A Gothic chamber rock ensemble featuring cellos and garbed in period clothing might sound to the uninitiated like a rather wayward band idea, but Rasputina has molded this off-kilter concept into a tight outfit that delivers deadly, impressive music. In addition to a sinuous, often-rocking cello trio that dominates imaginative arrangements, the band's vocalist, Melora Creager, is a major asset. Creager's range encompasses everything from caterwauling to croons; all of her work displays hearty, emotive power. The dystopian lyrics, culled from newspaper clippings, may prove bleak listening, but there is a cathartic sensibility amidst the gloom that shapes the work as a worthy musical analogue to literary figures such as Gibson and Sterling. Particularly stirring songs include: "1816, the Year Without a Summer," "Incident in a Medical Clinic," and the PoMo metal anthem "Draconian Crackdown." - Christian Carey (2007, The Daily Copper)