According to Los Angeles magazine, "decadence" is in. But that's not news to Orgy, the L.A.-based quintet whose debut album, Candyass, is full of dramatic, electronic/ industrial rock that includes a cover of New Order's "Blue Monday." And the band embraces a lifestyle and decadent vibe that matches their darkly extravagant music.

Orgy, the first band signed to Korn's Elementree Records, are a reaction to a faceless and staid rock scene. "Not that there wasn't a lot of great music in the early '90s; there was," says the band's synth guitarist Amir Derakh, who calls Dead or Alive one of his favorite bands and shares influences ranging from R&B to rap to "death pop" with singer Jay Gordon. "But I think people are getting back into having fun again, and they want bands that might have something to offer than just music -- an image, a lifestyle. And that's what we're into."

That image includes Gordon's -- who is a strapping 6-feet-plus -- with his sequined purse, outgoing, knows- everyone persona, and pastel face makeup. The vocalist was actually in a band, Sex Art, with Korn vocalist Jonathan Davis, himself an equally extravagant personality. While Orgy -- which also includes guitarist Ryan Shuck, bassist Paige Haley, and drummer Bobby Hewitt -- have never played a live gig outside their rehearsal studio, the band is on its first- ever promo trip to New York, where, Derakh says, the band is busy... "busy partying!" Not to mention staying in top-drawer hotels. "We're a bunch of primadonnas," jokes Derakh, who made a name for himself as a producer and was also a guitarist in L.A. lineups Rough Cutt and Jailhouse before joining Orgy. "And they better have a limo downstairs every night!"

Clearly, Orgy are a breed apart. But they're serious about the music on Candyass, which was produced by "sixth member" Josh Abraham and the band. The single "Stitches" has already been spun on L.A. powerhouse radio station KROQ and as far away as Oklahoma, where Orgy will play their debut, pre-Family Values gig. As for the Korn association, they're hoping the credibility will rub off, even though "we don't sound like Korn, so that will have its pluses or minuses," muses Derakh.  

In keeping with Orgy's "push the limits" approach to music and style, they're planning after-show "orgies" during the Family Values Tour. Though they say the band name refers to a melange of sounds rather than anything sexual, the post- concert "orgies" will be club shows with performances by Orgy, sponsored by clothing or lifestyle companies, with all the tour's bands invited for late- night shenanigans.   Ultimately, look for Orgy's "uncompromising vision" to serve them well.

They did two photo shoots before capturing the look they wanted, and haven't yet done a video for "Stitches" because, explains Derakh, "we don't want to be like anyone else who has been on MTV. "Sure, we could just fall right into the norm, and dress and look and sound like everybody else, but none of us could deal with that," he concludes, adding, "and I'm sure we'll get a lot of s---. We do get away with a lot, but we're not a--holes about it; we're just trying to have our own vibe."

-- Katherine Turman