Rorschach is an American hardcore punk band from New Jersey, United States, that existed from 1989 to 1993 and again from 2009 to 2012. Their typical blend of hardcore with dissonant heavy metal elements provided an inspiration to many later hardcore and post-hardcore bands.
The first release by the band, Remain Sedate, shows the band's sound at a stage when they played fast, heavy hardcore with a metal slant and raspy hardcore vocals. At this time they also drew heavy comparisons to Die Kreuzen for their bizarre chord progressions and Charles Maggio's unearthly howl. However, as the band progressed, they developed a slower, more sinister, sludge sound that was influenced by New York band Swans. Additionally, the vocals developed into high-pitched, tortured screaming rather than shouting, due in part to voice problems Maggio was experiencing at the time. This change in sound can be heard primarily on their second full-length release, Protestant. Shortly after issuing this album, the group disbanded, some members eventually joining Deadguy and Kiss It Goodbye.
Rorschach has performed occasional reunion shows from 2009 through 2012.
Decibel magazine inducted Protestant into their Hall of Fame.
The Rorschach song "Pavlov's Dogs" is depicted in the 2012 film Zero Dark Thirty as being used to torture suspected terrorists.