OpCritical – Righteousness (2026)
Formed in January 2026 in response to the injustice, inequality, discrimination, and existential challenges facing the world, OpCritical uses its music not only to vent but also to inspire and hold those in power accountable. We don’t know the players behind the band, we don’t know where they are or who they are, but the message is clear that everyone can make a difference regardless of your being. To date, OpCritical has released six songs, and today we’re delving into the most recent single, ‘Righteousness’.
Described as “a song with purpose”, ‘Righteousness’ is the second track in OpCritical’s trilogy condemning kleptocracy and plutocracy. As with previous single ‘Liar Liar’, the self-produced ‘Righteousness’ leans strongly toward a heavy rock-inspired sound. Somewhat heavier than the previous single, drums beat in the background – almost an anchoring element – while an electric guitar wraps around the track. It slices, swerves, weaves, and clings with sleek smoothness. Yet, while the instrumentation has a mellifluous quality, ‘Righteousness’ actually oscillates between raw grit and sincere softness in the melody.
It’s particularly interesting as the movements from rough grit and easier soothing shifts according to the lyricism, and perhaps the theme. Bold roughness when singing about the oligarchs and their sweep of injustice, then almost velvety when touching on their loss of power and our chance for change – consider the lines, “Evil, greedy money barons won’t be stealing for much longer / When they see their party’s over, everything’s taken away”.
When speaking about the concept of ‘Righteousness’, OpCritical explain: “Righteousness is the moral quality of being justifiable, virtuous, and right in one’s behaviour. Broadly, it describes acting in accordance with divine laws, universal moral principles, or societal standards of justice. This… is about those in society who act selfishly, according to their own immoral actions, rejecting virtue and the well-being of society.. These selfish oligarchs and their elitist enablers step on everyone else while accumulating obscene amounts of money and power. But, the bigger they are, the harder they fall…”
In addition to the single, OpCritical released an official music video for ‘Righteousness’. You can view the video below and/or on their YouTube channel. Please note that this video uses lighting effects that can trigger seizures in people with photosensitive epilepsy. Viewer discretion is advised.
VIEWER DISCRETION IS ADVISED
Find out more about OpCritical on their official website, Soundcloud, YouTube and Spotify.
This artist was discovered via Musosoup #sustainablecurator
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