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The members of Orgy will know exactly what you mean if you happen to just-so-casually mention that they are one of those bands you either love with a passion bordering on the obsessive, or you hate with an equally intense emotional outpouring. They realize that their highly stylized, distractingly theatrical and decidedly heavy approach to the rock and roll craft is likely to turn off just just as many people as it turns on. But, in all honesty, that's just the way that vocalist Jay Gordon, guitarist Ryan Shuck, bassist Paige Haley, drummer Bobby Hewitt, and synth master Amir Derakh have planned it since the moment they first entered the contemporary music wards back in 1997.
You see, from the very instant that this fashion-conscious, rock-savvy unit initially came to life in the brains of Gordon and Hewitt, Orgy has wanted to make a "statement"---a loud, brash, bold kind of statement that would easily and instantly serve to seperate them from the rest of the fast-growing hard rock masses. They did just that by creating an image for themselves that was a far cry from the shaven-headed, black T-shirt look that dominates today's hard rock scene. In shocking contrast, this So Cal-based quintet chose to present themselves as sort of a souped-up, space-age version of Duran Duran, complete with catchy melodies, heavy riffs...and enough makeup to make a supermodel blush with envy.
"We knew that what we were doing was different, and that it was rather daring." Hewitt said. "That was the plan all along. It wasn't something that we happened to stumble upon by accident."
Now, three years and two chart-topping albums after their dreams first started to transform themselves into reality, it's easy to see how Orgy's "dare to be different" battle plan has yielded a bumper crop of positive results. When their debut disc, Candyass, first introduced this unit to the rock world, many media-types instantly chose to dismiss them as a "gimmick." Others correctly noted that Orgy was a group living under the protective umbrella provided by being the first act signed to Korn's Elementree Records label. And all that was true, at least to some extent. Orgy was helped immeasurably by their association with Korn. Their look and sound was at least partially created merely to seem shockingly different. But now with the success of their second disc, Vapor Transmission, it's impossible for even the group's most vociferous detractors to deny the ever-expanding appeal of this unique rock and roll attraction.
"We always felt confident about our musical substance," Derakh said. "We knew we could play, and we knew we could write good songs. When you have that as your foundation, you can deal with any criticism that may come your way because of the manner in which you play or choose to dress."
To even those uninitiated to the myriad and mysterious workings of the rock and roll machine, it should be readily apparent that Orgy now find themselves in a near-perfect place from which to launch their latest razor-edged attack on the modern music world. As proven throughout Vapor Transmission, this is a band in full control of seemingly every element housed within their diverse hard rock attack. With a sound that mixes Gordon's haunting vocals with the band's industrial-strength rhythms and hard-hitting guitar riffs, in many ways their sophomore albums picks up right where Candyass left off. But in its more radical blending of cutting-edge musical reactants, and in its silicon-slick blend in of metal, pop and new-age elements, in any number of other vital ways Vapor Transmission represents of the embodiment of the 2001 rock ideal.
While some may state that such songs as Suckerface and the disc's first single, Ficiton (Dreams Digital) rely too heavily on studio trickery and techno-rock posturings for the conveyance of their musical message, others will quickly respond that the power housed within tunes like Dramatica and Opticon are quintessential demonstrations of the modern hard rock ethic. As always, the members of Orgy are ready for the various love/hate reactions their music is sure to incur---they insist that as long as people listen and respond they'll be happy.
"This isn't music designed for everyone," Gordon said. "We like taking as many chances as possible, both in the studio and on stage. That's what makes it exciting. It's living life on the musical edge. If occasionally you crash you crash and burn, you live with it. Luckily we haven't crashed that many times... and we're not planning on doing it any point in the near future."
It certainly appears as if the members of Orgy are enjoying every second of their rocket-ride to the top of the contemporary music scene. They like the idea that many of their fans show up at the band's concerts dressed to the "nines" in their own version of Orgy-wear. They like the notion that their synth-metal sound stands out when compared to the plethora of from-the-gut metal meisters out there. And they like the fact that as the most prominent band on the Elementree roster, they are it when it comes to making the label's initial mark on the music biz. True to their nature, however, these guys apparently feel no extra strain due to their foundational role in the upstart label. Much like their role models in Korn, the Orgy boys apparently believe in just taking things as they come, and enjoying the heck out of each and every opportunity presented to them along the way.
"We do enjoy ourselves," Gordon said. "We like to have fun, and we want our fans to have fun. I think that come across on the music we make---whether it's on the album or on stage. We've been handed some great opportunities early in out career, and it's our intention to make the most of 'em."
As they continue to tour the nation, Orgy are exposing their unusual high-octane sound to thousands of fans at each stop along the tour trail. They realize that they've accomplished more during their brief but explosive time in the hard rock hierarchy than many young bands do in a lifetime! But all the attention their music has drawn, and all the high-profile acclaim that has come their way, has done little to dull the fires that burn deep within Orgy's collective belly. They know that their career has gotten of to an incredibly fortuitous start, but there's still a long, long way to go. With two hit albums, they've clearly make their first, big steps up the rock and roll ladder of success, but these guys know that there are many, perhaps even more challenging steps still lying straight ahead of them.
"I guess it would be easy to feel satisfied." Gordon said. "We've made two good records, played on some great tours and gotten a lot of attention. But we're not doing this just to become famous---we're doing it because we truly believe in what we're doing."