I know, the name Orkrist reminds you of something distasteful but you don't know what. Well I do. Is it yellow ochre, that disgusting color that your baby used to leave in the bottom of his or her disposable diaper when he or she had diarrhea? Or how about Okra, that disgusting vegetable that's right up there with Eggplant and Brussel Sprouts for things I'd least like to eat.
But we are bigger than that, aren't we? AREN'T WE? We don't judge a band by it's name right? If we did the Beatles would only have been something we get the bug spray out for and Oingo Boingo and Garbage wouldn't even have had their 15 minutes of fame.
Now I'll admit, that if I were going to give Orkrist some advice, I would suggest they change their name but I wouldn't tell them to change their music! No sir, not a bit. They're music is perfect, so read on.
I've been writing reviews, music reviews, for 15 months now and I don't think I've ever used the term magical in any of my previous reviews. Not that I couldn't. Green Carnation was certainly magical in their masterpiece, Light of Day, Day of Darkness and Therion has certainly has many magical moments in their many great albums (of which I've only reviewed Theli to date) but for some reason the term Magical keeps popping into my brain when I think of Reginae Mysterium
Orkrist
If you have followed my reviewing tendencies in the past then you probably know that I have a proclivity for writing mostly about unheard of obscure bands of foreign lands. I do this because of two reasons. I love the music. I don't write on foreign music I don't like, why bother, why warn you off of something you never heard of and probably never would have unless you read my review. Which is the second reason. Unless you've heard of Orkrist somewhere else, my review the the only chance you're going to know this music even exists.
I know there is plenty of American music to keep you occupied and I like a lot of the American music as well but much of this import music is just different enough and oh, so interesting that I think mainstream America is missing something worthwhile.
Orkrist is such a group. What could be more obscure than hailing from Bratslavia, Slovakia, as in the other half of Czechoslovakia. This is the only band I have heard of from Slovakia, but Slovakia borders Poland which has many great bands, especially Femme - metal bands but Orkrist's Music is different. It's kind of like Nightwish meets The Sins of thy Beloved and produced by Therion with a little Samael thrown in.
Yes, they have a very good lady singer, named Lydia and they also have some raspy male vox, but the thing with Orkcrist is the music. It is MAGICAL. This has nothing to do with frogs tongues and Bats wings, the reason I think of the word magical with these guys is because they do every thing right. Their compositions, their arrangements, their timing, the many varied instruments, and their knack for doing next, what the music seems to crying out for, it's MAGICAL. At least to my ears.
What exactly is Orkrist's Music
Orkrist's music is fast and slow, it's lush, symphonic almost bombastic. There is an underlining musical theme which is in most of the songs. There are eleven songs, of which none are unique to each other, rather they seem to build upon each other in tandem reminiscent of a sound track for a wonderful epic movie. Orkrist whether naturally or though a synth uses a plethora of instruments, many ancient, which seems to fit the style which has Celtic to Medieval influences.
True, If I had my druthers, I would have the band drop the raspy male vocals but in all honesty, it doesn't sound bad in this Medieval / Operatic context.
If I were to assign a sub-genre term to this music I think I would call it Melodic / Symphonic, Renaissance Metal or MSRM for short.
NOCTURNAL RITE
"Is it me or just a nightshade
Crowling on the ground,
That prevents my walk
In the underground
I have heard perhaps the voices
Whispering spot apart
My name through the wind
Like undesired forecast
Faerytales of darkness embracing my soul,
Black curtain fall hopeless in bloody overture
Sillhouets end dancing before the queen comes through
And so spring the impulse to their nocturnal rite"
The current line-up:
Crom -synthesizer/vox
Lydia - female voice/flute
Khayo - guitars
Pyros - drums
Reginae Mysterium CD'02 (lyrics)
1. Apron - Legio Diabolica
2. Nocturnal Rite
3. Orkrist
4. The Ancient War Spirit
5. Sword And Sorcery
6. Euthymia
7. Justice The Beauty
8. Desire In The Grace Of The Night
9. Reginae Mysterium
10. Mourning Of A Rose
11. Epilogue
MOURNING OF A ROSE
"Come, hear me, my cry
Come, hear my desires
in deed of delight
He always rised
(when) dark comes the night
(And nothing stops
My love
Is still so hopeless
Like a beast that feels so lonely
For the scattered rose from my blessed own
So pay now steady with your love)
Where is my love
Where is my heart
(when) fear left inside
Tears in your eyes
Slay nails in my heart
(And I'm so hopeless"
Normally I would give a little synopsis of the various songs but since the songs are similar anr seem to blend with each other I will just give a few highlights. All songs are very good to excellent and I will touch on the excellent songs.
"Apron - Legio Diabolica", the 1:30 introduction is all instrumental and sounds orchestral. This piece cotains bells, xylaphones? a harpsicord and other unknown instruments.
"Nocturnal Rite", is a variable paced number, starts with raspy vocals but is soon joined by Lydia. This song is not paricularly symphonic, more guitar work, and the faster portions have a nice beat.
"The Ancient War Spirit" The orchestra? is back along with a wind, a kettle drum, and flute in this 5:45 number. Another highly variable paced with too many different instruments to count. Lots of action in this piece.
"Sword And Sorcery", this song could have been done by Blackmore's Night with Lydia sounding a lot like Cadence Night and many Medieval instrumental, influences.
"Euthymia", this is a 4:37 minute epic symphonic instrumental with everything from flutes to violins.
"Desire In The Grace Of The Night" my favorite, a magnificent 6:13 piece with raspy and clean vocals echoed Lydia's background vocals and augmented by medium fast paced angelic symphonic music.
"Reginae Mysterium", this could be a love theme from a historical movie like Braveheart
"Mourning Of A Rose", I know I said a few highlights and I did all the songs, I can't help it they're all highlights and "mourning of a Rose" is the last song, another patently beautiful song with Lydia and all the goodies.
Biography
For those of you that are dying to learn more about this wonderful band, here is a history provided by the band on their website. If you read it you'll notice their English is a little rusty:
"The band was founded in june 2000 by Crom - after he left the bands MEAN GEIMHRIDH and SINE NOMINE (do not exist today). The main reason to ground an own-band was the ambition to realize his own musical ideas and visions, that were not the same as he played in the two named bands. The first members, who took up his quarrel, were the SINE...-members: guitarist Khayo, the drummer Martin and female singer Lenka. After first live performances came it to some changes in the line-up, and the new members that joined ORKRIST were: female singer Lydia (exCRUSADER), bassist Kabi (exSINE...) and Pyros (also plays in the band MISTWARD) on drums."
"ORKRIST plays melodic black / doom / heavy metal with medieval elements, influenced by bands like THERION, NIGHTWISH, SUMMONING, PAZUZU, MYSTIC CIRCLE, CRADLE OF FILTH, HECATE ENTHRONED, THEATRE OF TRAGEDY,... The music is based on catching melodies and the junction of brutality and romantic themes. The band took part on many concerts for example with: AGATHODAIMON, ANCIENT, ANCIENT CEREMONY, BEHEMOTH, EVER EVE, MYSTERIUM, HYPNOS, ROOT, ... and many slovak/czech bands."
I usually some quotes from other reviewers to back up what I'm telling you but alas, there are no reviews in English,(that's obscure, folks) so I'm sorry, this time, you just have to trust me on this.
Orkrists websie link is below:
http://orkrist.nfo.sk/main.htm
http://orkrist.nfo.sk/pics/banska03.htm
http://orkrist.nfo.sk/pics/brno04.htm
Would I like this Music
You probably would if you meet one or more of the following critria:
You like beautiful orchestral and sound track type music.
You like Therion, Nightwish, Blackmore's Night or Loreena McKinnett
You like some of the B & B groups ie. Tristania, Haggard, TSOTB, early TOT, Penumbra or Sirenia
You like music where everything comes together perfectly in place, just like you'd expect it.
AUTHOR'S NOTES
Orkrist has released their sophomore effort Grond, and I'm here to tell you there is no sophomore jinx. This album is every bit as good as the debut. Pick up either one, you won't be disappointed. If you can't find it, email me for help.
Our lovely CL, lambchops, again has made it possible to do this review. I know she's doing her job but I have been such an imposition and she has done it so cheerfully and so expeditiously that I want her to know how much I appreciate it. Shelly, you're the Greatest! I imagine I'll be thanking you again, for about every fourth or fifth review I do, in the future too.
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