# Code Orange (band)
**Code Orange** is an American metal band from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, formed in 2008 as **Code Orange Kids** while its members were still in high school. The group began as a more traditional punk outfit before moving into hardcore-leaning metalcore, and later incorporated industrial, electronic, grunge, and nu-metal elements across five studio albums.[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/code-orange-mn0003009879)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Origin | Formed 2008 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, as Code Orange Kids[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/code-orange-mn0003009879) |
| Original lineup | Eric Balderose (guitars/vocals), Reba Meyers (guitars/vocals), Joe Goldman (bass), Jami Morgan (drums/vocals)[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/code-orange-mn0003009879) |
| Labels | Deathwish Inc. (2012–2014), Roadrunner Records (2017–2020), Blue Grape (2023)[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/code-orange-mn0003009879) • [2](https://www.nme.com/reviews/album/code-orange-the-above-review-lyrics-tracklist-3504624) |
| Chart peak | *I Am King* debuted at number 96 on the Billboard 200 and reached number ten on the Top Hard Rock Albums chart[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/code-orange-mn0003009879) |
| Grammy nominations | Best Metal Performance for "Forever" (2018 ceremony) and for *Underneath* (2021 ceremony); no wins[3](https://www.grammy.com/artists/code-orange/189021/) |
| Status | On hiatus since 2025, with members pursuing other projects[4](https://www.theprp.com/2026/06/11/news/single-print-index-code-orange-pain-clinic-etc-launch-their-debut-single-recover-the-mindset/) |
## Formation and early years
The band formed in 2008 in [Pittsburgh](https://www.edgepedia.org/pittsburgh) as Code Orange Kids, while its members were in high school, and originally played a more traditional style of punk before moving toward heavier music.[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/code-orange-mn0003009879) By 2012 the lineup of Eric Balderose, Reba Meyers, Joe Goldman, and Jami Morgan signed with Deathwish Inc., the label run by Converge frontman Jacob Bannon, and released their full-length debut *Love Is Love/Return to Dust* that year.[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/code-orange-mn0003009879) Their first two albums, *Love Is Love // Return to Dust* (2012) and *I Am King* (2014), were produced by Converge guitarist Kurt Ballou.[5](https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/22717-forever/)
*I Am King* marked the first release under the shortened Code Orange name. It debuted at number 96 on the [Billboard](https://www.edgepedia.org/billboard-magazine) 200 and peaked at number ten on the Top Hard Rock Albums chart.[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/code-orange-mn0003009879)
## Forever and the major-label years
In October 2016 the band released the single "Forever" ahead of its third album, which arrived in early 2017 on [Roadrunner Records](https://www.edgepedia.org/roadrunner-records). The release coincided with the addition of guitarist Dominic Landolina, expanding the group to a quintet.[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/code-orange-mn0003009879) The title track was nominated for Best Metal Performance at the 2018 [Grammy Awards](https://www.edgepedia.org/grammy-awards).[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/code-orange-mn0003009879) Pitchfork's review described the album as the band's major-label debut and noted its communal approach: a vocal tag-team between drummer Jami Morgan and guitarists [Reba Meyers](https://www.edgepedia.org/reba-meyers) and Eric Balderose, with Balderose also handling power electronics.[5](https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/22717-forever/) *Forever* became a consensus critical favorite, topping year-end lists at Rolling Stone and Revolver.[6](https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/code-orange-underneath/)
In 2018 the band issued the digital EP *The Hurt Will Go On*, which included the single "The Hunt" featuring [Corey Taylor](https://www.edgepedia.org/corey-taylor).[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/code-orange-mn0003009879)
