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Roz Vitalis - Painsadist

Artist: Roz Vitalis
Title: Painsadist
Label: self produced/MP3.com
Length(s): 37 minutes
Year(s) of release: 2003
Month of review: [07/2003]

Line up

Ivan Rozmainsky - keyboards, mouse, winds, composition except 5, lyrics
Nadezhda Regenlova - vocals, composition on 7
Vladimir Polyakov - lyrics, keyboards on 5, 6, composition on 5, 6
with
Natialia Agapova - vocals on 4

Tracks

1) Painsadist 10.43
2) Visions Of Loving Fire 4.49 MP3 or RealAudio
3) Play With Everlasting Fire 4.15
4) Exodus 5.11
5) Miles Inside 2.03
6) Smile Tonight 2.42
7) Painsadist (Ascension DreaMix) 7.56

Summary

Given the instrumentation on the album this bound not to be a rock album, but electronic music instead. With a length of 37 minutes Roz Vitalis considers this to be an EP. If you are interested check out mp3.com.

The music

The title track is a good combination of the dark sides of Art Zoyd and Dave Kerman and other modern RIO bands, in the case that they limit themselves to the non-rock side of their music. This opener is a very dark tune with varied programmed rhythms, fitting in well with the music, a dark brooding atmosphere, but at times also in a more up-beat format, coming in that way closer to some of the more atmosphere oriented Cuneiform bands. At times the music can be quite harrowing, but always in a likable way. And the track is not all atmosphere, because there are some lovely themes as well, as for instance the opening theme on piano. Towards the end, the music becomes more sparse with flute in between the bleepy synths. The music is more meditative here.

Most of the following tracks are all not half as long as the opener. The first, Visions Of Loving Fire, opens with beautiful piano playing, a very telling melody and instantly recognizable. Then the music drops away and we get some singing as if an in a very dark, large and empty space. This guy knows how to build an atmosphere and if the melodies are then in order as well, something very good comes out. The melody which dominates the second part of the track has elements of Jobsons Theme Of Secrets, to which the music might sometimes be compared. That is unless the vocals and drums set in. The spoken vocals right here for instance, are somewhat monotone, in Russian and with the repetitive triggered drums remind more of the dark RIO bands.

With Play With Everlasting Fire we continue the RIO line, yet a bit frolic. I expect at any moment Deborah Perry to start singing. This, by the way, is a more repetitive tracks with dissonant elements and keeping the tension up well. Melodically it is somewhat less interesting. The power surges back into the music when wobbly keys and church organ set in. I would have liked that to continue. Now instead we get rather weird horn sounds.

Exodus opens in a tense fashion with repetitive runs of keyboards, high paced and full of foreboding. I guess it is Natalia doing the vocal duties here among all the low percussion. Again, the RIO connection is strong. A busy track full of percussion and estranging synths.

Miles Inside is a rather short one, with occasional wind instruments, and some synths in between. Smile Tonight is a bit lighter, again quite percussive and a bit ehm meditative again. There is something world music like in here. The melodies are less overt on these later tracks.

Painsadist (Ascension DreaMix) is as one would expect a mix of the opener. The opening has some female vocals and the organ builds a church like atmosphere. Then the friendly piano comes in followed by Russian vocals. Then the thematic part returns again, making this song a less dark and brooding one than the original version. Only after five or so minutes does the percussion set in and we are in for some high pitched noises. They continue more or less until the end.

Conclusion

This is a strong combination of Rock In Opposition with electronic music. In addition there are some vocals (vocalizations) and some wind instruments as well. Tension is built well all around and in addition to some weirder parts there are excellent melodies to be admired as well. Thumbs up.

© Jurriaan Hage