy CD player since I got my grubby hands on a burned copy at The Atlantic at 1 am.

The Liquid Limbs may only consist of a drummer and a guitar player/singer, but when they play live, it sounds like a five-piece band is blasting your ears out (i.e. they are loud and heavy as shit). Orquid is as heavy as it gets, while at the same time it matches the heavy breakdowns with catchy as hell, perfect sweet melodies.

With a few listens it’s pretty clear Liquid Limbs aren’t gearing themselves towards any specific scene of music. That sense of musical diversity is rare these days, and for that I give them an air high five. I could easily see them on tour with Faith No More, then switching gears and opening for Torche. Guitarist/singer Kevin Nowak uses some intense imagery to describe tales of love, loss, lack of sleep, confusion, sexual fantasies, alcohol abuse and the state of war. Orquid is also the first release for up and coming Gainesville record label Sound Study Recordings. The obvious stand out on the album is “Fresh Catch of Death,” in which pounding drums and buzz saw guitars are teamed up with melodic vocals and lyrics about the cat-and-mouse game most relationships go through. 

Where most bands these days are like drinking a Michelob Ultra, Liquid Limbs are like an ice cold “create a six pack” from Gator Beverage.