Scorpion Child

Scorpion Child

Scorpion Child is a hard rock group from Austin, United States, active since 2006. The band is also known as “The Child” and is made up of Aryn Jonathan Black on vocals, Christopher Jay Cowart on lead guitar, Tom “The Mole” Frank on rhythm guitar, Shaun Avants on bass and Shawn Alvear on drums.

Sound and influences

The group is associated with classic rock, hard rock, rock and stoner rock. Its music is also described as drawing on early 1970s Krautrock and psychedelic rock, filtered through a modern heavy metal sound. The band cites influences including Rainbow, Pentagram and Lucifer’s Friend.

Albums and chart activity

Scorpion Child is signed to Nuclear Blast Entertainment. The group releases its self-titled debut album in 2013, produced, recorded and arranged by Chris “Frenchie” Smith. That album reaches number 26 on the Billboard Heatseekers chart and number 99 on the Hard Music Album chart. The single “Polygon of Eyes” is named iTunes Single of the Week for one week in June 2013.

Recognition and live appearances

In 2013, Scorpion Child is nominated for Best New Band at Classic Rock Magazine’s Classic Rock Roll of Honour. The band also performs at South by Southwest, Rock on the Range, Rocklahoma, Mayhem Festival on the Sumerian Records stage, and Shiprocked.

Critical comparisons

The band is compared to classic hard rock acts such as Deep Purple, Rainbow and Fastway, and Aryn Jonathan Black is noted for a vocal style that recalls Robert Plant.