Atavist Cd Review

at·a·vism (t-vzm)
n.
1. The reappearance of a characteristic in an organism (biologically, culturally, creatively) after several generations of absence.
2. An individual or a part that exhibits atavism, the tendency to revert to ancestral type, the root, the source, the deadly atom.
3. Rediscovery and progression; spiritual archeology; using the wildfires of the past to light your way.

The irony in this album’s name, in the definition above, is that this album holds none of the band’s original heritage; not in members or in standard. Otep have diverged from their sounding unity and are now a band made up of session musicians – what once was Otep is now the Shamaya show, pretty much. Lead singer, Shamaya - musician, poet and super-activist – is the only constant in the band as the line-up is ever changing; she is the only person in the album’s promo picture, after all.

Previous albums, such as Sevas Tra and their EP Jihad, allowed listeners to be pissed off for the sake of being pissed off. The aggression in the intensity of the music was everything that didn’t conform. But the more you listened to these albums, the more you unwrapped each track layer-by-layer and ripped away at the rebellion, the more you were able to understand, appreciate, and relate to the music on some level.

During the eleven years since Otep formed they have transitioned from nu-metal (self-described) into artcore, allowing Shamaya the platform to express her various opinions. Now, with the release of their 5th studio album, Atavist, they are trying desperately to hang on to the sound they once had, but if they don’t hold on tight enough Otep might begin to slowly shrivel up and ride off into the sunset of irrelevance.

On Atavist we hear sonic performances from the likes of Tony Campos (PRONG, MINISTRY, STATIC-X) on bass, Rani Sharone (STOLEN BABIES, PUSCIFER) on guitars, and his brother Gil Sharone (also of STOLEN BABIES, DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN) on drums, in addition to appearances by other session players and producer Ulrich Wild.

The 00:45 instrumental introduction, “Atavist Animus”, layered in murderous screams of desperate deadly cries walks straight into the double bass of “Atom To Adam” and begins in classic Otep style, cunningly painting the illusion that it will continue in the same manner as previously. While being completely shallow in lyrical depth and significance, this track makes numerous references to biblical and religious guidelines, however each verse ends in a contradiction of itself as the words accuse God of being atheist and not caring; the chorus repeatedly claims ‘We are the victims’. So whilst this track holds no sentiment to the outside ear, it comes across more like Shamaya’s own personal and internal fight against a sense of being lost.

“Blood Of Saints” would have been a better choice to open the album with as its melody and composition seem more true to the Otep style, yet once again, the repeated chorus seems to make up the sum of the track as it is with the following track, “Remember To Forget”.

The fifth track, “Skin Of The Master”, is one of the better tracks out of the 12 and almost ends the first chapter of the album as the next song, “We Dream Like Lions”, is the first track that is lyrically enunciated. It is sung in a similar tune to Roxette’s “Listen To Your Heart” and reveals a certain susceptible aspect of Shamaya’s vulnerability in the acoustics of the track. Things go straight back into the band’s comfort zone with “I, Alone” which is layered with intensity and numerous dynamics while “Baby’s Breath” is a dramatic narrative story of a twisted tale.

The album’s twelfth and final track is an impressive rendition of the Doors’ 1968 song, “Not To Touch The Earth”. Originally inspired and written by Jim Morrison, Otep have taken this song and mutated it with a twisted and unnerving sheer agony – something Marilyn Manson himself might be proud of.

For those who are fans of the original sounding Otep and are familiar with their previous work will understand the sentiment in saying that this album almost seems a somewhat forced effort as there is something unnatural about it. It gives the impression that it was produced because it was time for another album release as opposed to because their song writing and creativity had climaxed and reached the pinnacle point which deserved to be shared with the world. Perhaps the constant line-up changes prevents the harmony a band needs in order to live in unity of each other’s thoughts, which not only becomes apparent to the listener but which is something a listener needs to feel and believe in order to put their faith into any band.

Reviewed by Lisa Burnell

Atavist Tracklist

01. Atavist Animus
02. Atom To Adam
03. Blood Of Saints
04. Remember To Forget
05. Skin Of The Master
06. We Dream Like Lions
07. I, Alone
08. Baby's Breath
09. Fists Fall
10. Stay
11. Bible Belt
12. Not To Touch The Earth (The Doors cover)

Otep Line-up

Vocals: Otep Shamaya
Guitars: Rani Sharone
Bass: Tony Campos
Drums: Gil Sharone

Otep Weblinks

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