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Otep. An interesting listen? Perhaps now. Ideal tour partners for Static-X? Most probably, what with the co-opting of Wayne and crew's sound on their latest effort, The Ascension, particularly the stuttering guitars on "Confrontation." A polarizing band? Certainly. Eponymous frontwoman Otep claims the band is not Metal yet they try really hard to sound at least kind of Metal, recalling everyone from Mudvayne (particularly the cloned, overly plucky bass) to Static-X (overall sonics) to Coal Chamber and DevilDriver (those down-tuned, crunchy riffs) and any other number of fringe Nü-Metal acts with some dubiously unique features. The lady's throat is all over the place at once, like a whale on the train tracks, so to speak. Witness as she goes from a sex-starved coo to a full on primal roar and back in the blink of a battered eyelid.
To focus on the strengths one must consider the interesting if not compelling guitar work throughout by the now departed Karma Cheema (also ex-American Head Charge). Sometimes, however, the lyrics shine through as most poignant. Case in point: "Jesus needs his prescriptions filled/Buddha's using too many pills/Allah promises endless thrills/in volatile bottles marked religion kills." The first single is "Ghostflowers" and features Otep's chameleon vocals accompanied by some Middle Eastern sounding axework, the video for which has been in rotation for a few months now at MTV2's Headbangers Ball. The Ascension is worth the purchase price for the cover of Nirvana's "Breed" alone, but then I love cover tunes.... Originally slated for a March 20, 2007 bow this record has been put on hold due to the Capitol/Virgin merger. Stay tuned if you're a fan.
Bonus rounds: Dave Fortman (Evanescence and Mudvayne, among others) produced this sucker and Mudvayne/Hellyeah guitarist Greg Tribbett reportedly co-wrote (and appeared on?) the songs "Invisible," "Crooked Spoons," and "Confrontation." Sonics explained? The "ayes" have it. This is for you if Poe is not Metal enough for you. The non-harsh vocals of Otep certainly recall the "Angry Johnny" singer. Oops! Izzat my Freudian slip showing?
| Tracklist |
| 1. March Of The Martyrs |
| 2. Confrontation |
| 3. Perfectly Flawed |
| 4. Crooked Spoons |
| 5. Milk Of Regret |
| 6. Noose And Nail |
| 7. Ghostflowers |
| 8. Breed [Nirvana cover] |
| 9. Eat The Children |
| 10. Invisible |
| 11. Home Grown |
| 12. Communion |
| 13. Andrenochrome Dreams |
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| Buy other Otep albums |
