Southern California experimental metal act OTEP has released Atavist in 2011, their fifth full-length album and clearly their most impressive work in recent years. This time out the band, led by vocalist Otep Shamaya, are without bassist Evil J or guitarist Rob Patterson. They are replaced by Rani Sharone and Markus Estrada. Former THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN drummer Gil Sharone was brought in to do the drum tracks and he definitely brings the thunder on all twelve cuts. What I like the most about this album is that it doesn’t waste your time in trying to be cute… it just kicks you in the head and tells you to love it. Isn’t that how we all want our Rock N Roll?
Minus the corny spoken word you get on the effort from Shamaya, Atavist does not disappoint and dare I say that this band has become one of the most important Nu-metal acts in recent years, always pushing the envelope with their demonic sounding blitz and gritty ‘jam it down your throat – life is tough for us all subject matter’. On track three, you get a punk’d up vibe entitled “Drunk On The Blood Of Saints”, which is my personal favorite of them all. Though that’s not to say there isn’t many other hard-hitters. They even cover The Doors classic “Not to Touch the Earth. Not bad. All in all, I was pleased with Atavist, but I’d like to see them try and even get heavier on the next try. I think Shamaya could deliver any kind of music she wants. The woman is extremely talented. I’d just like for her to perhaps take more time on the next record and truly deliver something so brutal that it is poetic. I don’t need her to read poetry to me. She needs to knock my penis into the dirt. Dig it? Sure, there are glimpses of some really cool things with this lineup and this record. I just hope they can continue to develop their sound together. If not, I won’t be as nice the next time around.
ROCKET REVIEW:
[starreview tpl=16]
OTEP – “Atavist” (CD)
(Victory Records/2011)
1. Atavist Animus
2. Atom To Adam
3. Drunk On The Blood Of Saints
4. Remember To Forget
5. Skin Of The Master
6. We Dream Like Lions
7. I, Alone
8. Baby’s Breath
9. Fists Fall
10. Stay
11. Bible Belt
12. Not To Touch The Earth
http://www.otep.com/
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