Rorschach Test Joins Genitorturers Scars and Stripes Tour
Rorschach Test is not done shocking the music world yet. After dropping their critically acclaimed Fallen, their first album in decades, plus two eye-dazzling videos, one of which has been featured on MTV Live‘s Metal Thrashing Madness, Rorschach Test announce that they will continue to tour and you will never guess with whom:
James Baker explains “Going back on the road with Genitorturers fits with Rorschach Test‘s emphasis on positive mental health and fighting stigma as Gen stands for freedom of speech, and expression. The liberty that we so often take for granted is essential in creating spaces where people feel safe, understood, and validated. Regardless of my worldview, it is all pointless if someone else gets to decide what I can or can’t say, or how I am supposed to present myself to the world.”
Rorschach Test and Genitorturers “Scars and Stripes” 2025 North American Tour Dates:
4/18/25: Tampa, FL – Brass Mug
4/19/25: Orlando, FL – Conduit
4/20/25: Saint Lucie, FL – Three Tides
4/21/25: Jacksonville, FL – Jack Rabbits
4/23/25: St. Louis, MO – Red Flag
4/24/25: McHenry, IL – The Vixen
4/25/25: Detroit, MI – Smalls Bar
4/26/25: Akron, OH – The Vortex
4/27/25: Cincinnati, OH – Woodward Theatre
4/29/25: Rochester, NY – Photo City Music Hall
4/30/25: Hamden, CT – Space Ballroom
5/1/25: New Bedford, MA – The Vault
5/4/25: Raleigh, NC – Chapel of Bones
“Rorschach Test is coming back home to a place where it all started to happen for us nearly three decades ago. Gen Vincent took a chance and rolled the dice on us and the chemistry was immediately apparent to audiences across the country. She has done this with many bands and artists, including Marilyn Manson, long before they became a household name. The influence that Genitorturers has had on the entire scene is undeniable and profound. Despite their controversial and X-rated reputation, Genitorturers were one of the most kind, generous, and down to earth bands we ever shared the stage with. One night in New Orleans during the ‘Sin City’ tour, our keyboards were dead, having taken a hit from a storm that swept flood waters into the venue the night before in Houston. Gen could see that we were stressing out about this, and she immediately came over and asked what kind of keyboards we used. We told her, and she quickly made a phone call that we could all hear. ‘Trent, it’s Gen. Do you have a Roland Juno keyboard over there? Great, I need one. I will send my friend over there to pick it up.’ A few moments later our keyboardist was on his way to Trent Reznor’s New Orleans home to borrow some keys from him.” – James Baker
About Rorschach Test:
Founder James Baker’s musical origins started in the church, with his natural musical ability standing out through the weekly ritual of hymns and gospel. Rock music was off limits in his youth, sparking his initial rebellion against tradition while he pursued his desire for rock and roll. He learned guitar and continued to sing, this time in a drastically different style than that of his church upbringing, leading to Rorschach Test’s well-known debut on Slipdisc/Mercury Records, 1998’s Unclean. Compared to the radical rumors and tales of his rebellious past, James Baker has come full circle in embracing his identity as a person of faith, extending to his time spent the past several years as a hospice chaplain. Rather than looking back in history, he focuses on the present, and carries his own journey as a source of inspiration for himself and others through his work with the non-profit record label of his own creation, Unlabeled Artists, empowering underserved communities to support themselves through their art.
James Baker knew at first visit that Full Well Recording Studio was the ideal creative space, with an array of analog and traditional and vintage consoles, instruments, and equipment available for owner Mike Bolenbach (best known for Alice Cooper’s Welcome 2 My Nightmare) to produce the most authentic recordings of Rorschach Test, with the true integrity of a human touch. Kolby, whose musical background includes a stint as the guitarist of CO-OP with Dash Cooper, co-produced alongside Mike Bolenbach.
Rorschach Test re-emerged in May of 2024 with a new line-up and new single in tow, “Fallen” (the title track from the new album which dropped October 31st), and celebrated National Goth Day with a video premiere at Outburn. Next up was “Belated” which premiered at Revolver on August 2nd.
Lyric inspirations are the result of growth and transformation, unapologetically addressing dark and difficult topics of realistic issues, negative archetypes, and struggles of humanity. Doing so through the lens of metal serves to address the darkest of sounds and subjects, understanding and embracing the shadows of life, inspiring freedom from them in the process.
In 2024, after a long, hard battle, the United States Copyright Office ruled in Rorschach Test‘s founder James Baker‘s favor, and granted him the copyright on the original version of the iconic industrial ’90’s album Unclean. It was remastered and released on Friday, December 13th.
Unclean is characterized by its bold, uncompromising themes, searing guitar riffs, heavy industrial beats, and intense, raw vocals. Songs like “Satan” and “Sex” exemplify the band’s ability to push boundaries, while other tracks delve into themes of rebellion, spiritual conflict, and the darker facets of the human experience. The intricate programming of Troy Kerr is accented by the ethereal gothic guitar layers provided by Benjamin Anderson (Walking Papers, Missionary Position, Geoff Tate Orchestra). Altogether, Unclean has been widely acclaimed as the perfect alchemy of Industrial, Metal, and Gothic genres. Founder/Frontman James Baker recalls “It was very interesting touring on this album. I would look out at the crowd and see steampunks next to Slayer fans, next to ghost white vampire children. Each was there for their own reason, but all were there for the songs.”
Unclean remains a key release in Rorschach Test’s discography, and in the history of Industrial music, showcasing the band’s creativity and their willingness to challenge convention. James Baker says “Although there are dozens of reviews touting the praise of Unclean, I prefer to listen to my fanbase on what the album means to them…The overwhelming response is that the album made them feel heard, understood, and connected. We had many fans write us and tell us that they struggled with suicidal ideation, and that Unclean basically saved their lives.”
Get both Unclean and Fallen here.
