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Released on July 24, 2015 via Napalm Records
Turbo polka metal played by Austrians masquerading as Russians…
Well why not?
…So welcome to the wonderful world of Russkaja who ply their trade in an amalgamation of punk, ska, metal, Eastern European folk and a kitchen sink of other influences they can get their hands on. Previous album ENERGIA, and especially the title track, brought them into the consciousness of the wider world and they look to cement that position with new album Peace, love & Russian roll.
And a delightfully eclectic experience it is too as although they have a ‘Trademark’ sound of up-stroke ska chords, funky emphasized bass lines and blazing trumpets with the gravelled Russian accented vocals of front man Georgij Makazaria leading the charge as the opening two tracks ‘Rock n Roll Today’ and ‘Slap Your Face’ demonstrate perfectly. The rest of the album deviates so much from this in different trajectories including some songs sung in different languages yet the band still retain their identity throughout (although to be fair ska as a genre is hard one to mess up).
On an amusing side note, either by accident or design the message of ‘Rock n Roll Today’ is very similar to fellow label mates Kontrust single ‘Hey DJ’…they must have a problem with club nights in Austria…
Third track ‘Hometown Polka’ and onwards go on their own merry little paths as mentioned earlier with a prevalent Latin influences taking centre stage ensuring your dancing shoes never get cold. However the surprising highlights are the stripped back acoustic numbers ‘There Was A Time’, ‘Parachute’ and ‘Radio Song’ providing a welcome change of pace as the punk rock riffing can feel a little one dimensional at times as well as providing impetuous to the evolving atmospheric narrative.
It’s not perfect and lacks an outright anthem to hook in casual listeners, but it’s undeniably great fun.
