Scorpion Child

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = Scorpion Child

| image = W1913-Hellfest2014 ScorpionChild 87438.JPG

| caption = Scorpion Child at Hellfest 2014.

| image_size = 250px

| genre = Hard rock, psychedelic rock, blues rock, heavy metal{{cite web | author = Monger, James Christopher | title = Scorpion Child | publisher = AllMusic | accessdate = March 8, 2016 | url = http://www.allmusic.com/artist/scorpion-child-mn0002420769/biography}}

| years_active = 2006–present

| label = N/A

| current_members = Aryn Jonathan Black
Asa Savage
Ryan Henderson
Garth D. Condit
Adrian Arostone

| past_members = Shawn Alvear
Shaun Avants
Chris Cowart
Jeremy Cruz
Tom Frank
Chris Hodge
Alec Padron
Jon Rice
Erick Sanger
AJ Vincent
Jonas Wikstrand

}}

Scorpion Child is an American rock band from Austin, Texas, active sporadically since 2006. Singer Aryn Jonathan Black has been the group's only consistent member. Their music has been compared to Led Zeppelin, Uriah Heep, Rainbow, and Black Sabbath,{{cite web |title=Scorpion Child:Biography |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/scorpion-child-mn0002420769/biography |publisher=AllMusic}} and the band has cited Pentagram, Lucifer's Friend, The Sisters of Mercy, and Bauhaus as influences.{{cite web |title=Scorpion Child |url=http://www.nuclearblast.com/en/music/band/discography/details/2992759.2872661.scorpion-child.html |accessdate=26 April 2018 |publisher=Nuclear Blast America}}

History

Scorpion Child was formed in 2006 as an acoustic duo, consisting of Aryn Jonathan Black and guitarist Asa Savage. The band's name came from a song by the English rock band The Cult. They signed with the Nuclear Blast label and worked with Grammy-nominated producer Chris “Frenchie” Smith on their first two albums.{{cite web|title=Chris "Frenchie" Smith: Credits|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/chris-frenchie-smith-mn0000139021|publisher=AllMusic|accessdate=26 April 2018}}

Savage departed in 2010 and Black expanded the lineup. Scorpion Child released their self-titled debut album in June 2013, featuring a lineup of Black, lead guitarist Chris Cowart, rhythm guitarist Tom Frank, bassist Shaun Avants, and drummer Shawn Alvear; with contributions from previous guitarist Chris Hodge. One reviewer described Scorpion Child as "a heavy-riffing behemoth that takes the current glut of guitar-slinging retro-copyists and punches them through the pavement."{{cite web|last1=Milas|first1=Alexander|title=Scorpion Child: Scorpion Child|date=25 June 2013 |url=https://www.loudersound.com/reviews/scorpion-child-scorpion-child|publisher=Louder Magazine|accessdate=26 April 2018}} The album reached #31 on the Billboard Heatseekers chart.{{cite web|title=Scorpion Child|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/scorpion-child|publisher=Billboard|accessdate=26 April 2018}}{{cite web|title=SCORPION CHILD DEBUTS ON TWO BILLBOARD CHARTS|url=http://www.nuclearblast.com/en/music/band/news/details/3074994.2872661.scorpion-child-debuts-on-two-billboard-charts.html|publisher=Nuclear Blast|accessdate=3 July 2013}} The song "Polygon of Eyes" was featured as the iTunes single of the week in June 2013.{{cite web|title=Scorpion Child's "Polygon Of Eyes" Featured as iTunes Single of the Week|url=http://screamermagazine.com/press-releases/scorpion-childs-polygon-of-eyes-featured-as-itunes-single-of-the-week/|publisher=Screamer Magazine|accessdate=26 April 2018|date=June 26, 2013}}

Frank, Avants, and Alvear all left the band in 2014. Jon “The Charn” Rice, previously of the death metal band Job for a Cowboy, joined on drums and Alec Padron joined on bass. Instead of recruiting a new rhythm guitarist, the band added keyboardist AJ Vincent in early 2015.{{cite web|title=SCORPION CHILD Recruits Former JOB FOR A COWBOY Drummer JON 'CHARN' RICE|date=5 February 2014 |url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/scorpion-child-recruits-former-job-for-a-cowboy-drummer-jon-charn-rice/#u8XC4JfD1sAfbbr3.99|publisher=Blabbermouth|accessdate=6 February 2014}} This lineup released the album Acid Roulette in June 2016. The album was noted for being heavier and more progressive than its predecessor, thanks to the strengths of the new lineup,{{cite web|last1=Munro|first1=Scott|title=Scorpion Child Have 'Found a Way Out of 70s Purism'|url=https://www.loudersound.com/news/scorpion-child-have-found-a-way-out-of-70s-purism|publisher=Classic Rock Magazine|accessdate=26 April 2018|date=June 9, 2016}} while one reviewer noted the album's "Lizzy-meets-Maiden riffage."{{cite web|last1=Sleazegrinder|title=Scorpion Child: Acid Roulette|url=https://www.loudersound.com/reviews/scorpion-child-acid-roulette|publisher=Classic Rock Magazine|accessdate=26 April 2018|date=May 13, 2016}} Acid Roulette reached #19 on the Billboard Heatseekers chart.

Scorpion Child went on hiatus in mid-2017. Drummer Jon Rice left the band and joined Uncle Acid & the Deadbeats.{{cite web|last1=DiVita|first1=Joe|title=Behemoth Recruit Ex-Job for a Cowboy Drummer as Inferno's Fill-In on North American Slayer Tour|url=http://loudwire.com/behemoth-job-for-a-cowboy-drummer-inferno-fill-in-slayer-tour/|publisher=Loudwire|accessdate=26 April 2018|date=July 8, 2017}}{{cite web|last1=Rosenberg|first1=Axl|title=Drummer Jon "Charn" Rice (Job for a Cowboy, The Red Chord, Scorpion Child, etc.) Joins Skeletonwitch|url=http://www.metalsucks.net/2018/03/05/drummer-jon-charn-rice-job-for-a-cowboy-the-red-chord-scorpion-child-etc-joins-skeletonwitch/|publisher=MetalSucks|accessdate=26 April 2018|date=March 5, 2018}} Bassist Alec Padron and keyboardist AJ Vincent also departed during this period. In late 2018, Black and Cowart reformed the band with former guitarist Asa Savage and former drummer Shawn Alvear, plus new bassist Garth D. Condit. This lineup partially completed a new album. In February 2020, the band announced on social media that they had broken up the previous year. In 2021 the band reformed yet again with Black, Savage, and Condit joined by new members Adrian Arostone on guitar and Jonas Wikstrand on drums (formerly of Swedish band Enforcer). The drummer position was then filled by Ryan Henderson. Their third album I Saw the End As It Passed Right Through Me, which adds influences from dark wave and post punk

to the band's hard rock

sound, was released on February 14, 2025.{{Cite web |date=19 November 2024 |title=SCORPION CHILD To Release New Album In February |url=https://metalkaoz.com/metal-news/31110-scorpion-child-to-release-new-album-in-february |access-date=2024-11-30 |website=metalkaoz.com}}{{Cite web |last=Hernandez |first=Raoul |date=2025-02-13 |title=Scorpion Child debuts New LP, 'I Saw the End As It Passed Right Through Me', Discuss "HIM and Sisters of Mercy trying to play Judas Priest’ Sound of New LP" |url=https://www.decibelmagazine.com/2025/02/13/scorpion-child-debut-new-lp-i-saw-the-end-as-it-passed-right-through-me/ |access-date=2025-02-15 |website=Decibel Magazine |language=en-US}}