We'll come right out and say it: alongside Zemfira and Splean, Mumiy Troll are one of the very, very few Russian rock acts we're not embarrassed to crank up with Brits or Yanks within earshot. And Mumiy (pronounced like roomy) Troll might be the worldliest of the three, what with lead singer Ilya Lagutenko's multilingual punning (he's fluent in Mandarin, among other things) and no-translation-needed feline yowl. 2009 brought the band's first attempt to conquer the U.S.

Remarkably, the album Lagutenko and his crew are promoting here, Comrade Ambassador, is filled with Russian originals, not English radio sops; and instead of playing to immigrant fans in rented catering halls, they've performed in a few indie venues and offbeat places (Salt Lake City?!)

Mumiy Troll might be the worldliest of the three, what with lead singer Ilya Lagutenko's multilingual punning and no-translation-needed feline yowl.

Mumiy Troll wraps up their US tour with concerts in Los Angeles on May 13th and in San Francisco on May 17th. In June, the band will be back to their normal touring routine in Moscow, Russia and Kiev, Ukraine.

Please enjoy the band's English-language cover of their own song, "Paradise Ahead", recorded at the Russia! magazine office in New York (the staff had to shush our noisy neighbors to ensure the quality of the recording.)

More on Mumiy Troll and their concerts dates and venues at the band's official website.