## Underneath and The Above
The fourth album, *Underneath* (2020), introduced elements of industrial, screamo, post-grunge, nu-metal, and classic rock into the band's sound and was nominated for Best Metal Performance at the 2021 Grammy Awards.[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/code-orange-mn0003009879) • [3](https://www.grammy.com/artists/code-orange/189021/) For the tour that followed, Jami Morgan stepped away from the drums to take on lead vocals, with Max Portnoy recruited as touring drummer.[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/code-orange-mn0003009879) Critical reception was divided: Pitchfork called the album exhausting and uneven, criticizing its modern-rock ambitions,[6](https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/code-orange-underneath/) while NME described it as "game-changing, forward-thinking hardcore."[2](https://www.nme.com/reviews/album/code-orange-the-above-review-lyrics-tracklist-3504624)
In February 2023 the band released *What Is Really Underneath?*, a 14-track remix album reworking the *Underneath* material to emphasize its electronic influences, accompanied by an animated film.[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/code-orange-mn0003009879) • [7](https://distortedsoundmag.com/album-review-what-is-really-underneath-code-orange/) The fifth album, *The Above*, arrived on September 29, 2023, on Blue Grape Music, drawing on grunge, trip-hop, and hip-hop and featuring the single "Take Shape" with a guest vocal from [Billy Corgan](https://www.edgepedia.org/billy-corgan) of the Smashing Pumpkins.[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/code-orange-mn0003009879) • [8](https://www.grammy.com/news/code-orange-new-album-the-above-interview-jami-morgan/) • [2](https://www.nme.com/reviews/album/code-orange-the-above-review-lyrics-tracklist-3504624) Reviews were mixed: NME called it ever-expansive hardcore yielding mixed results,[2](https://www.nme.com/reviews/album/code-orange-the-above-review-lyrics-tracklist-3504624) while the Grammy.com interview described it as the band's most eclectic and well-rounded work.[8](https://www.grammy.com/news/code-orange-new-album-the-above-interview-jami-morgan/)
## Hiatus and member projects
The band's touring plans in January 2024 were canceled due to guitarist Dominic Landolina's health concerns; Landolina was dealing with a genetic condition that limited his ability to tour.[9](https://lambgoat.com/music/code-orange) • [10](https://loudwire.com/code-orange-jami-morgan-addresses-2025-hiatus/) In April 2025, Jami Morgan said the band was "on the shelf," with no future plans at the moment.[11](https://www.kerrang.com/code-orange-jami-morgan-hiatus-interview-nik-nocturnal-podcast) Morgan later said the band had abruptly ended after their 2024 [Download Festival](https://www.edgepedia.org/download-festival) performance, though he declined to discuss details of the split.[12](https://www.loudersound.com/bands-artists/interviews/i-had-to-learn-to-let-go-of-the-bitterness-and-stop-being-so-one-track-minded-they-were-in-one-of-hardcores-most-boundary-pushing-modern-bands-with-code-orange-now-jami-morgan-and-eric-balderose-reunite-to-topple-the-music-industry-with-nowhere2run)
Members have since pursued separate projects. Morgan and keyboardist Eric "Shade" Balderose formed Nowhere2Run, a collective blending experimental hip hop, dream pop, ambient electronic music, and harsh techno, whose debut EP *Bloodrave* arrived via Pale Chord/Rise.[12](https://www.loudersound.com/bands-artists/interviews/i-had-to-learn-to-let-go-of-the-bitterness-and-stop-being-so-one-track-minded-they-were-in-one-of-hardcores-most-boundary-pushing-modern-bands-with-code-orange-now-jami-morgan-and-eric-balderose-reunite-to-topple-the-music-industry-with-nowhere2run) Reba Meyers joined [Marilyn Manson](https://www.edgepedia.org/marilyn-manson)'s touring band in 2024 and started a solo career.[9](https://lambgoat.com/music/code-orange) • [10](https://loudwire.com/code-orange-jami-morgan-addresses-2025-hiatus/) In 2026, Morgan and Dominic Landolina launched Single Print Index, a new project self-described as "Pittsburgh Murder Music," which played its first live show in June 2026.[4](https://www.theprp.com/2026/06/11/news/single-print-index-code-orange-pain-clinic-etc-launch-their-debut-single-recover-the-mindset/) • [13](https://themosh.net/single-print-index-live-debut-code-orange/)
## Reception and live reputation
The band built a strong live reputation. Based on 31 critic concert reviews, LiveRate rates Code Orange in the top 10% of live performers and lists the band as "Real Live Certified," with reviews describing the shows as visceral.[14](https://www.liverate.com/artists/code-orange) The band also crossed into wrestling entertainment: the December 2022 single "Shatter" was written as entrance music for WWE wrestler [Bray Wyatt](https://www.edgepedia.org/bray-wyatt).[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/code-orange-mn0003009879)
## Discography
- *Love Is Love/Return to Dust* (2012, Deathwish)[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/code-orange-mn0003009879)
- *I Am King* (2014, Deathwish)[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/code-orange-mn0003009879)
- *Forever* (2017, [Roadrunner](https://www.edgepedia.org/roadrunner))[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/code-orange-mn0003009879)
- *Underneath* (2020, Roadrunner)[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/code-orange-mn0003009879)
- *What Is Really Underneath?* (2023, remix album)[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/code-orange-mn0003009879)
- *The Above* (2023, Blue Grape)[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/code-orange-mn0003009879) • [2](https://www.nme.com/reviews/album/code-orange-the-above-review-lyrics-tracklist-3504624)
## References
1. [Code Orange – Biography, Discography, Albums & Expert Reviews, AllMusic](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/code-orange-mn0003009879)
2. [Code Orange – 'The Above' review, NME](https://www.nme.com/reviews/album/code-orange-the-above-review-lyrics-tracklist-3504624)
3. [Code Orange Grammy Awards and Nominations, Grammy.com](https://www.grammy.com/artists/code-orange/189021/)
4. [Single Print Index (Code Orange, Pain Clinic, Etc.) Launch Their Debut Single "Recover The Mindset", Theprp.com](https://www.theprp.com/2026/06/11/news/single-print-index-code-orange-pain-clinic-etc-launch-their-debut-single-recover-the-mindset/)
5. [Code Orange: Forever Album Review, Pitchfork](https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/22717-forever/)
6. [Code Orange: Underneath Album Review, Pitchfork](https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/code-orange-underneath/)
7. [ALBUM REVIEW: What Is Really Underneath? – Code Orange, Distorted Sound Magazine](https://distortedsoundmag.com/album-review-what-is-really-underneath-code-orange/)
8. [Code Orange's 'The Above': The Metalcore Heroes On Their Creatively Generous New Album, Grammy.com](https://www.grammy.com/news/code-orange-new-album-the-above-interview-jami-morgan/)
9. [Code Orange news, Lambgoat](https://lambgoat.com/music/code-orange)
10. [Code Orange Singer Addresses Why Band Is 'On the Shelf', Loudwire](https://loudwire.com/code-orange-jami-morgan-addresses-2025-hiatus/)
11. [Code Orange's Jami Morgan confirms the band are "on the shelf", Kerrang!](https://www.kerrang.com/code-orange-jami-morgan-hiatus-interview-nik-nocturnal-podcast)
12. [Jami Morgan and Eric Balderose reunite with Nowhere2Run, Louder](https://www.loudersound.com/bands-artists/interviews/i-had-to-learn-to-let-go-of-the-bitterness-and-stop-being-so-one-track-minded-they-were-in-one-of-hardcores-most-boundary-pushing-modern-bands-with-code-orange-now-jami-morgan-and-eric-balderose-reunite-to-topple-the-music-industry-with-nowhere2run)
13. [Single Print Index Make Live Debut Following Code Orange Hiatus, The Mosh Network](https://themosh.net/single-print-index-live-debut-code-orange/)
14. [Code Orange – Live Tour & Concert Review Consensus, LiveRate](https://www.liverate.com/artists/code-orange)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Music › Music scenes › Transnational genre scenes › Heavy metal scenes › Artists, groups, and people: Heavy metal scenes › Modern Metal & -core › Metalcore artists*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license