O.R.k.: Firehose of Falsehoods

Some have described O.R.k. as a “supergroup,” mainly because of the presence of Pat Mastelotto (formerly of King Crimson) on drums and Colin Edwin (formerly of Porcupine Tree; he did not join the band for its relatively recent comeback album or tour) on bass. But the band also includes two members who many people might not have heard of: Lorenzo Esposito Fornasari (who goes by “LEF”) on vocals and Carmelo Pipitone on guitars. Regardless, they form a powerful line-up, and have released their fifth album, Firehose of Falsehoods.

The band falls squarely in the progressive metal genre, and with this album they probably have gotten a little heavier than on previous releases while sacrificing none of the instrumental technicality. As you might expect, Mastelotto shines and Edwin gives us familiar tasty bass lines. LEF has an amazing range, and listeners could be forgiven for concentrating on his contribution given his talents and prominence in the mix. Pipitone is a monster at times, but can bring it down a notch when it suits the music, such as on “PUTFP.”

A lot of people have compared LEF to Chris Cornell. I can hear that, given the notes he can hit and also the timbre of his voice, which at times give the album a quasi “alternative” feel. Overall, his performance is amazing, but perhaps there is a little too much of him and not enough of the others, who seem like they are taking a bit of a backseat at times. I would love to hear a solely instrumental version of this album to determine where some of the instruments could have been brought more to the fore.

There are several standout tracks on the album, including the ironically titled opener “Blast of Silence,” which rockets the band out of the blocks. “The Mask Becomes the Face” has an outstanding guitar solo, a bit of a rarity on the album given that, while the guitars blaze, they generally work in unison with the bass and drums. I’m not sure if it’s played by Pipitone or by guest John Wesley, but whoever does it deserves applause. The solo is followed by wordless vocals similar to Clare Torry’s on “The Great Gig in the Sky”; that was a little bit of a surprise, but it works. Finally, the near 14-minute closer, “Dive In,” starts off fairly quietly, moves into an almost symphonic prog bit, features a scorching middle section, and closes relatively quietly, as it opens. It appears that the track is available only on the CD and digital releases and doesn’t appear on the vinyl, almost certainly due to length considerations. Whatever the reason, you don’t want to miss it.

Finally, the band has released really well-done animated videos for “Blast of Silence” and “The Mask Becomes the Face.” (They chose their singles well.) Give them a watch and give the album a listen. I suspect it will be on some best of 2025 lists.

Track Listing
1. Blast of Silence (4:15)
2. Hello Mother (3:26)
3. The Other Side (4:15)
4. 16000 Days (4:34)
5. PUTFP (5:32)
6. Seven Arms (3:22)
7. Beyond Reach (4:35)
8. Mask Becomes the Face (5:54)
9. Dive In (13:51)

Added: March 31st 2025
Reviewer: Aaron Steelman
Score:
Related Link: Band @ Bandcamp
Hits: 149
Language: english

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