Autoclave

2025年10月16日2026年9月9日

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Overview

Autoclave was an American indie rock band based in Washington, D.C. Formed in the summer of 1990, the group featured Christina Billotte on vocals and bass, Mary Timony on lead guitar, Nikki Chapman on guitar, and Melissa Berkoff on drums. The band released music through Dischord Records and associated labels.

Formation

Billotte and Berkoff began playing together in the Washington, D.C. band Hazmat in 1989. They later joined Chapman and Timony to form Autoclave.

Releases and breakup

In 1991, Autoclave released the seven-inch EP Go Far through DisKord, a joint release by Dischord Records and Olympia, Washington’s K Records. Before splitting up, the group also recorded a ten-inch self-titled EP, issued in 1992 by Mira Records, Billotte’s label, and Dischord Records. Autoclave broke up in May 1991.

Musical approach

The band became known for songwriting that used compound and changing meters. Those features led to Autoclave being associated with the developing math rock movement. Writing in The New York Times, Elisabeth Vincentelli identified Go Far as an essential riot grrrl release and praised the later compilation for its unusual rhythms and elliptical lyrics.

After Autoclave

After the breakup, Timony formed Helium in Boston. She later released solo records and played in Wild Flag and Ex Hex. Billotte formed Slant 6 in Washington, D.C., followed by Quix*o*tic and The Casual Dots.

Discography

Go Far — seven-inch EP (1991, DisKord/Dischord and K Records)
Autoclave — ten-inch EP (1992, Mira/Dischord)
Autoclave — compilation (1997, Mira/Dischord)

The 1997 compilation collects the songs from both EPs plus two additional tracks. It was reissued on CD in 2002 and remastered for a vinyl reissue with a different running order in 2019. Autoclave also appeared on the 1994 compilation The Machines: 1990–1993.

Sources

This article is based on the verified English Wikipedia article “Autoclave (band)” and the MusicBrainz artist record reached through the band’s Wikidata P434 identifier. Sections unsupported by the verified material have been omitted.