ORGIYA PRAVEDNIKOV

Although they have brought in additional brass and keyboard players, as well as the usual cello, they haven't diluted their sound or approach and again have produced an incredibly strong work. The failings from the previous album have been addressed and again we have a band that is firing on all cylinders as they move through multiple styles of music, often bringing ethnic folk and metal crashing into pronk and opera to create something that is so very different indeed to everything else that is around. This is music that truly is progressing, refusing to conform to what anyone may feel should be performed, and truly tramples boundaries and barriers as they continue to follow their own path and delight those who manage to discover their music. Russian progressive music continues to excite and delight as it contains so many different influences, none of the normal Genesis or Yes clones here, as although there may be times when they sound as if they have been affected by King Crimson or VDGG is it more that the Western ear is trying to work out what on earth is going on! Orgy of the Righteous are one of the most impressive bands I have heard in recent years, and their whole canon is worth investigating, although I would probably start with the live album and their second release 'Doors! Doors!' and then move onto the rest.

The crowd really get into proceedings, singing along with the songs, shouting for the band and genuinely having a great time, and it certainly seems as if the band was as well. Russian Cardiacs playing folk metal with no respect for people think that prog music should be like? Maybe? This is music that is so far out of the mainstream that it almost comes back on itself, and I have found that of all their albums this is the one to which I keep returning as there is such a pervading feeling of unity and oneness. Over recent years I have been lucky enough to discover some great bands coming out of Russia, and these guys are certainly one of the very finest and this is a superb album that is well worth investigating.

Three of the songs are less than four minutes in length, while the last is in excess of ten, and it is this that shows just what this band are really capable of. There are times when it feels like modern opera, with over the top baritone male vocals and a female soprano who has been multi-tracked to sound like a choir, all with robust folk metal accompaniment underneath. This feels much like a return to form than their previous album, as there is no longer a sense of parody and instead here is a band determined to carry through their vision.

It is their least balanced album, and consequently their least successful to my ears, which is a shame as when they get it right as with the trumpet on "The Catcher In The Rye", then their ideas and approach definitely shine. Certainly one of the most interesting bands to come out of Russia, this is not the album to start with when investigating their canon but one to turn to having already come to terms with their music.

Of course, the number which follows sounds as if it has been heavily influenced by Oriental music, as if they are attempting to bring Chinese and Tibetan styles and cultures into the rock scene. In some ways it is as if three totally different bands recorded the first songs on the album, and that it is a compilation of various artists as opposed to one group. Vocally the song also is quite different to the previous, and with the lyrics in Russian it is impossible for the Westerner to understand what is going on, and the only way to truly get into this album is to let go of all preconceived ideas and just go with the flow. I have been incredibly impressed with all their albums, and this is yet another that I highly recommend. Their catalogue has been made digitally available through Progshine, and are all well worth investigating.

There is also a very long song on the album, at more than eighteen minutes, which for a large part is acoustic, with the cello taking a lead role at times. It is mostly acoustic, and incredibly dramatic, using minor chords and clashing instruments to create quite a feeling of disquiet during certain sections. But the fifth number is metallic Cardiacs on steroids, which doesn't sound like anything else that has gone before. The brain decided it was safer not to get involved, leaving the ears to process the music and letting the mouth smile (trying not to dribble). This album is even more varied, complex and insane than the debut, and when death-style vocals start being used it really is time to give up.

Needless to say, I love this, and believe that Progshine are doing us all a favour by making the band's catalogue more readily available. I just need to coax my brain back so that I can spend time listening to the rest. Superb.

This is their debut album released in 2001, and translates (I think) to 'Catchumens Depart'. Imagine you will, a folk album that includes elements of music from the middle east, Asia and eastern Europe, with delicate acoustic guitar, lulling vocals and gentle percussion. Then imagine an album that features a heavier version of Cardiacs, with some death metal growls and heavy riffs that feature djent among other styles. Add to this Russian lyrics, and then try to combine that in your head, and possibly you may be able to understand just what this album is like. Seriously, there are so many things going on that it just doesn't make sense, and in the end the brain stops attempting to make the band fit into any type of musical box, and instead goes with the flow. It is at this point that one realises that while Orgiya Pravednikov are pretty much in a genre that contains just them, it actually follows some sort of twisted logic.

I don't think I have ever heard an album quite like this, and while Cardiacs are the only band that comes close to them, even that isn't really accurate. Reissued digitally by Progshine, this is definitely worth investigating.

This isn't exactly a staple of russian prog - a genre not quite booming, I'm afraid. But it could of some interest for those interested how rock sounds with a russian flavor. Not the silly balalaikas and gypsies stuff, but with an existential bent.

The last studio album by the band (Dlya Teh, Kto Vidit Sny Vol.1 - Для тех, кто видит сны. Vol.1) was a bit of a different step from their previous three albums and the EP Шитрок (Shitrock) was just but a taste. The fact is, the live album I review now shows exactly this change of sound.

Вперед и вверх ? Vpered I Vverkh (2014) ? meaning Onward And Upward ? was recorded in 2010 in the release concert of Dlya Teh, Kto Vidit Sny Vol.1 (2010) and it comes in a beautiful (as every of their albums) cardboard/papersleeve box with 2 CDs and a DVD, the art emulates the artwork of that studio album too.

To say that Orgia Pravednikov is an extremely competent band is being redundant. The professional side of things, like the execution of the songs, are just perfect and even the overall feeling of the concert can be felt through the audio of the CDs and later on confirmed on the DVD. The band in this concert, as it could not be different, plays Dlya Teh, Kto Vidit Sny Vol.1 (2010) in its entirety in the CD 1 of this live release. Just the order of the songs are a bit different here (to be honest didn't understand why). My favorite tracks on this first disc are 'The Catcher In The Rye', 'По тонкому льду' (Po Tonkomu l'du), 'Дорога ворона' (Doroga Vorona) and especially the fantastic 'Гимн' (Gimn). Another track from the CD 1 that is a surprise is 'Скименъ' (Skimen) because of its aggressive feeling but at the same time full of flutes, also the closing track on the CD 1 'Школа Мудрости' (Shkola Mudrosti) is a great track, upbeat and a perfect ending!

In the CD 2 we have the classic tracks of the other Orgia Pravednikov albums, we have 'Офис' (Ofis), 'Das Boot' and 'Армагеддон FM' (Armageddon FM) from the album Уходящее солнце - Ukhodyashcheye Solntse (2007) and 'Туркестанский экспресс' (Turkestanskiy Ekspress) from the debut album Оглашенные изыдите - Oglashennyye Izydite (2001). We also have a track that would be recorded only 2 years later on the EP Шитрок ? Shitrock (2012). Oddly we don't have any songs from their second studio album, the experimental Двери! Двери! ? Dveri! Dveri! (2005).

In the DVD we can see very clearly what a concert of the band is all about, not to mention that the video/audio are from excellent quality, redeeming the band from the medium quality of their previous DVD Солнцестояние ? Solntsestoyaniye (2008).

Вперед и вверх ? Vpered I Vverkh (2014) for sure closes a cycle for Orgia Pravednikov and we can see that they're pointing to new directions with their music and, to be honest, I hardly can wait for their next studio album!

Вперед и вверх ? Vpered I Vverkh (2014) is simply essential for the fans of the band and it's a perfect introduction to the new ones. If you like music that don't see any problem in not being labeled and if you like to know new quality music I can highly recommend this album for you!

Superb!

(Originally posted on progshine.net)