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Horrid Hydrangeas
Also known as	Lost Dreams (2024)
Origin	Galway, Ireland
Genres	Alternative metal heavy metal gothic rock thrash metal death metal
Years active	2024-present
Spinoffs	The Orion Pact Obscene
Members	Andrew Brotherton Markó Sukhyi Aaron Walsh Christian Tuohy
Past members	Sophia DeBrunner Mateusz Krynicki

Horrid Hydrangeas is an Irish alternative metal band from Galway. Founded in May 2024 by frontman Andrew Brotherton on lead vocals and his then-girlfriend Sophia DeBrunner on keyboards and piano. Originally envisioned as a solo project, it would settle on its current four piece arrangement in late 2024, made up of Brotherton (Lead vocals, bass guitar), Christian Tuohy (Lead guitar), Markó Sukhyi (Rhythm guitar, backing/co-lead vocals), and Aaron Walsh (Drums and percussion).

History

Foundation

Andrew Brotherton took a interest in becoming a musician around October 2023. Inspired by Nirvana and Foo Fighters, Brotherton originally wished to become a drummer. When telling his parents of his aspirations, they instead persuaded him to get an acoustic guitar instead.

Brotherton would form Horrid Hydrangeas on 12 May 2024, originally as Lost Dreams as lead vocalist. Envisioned as a solo project, Brotherton would add his then girlfriend Sophia DeBrunner as its second member, playing keyboards and piano.

Soon, the search for a guitarist, bassist and drummer began. Mateusz "Mathew" Krynicki, a friend of Brotherton and former frontman of the dissolved Sockborn, was added as initially sole guitarist in June. As the search for a drummer continued, Brotherton decided against a dedicated bass guitarist and instead decided once he got a bass he would take on the role. Ideas for the band were also circulating around this time.

July - December

After Brotherton and DeBrunner broke up in July that year, she would amicably leave the band. The announcement of her leaving mentioned the band becoming a three piece of a bassist/vocalist, guitarist and drummer, soon this would be disregarded.

On 13 July, Markó Sukhyi joined the band as a second guitarist, assuming rhythm guitar duties previously done by Krynicki, now lead guitarist. Brotherton would eventually acquire a bass guitar in August, now able to perform his duties as bassist of the group. Markó Sukhyi was also given responsibility of backing and co-lead vocalist of the band the same month.

After two unsuccessful attempts at recruiting a drummer, Sukhyi offered to quit guitar and do drums. Reluctant, Brotherton instead asked his friend Aaron Walsh, who had recently developed an interest in drums, if he’d be willing to learn them and join Horrid Hydrangeas. Agreeing to this, Walsh would begin his look at drums, eventually deciding on electric drums. Sukhyi would take on additional duties as keyboardist in October as well.

That same month, Brotherton would start a side project entitled The Orion Pact, which is largely an electronic and experimental project based around his previous love of electronic and house music. He started this whilst staying as frontman of Horrid Hydrangeas. Progress on songs for a demo would continue throughout October and November.

Obscene was formed by lead guitarist Mathew Krynicki for his school talent show with other students in the school. In December, Walsh began learning drums, fully becoming an official member of the band as its fourth member. Krynicki would assume backing vocals as well, and Adam Nagajek, drummer of TaLLLon, was brought on as a touring musician.

December - present

Following a supposed rift between Brotherton and Krynicki, largely over the latter refusing to communicate with the rest of the band for over a week, Brotherton alongside the rest of the band made the decision to kick Krynicki out of the band. He was replaced as lead guitarist by Christian Tuohy, a friend of Brotherton’s. Following Tuohy’s addition, the band added a more experimental and open style to their already heavy metal-filled sound.

Musical style and influences

Horrid Hydrangeas is primarily an alternative metal band, which takes influences from thrash metal, death metal, black metal, Viking metal, gothic rock, progressive metal, and other heavy metal and rock genres. Bassist Brotherton and lead guitarist Tuohy are the primary songwriters, with Brotherton also being the primary lyricist. The dual-vocal harmonisation of Brotherton and rhythm guitarist Markó Sukhyi is directly inspired by that of Layne Staley and Jerry Cantrell, both of Alice in Chains.

