Pussy Riot releases new single after being sentenced

Pussy Riot will not go to jail quietly.

Hours after being sentenced to two years in prison for hooliganism, the Russian punk band released a new single, "Putin Lights The Fires," which has intensified the international criticism of both the verdict and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

And, perhaps most importantly of all for a new band, it's getting some positive reviews, to boot.

"The song evokes the trashy minimalism of '70s U.K. punks Crass with the urgency of young women who suspect that speaking their minds might result in a brutal prison sentence," August Brown wrote in the Los Angeles Times. "And they were sadly proved right."

Meanwhile, the Associated Press published a guide to the group's sparse discography - six songs and five videos - while noting its growth.

"The performance and release of each song's video mirrored important steps in the rise of the opposition movement in Russia that protested Vladimir Putin's return to power as president," Mansur Mirovalev wrote.

The band was jailed following a performance of a "Punk prayer" on the steps of the country's biggest Catholic church asking the Virgin Mary to drive Putin out. In the days leading up to their sentencing, the group had gained the support of artists ranging from Madonna to Bjork. And on Friday, the U.S. State Department released a statement of concern toward the group and the verdict's potential impact on free speech in Russia.

"We urge Russian authorities to review this case and ensure that the right to freedom of expression is upheld," department spokesperson Victoria Nuland said.

The Guardian compiled photos and footage of the group's performance to offer a defacto music video for the new single, which can be seen below: