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
Tags: Review
You clearly have your own opinion about the band and/or the song.
I’m sure it will come as no surprise that a long-time (7 years and counting) fan (AKA Shadow Soldier) will disagree with you on this.
Frankly, if STCM is the only song you’ve heard from this album you’re missing out. The recently released Rise Rebel Resist is, in a word, brilliant.
I’m not going to lie … there have been a couple of songs in the last few years I haven’t ooh’d and ahh’d over, but Otep never ceases to amaze me.
These days people are more concerned with who is “selling out” than anything else. To snub a band because they are trying new effects, changing the lineup, or evolving into something they weren’t a few years ago is ignoring the ever-changing music industry.
Otep has never said she’d never evolve musically. And she’s never said she wouldn’t try new effects.
There will always be haters when a band decides to try something new, or when a band breaks away from what they did on the last album or two.
Frankly, I like the change … it’s different.
If you think this album sounds anything like the others, you wouldn’t be totally wrong. Everything Otep does is going to be reminiscent of the same Otep we all know and love … it’s about their signature. But, they’re always evolving.
No one should fault them for that.
Everyone wants to have an opinion. Some people will hate the fact that their fanbase is growing and they are becoming less and less “underground” than they were before. People love to bash a band once they get a little more popular.
Clearly, this is just your opinion. You are entitled to it, but I think you’re jumping the gun on this one a little early.
as far as song releases go, if they had’ve released the Rise, Rebel, Resist track prior to Smash the Control Machine, i would have been more inclined to look forward to the new album.
7yrs and running, have i followed this band, as are you Miss White Tiger. I was the first person to purchase the Sevas Tra album on that 1.31 stint they did years ago, what with me being in Australia and ahead of the rest of the world. so neither of us are new to the lyrical stylings. their first album blew me away, and had a huge impact on my life and perspectives of the world around me.
every band and artist is allowed to evolve, its their right as artists and muses of our time. but the later releases on that Ascension tripe made it feel to me that she’d lost sight of her own vision, and became obsessed with the sound of her own voice. i couldn’t hear the passion that bled from every part of her with some of the original recordings. that was what was missing from STCM. she’s got the ability and the power to rally a lot of people to a cause, like she once did in the days of the Die-hard shadow soldiers.
these days sadly, it seems to be more about rallying people to her own self.
the above commenter is right (it’s been a while, how you doin?), the Rise, Rebel, Resist is a far better song than the one currently reviews. however there is a distinct detachment felt from the song, and i personally found it hard to relate.
with the old lineup getting back together i do expect that they’ll do good things, and i hope that when the album is released it will be something worth paying the $15 for on Itunes.
its like an old flame calling you out of the blue after years of having fleeting thoughts about them. you feel that old spark, that attraction that reminds you of why you fell head over heels for them in the first place. I still listen to blood pigs and get that whirl of excitement, that rage hyper “FUCK YES” that fills your very being, years down track.
THAT is what i want from my music, THAT is what i’d want from OTEP as a unit reformed once more, and thus far they just flatout aint delivering. that’s not to say that i’m going to give up on them, but i will be VERY interested to see the evolution of their music from the last album to the pending release. i hope to christ they see Ascension as a good example of “not what to do” and belt out something that will make my blood boil in a pleasant, roaring way that i crave so much from a band i’ve loved and hated too many times over the years.
@[r]evolution:
Oh wow. Someone other then my ma’ (and my housemate) reads my blog! Ha!
Thank you for your feedback. I honestly appreciate it because I wasn’t aware of ‘Rise Rebel Resist’. I did listen to it and I actually really enjoyed it. I think this song is 100% on ‘STCM’, and it does hold something of the impact that say ‘Blood Pigs’ or even ‘Warhead’ had back in the day, while sounding like something completely new and something worth being excited about. Otep herself sounds incredible. If they had of released this song first I could have ignored ‘STCM’ and still been excited for this album (which, as I said, I haven’t completely written off yet).
I’m not an old-school die-hard fan who wants to keep the band to myself. Hell, good bands deserve attention. For all my gripes, I can’t honestly say that OTEP doesn’t deserve anything. As a band they’ve come along way (go on, listen to Jihad and then straight afterwards listen to Ascension… it’s so weird!) In terms of the musical content, the progression has been interesting and exciting to listen to. Adding and removing people from a band is always hard for fans but these things happen and you get over it, especially when they add something special to it (but oh boy, oh boy, I was so excited when I heard Rob and Moke were back for this album. Hells yes I was!)
Lyrically speaking… Look I love Otep’s spoken word and her poetry. I always have and I drew a lot of influence from her. But I do hear a lot of the same shit all the time and while repetition is a fantastic poetic tool, when you’ve been hearing the words “Perfectly Flawed” and “Stand Up, Speak Out, Strike Back”–esque war cries for years… I mean… if OTEP was evolving as much as the world and as much as the music industry, we’d find that we weren’t listening to different versions of ‘Menocide’ for 8 years. And you know, in this world there’s always going to be something to bitch about which is why it’s great that politically charged bands such as OTEP exist – they do empower fans: we do speak out, we do strike back, we do stand up for what we believe in. But in my opinion, what we’re hearing is a formula for song writing, something that was keyed onto very early on in their career: “Fierce beat, thick bass line, fast guitars… Battle Cry (hmmm… what was it last time? Oh yes, right)… Fast wit and quick rhymes… Blood curdling scream… effects and layers… yep. Check. Done. Guaranteed smash hit.”
Seven / eight years ago I was probably talking to you all the time on the OTEP forums. I was a Shadow Soldier. I did pay $30 to $40 extra for a CD to import it into Australia. And I did it even though I knew I could download it a hell of a lot cheaper. My mother got me a signed OTEP poster for my 18th birthday and I couldn’t stop squealing for a week, it’s still hanging on my wall. Two of my best friends I met on the OTEP forums (one I still live with -ahoy Metzo) and a lot of other international friends that I really admire. I went to art school, found what I wanted in life, stood up and took control over my life, moved out of a hell-hole town and got on with it. And I did it all because once upon a time I listened to ‘Possession’ on a Rock Sound CD and realized I can do more then what I was doing.
Regardless of how I feel about this band, like you said, it is my opinion and I did fall out of love. I still listen to them and still pay attention to what they’re up to. And I guess the direction of Ascension and then ‘Smash the Control Machine’ was just not my cup of tea. That said, Ascension really only got worse after that horrible cover of ‘Breed’. And, admittedly, ‘Smash the Control Machine’ couldn’t have possibly been worse than ‘Breed’. I still hate the song though.
Thanks [r]evolution!
- Lillizen (aka: Lillith Anonymous)
Hi Lillith, I do remember you. I have OTEP on google alerts and your blog came up. I totally agree with [r]evolution. Just have faith and wait to hear the cd. I just got my deluxe edition pre-order box and it is so amazing! There is heavy, rapcore, pummeling, beautiful and inspiring.
As far as voice effects, it is and never will or has been on her ‘growl’. that was always what she said she would never need to do. her growl is ALL HER. Her deep gutteral growls are pure OTEP, no pitch shifter. i like the effects used for art sake to give it a variety. i am not sure what it is called but i like it.
i am glad OTEP was able to inspire you. Otep and Jay always said to follow your muse. And if the band helped that is some small way, then wonderful. Let them evolve and find their way too as all bands do who want to stay relevant….and maybe on a different level or path they will help someone else like they did you. The track Emilie Autumn played on is so beautiful and shows Otep’s heart for women and their plight and it is my favorite.
Run For Cover is AHHHMAZING!! Serv Asat is BRUTAL!
I hope your opinion changes and OTEP again inspires you.
It’s good to see you. Come to the myspace/otep chat sometime. Would love to chat!
Take care and give the new cd a listen. You may find a song that will speak to you again.
Q
Hey Lilly, remember me? How do you feel about the CD as a whole now that it’s out?
Hi, I started listening to Otep back in 02 or so, and reject what the above shadow soldier says and agree with you. Also, I saw you added my twitter, about zero hours after I created it. How and why for?
Hey @pthx – I’m Metz’s housemate and she told you had a twitter and I hear all the stories.
@everyone else. Haven’t listened properly yet. Will get back to you (It’s better then Ascension though).