Rock with horns that isn't ska? Oh, thank god. Ghost of the Russian Empire's debut EP, With Fiercest Demolition - produced by Erik Woffrod (Explosions in the Sky, Voxtrot) - is six tracks of catchy, but not poppy music. There's definitely a Radiohead-esque aspect about this group of Texans (imagine Thom Yorke and company before they started mingling heavily with electronica). Vocalist Brandon Whitten does not sound exactly like Yorke, but their singing styles are vaguely similar. Actually, at the beginning of "Psychomedicated," Whitten eerily resembles Yorke for a few lines of lyrics. The fourth song, "Sovereign and a Sword," shows how Ghost of the Russian Empire can be repetitive, but interesting nonetheless. When these guys decide to release a full-length, I will gladly listen. The potential is there, but With Fiercest Demolition does not present enough evidence to completely captivate listeners. If you're really interested in the haunting aspects of Radiohead and haven't gotten enough out of their records, check out Ghost of the Russian Empire's EP or wait until a full-length comes out.
