Kscope
The supergroup O.R.k. have released their fifth album, «Firehose of Falsehoods». Although the line-up features former members of Porcupine Tree and King Crimson, O.R.k. are not much like those bands. Colin Edwin and Pat Mastelotto’s sensitive yet forceful and dynamic playing, combined with the creative mind and relentless high-octane vocal power of frontman Lorenzo Esposito Fornasari a.k.a Lef, and the chaotic yet controlled energy of guitarist Carmelo Pipitone, all combine to give O.R.k. their own distinctive identity.
The riff-laden heavy and alternative metal first track «Blast of Silence» is intricate and a powerful opening statement. «Hello Mother» is a daring track as it breaks down to just Lef’s voice at one point. The ending is a prime example of something O.R.k. are masters of – unpredictability – just when you think the song is ending, there’s more. The pulsating, hard-hitting «The Other Side» shows the dexterity of Lef’s vocals and the harmonies stand out.
The fret-tapping in the cinematic «16000 Days» provides a haunting atmosphere, as do the lyrics «I’m just afraid to fall asleep”. «PUTFP» shows the heavier side of the band in the chorus, yet it is also interlaced with softer, acoustic passages. Ever unpredictable, «Seven Arms» is a desert rock number that brings Queens of the Stone Age to mind.
«Beyond Reach» and the slow building «Mask Becomes the Face» contain the two best guitar solos of the album, by Pipitone on the former, and by guest star John Wesley (Porcupine Tree) on the latter. The album closes with the sprawling jazz-tinged 14 minute epic «Dive In», a track which shows the sophisticated, ever evolving compositional skills of the band.
Visceral and raw, yet sophisticated and accomplished, O.R.k. have created a contender for album of the year, and it is only March.
5/6 | Anne-Marie Forker
Release date: 21 March 2025