I’ve tried to write this review so many times that I’ve given up trying to be intelligent or nice about it.

I hate this song. And it’s sad that I do because I was really pumped about this album. Man, what is this shit? Old-school OTEP line up back together and the best you can do is a cut-up job of the worst song from your last album? I cannot forgive you for the abomination that was “Confrontation.” (Oh Oh! C wut eye did thurr? *Otep joke*)

I can hear it now, the full contingent of Shadow Soldiers hating on me with all their MySpace evil.

Look, it’s not that I don’t agree with what Otep Shamaya has to say, it’s just that I’m tired of hearing the same songs. Whatever happened to the fantastic poetry and awesome power of Sevas Tra? Fuck man, regardless of the amount of effects on Otep’s voice, she still slammed a punch into your side while smoking a blunt, and that rap-metal / beat-poet cool was everything Limp Bizkit dreamed they had (but didn’t, because Limp Bizkit suck). Man, I remember rumors that Marilyn Manson was terrified of Otep Shamaya (but I’m sure that might be something along the lines of a big dog being scared of choking on the little Chihuahua).

Hell, I remember when Otep furiously denied any effects on her vocals. Funny that.

It’s disappointing to look at what OTEP are doing these days. It’s not revolutionary, it’s repetitive. It’s not empowering, it’s pathetic. It’s not special, it’s boring. In this day of economic crisis, job market crashes, unhappy political environments, etc, etc, it’s seems like every man and his dog is writing songs about being shat on by the powers that be. You’d think with the charts saturated in complaining, a band with OTEP’s track-record for politically charged tirades would do something… you know… good.

For all my rage about this song, I can’t 100% write off this album just yet. I’m very curious to know what Emilie Autumn contributed, and there’s always the chance that the album is far better then this song.

But Gods, please don’t let there be another shit Nirvana cover.

SMASH THE CONTROL MACHINE will be released on August 18th