Bands and individuals cited as influences or inspirations include Deftones, The Smashing Pumpkins, Linkin Park, Bathory, Tool, Motörhead, Foo Fighters, Soundgarden, Alice in Chains, Jimi Hendrix, Metallica, Megadeth, [[Slayer (band)|Slayer], Darkthrone, Stone Temple Pilots, Pantera, Death, System of a Down, Rage Against the Machine, Slowdive, My Bloody Valentine, Cocteau Twins, The Cure, and the Red Hot Chilli Peppers.

Band members

Current

• Andrew Brotherton - Lead vocals, bass guitar, six string bass (2024–present)
• Christian Tuohy - Lead guitar (2024–present)
• Markó Sukhyi - Rhythm guitar, backing and co-lead vocals (2024–present); Keyboards (2024)
• Aaron Walsh - Drums, percussion (2024–present; intermittent touring since 2024)

Touring members

• Adam Nagajek - Drums, percussion (2024-present)

Former

• Sophia DeBrunner - Keyboards, backing vocals (2024)
• Mateusz "Mathew" Krynicki - Lead guitar, backing vocals (2024): Rhythm guitar (2024)

Timeline

Line-ups

Period	Members	Studio releases
12 May - 7 June 2024 (as Lost Dreams)	Andrew Brotherton – Lead vocals Sophia DeBrunner – Keyboards, piano, backing vocals	none – rehearsals only
7 June - 4 July 2024	Andrew Brotherton – Lead vocals Sophia DeBrunner – Keyboards, piano, backing vocals Mateusz Krynicki - Lead & rhythm guitars
4 - 13 July 2024	Andrew Brotherton – Lead vocals, bass guitar Mateusz Krynicki – Lead & rhythm guitars
13 July - 25 August 2024	Andrew Brotherton – Lead vocals, bass guitar Mateusz Krynicki - Lead guitar Markó Sukhyi - Rhythm guitar, backing vocals
25 August - 23 October 2024	Andrew Brotherton – Lead vocals, bass guitar Mateusz Krynicki - Lead guitar Markó Sukhyi - Rhythm guitar, backing and co-lead vocals
23 October - 25 December 2024	Andrew Brotherton – Lead vocals, bass guitar, six string bass Mateusz Krynicki - Lead guitar, backing vocals Markó Sukhyi - Rhythm guitar, backing and co-lead vocals, keyboards Aaron Walsh - Drums, percussion
25 December 2024 - present	Andrew Brotherton – Lead vocals, bass guitar, six string bass Christian Tuohy - Lead guitar Markó Sukhyi - Rhythm guitar, backing and co-lead vocals Aaron Walsh - Drums, percussion

The Orion Pact

The Orion Pact
Also known as	Orion Pact
Origin	Galway, Ireland
Genres	Electronic rock electronica art rock experimental rock dream pop disco industrial rock
Years active	2024-present
Spinoff of	Horrid Hydrangeas
Members	Andrew Brotherton

The Orion Pact (or Orion Pact for short) is the electronic and experimental side project of Andrew Brotherton. Started in October 2024, the Orion Pact is consists permanently of Brotherton, who is joined in studio and live by collaborators, similar to to artists such as Nine Inch Nails and Puscifer. The Orion Pact focuses primarily on electronic music, with emphasis on artistic expression than the alternative metal style seen in Horrid Hydrangeas.

Musical style and influences

The Orion Pact is described by Brotherton as an electronic-experimental project, inspired by Daft Punk, Radiohead, The Prodigy, and Linkin Park (specifically their albums A Thousand Suns and Living Things). As opposed to the alternative metal and grunge influences of Horrid Hydrangeas, The Orion Pact embraces sampling, drum machines, vocoders, and other electronic instruments. In studio, Brotherton is the only permanent member, with collaborators being invited on a session and live basis.

Members

Permanent

• Andrew Brotherton - Vocals, guitar, bass, drum machine, vocoder, sampling (2024–present)