SKINNY PUPPY

"The Greater Wrong Of The Right"

Synthetic Symphony - 2004

CD

Ten years after their disbandment and eight after their last, controversial album "The Process", Skinny Puppy resurrected from their ashes and are back on track, inflaming stages all over the world with their striking and unique live shows, as well as assembling brand-new music. Here we have now the CD no one would have ever thought to see, the Puppies' tenth studio work, titled "The Greater Wrong Of The Right". Without the assistance of passed-away Rudolph D. Goettel, survived original members Nivek Ogre and cEvin Key were assisted by a bunch of guests, among which Otto Von Schirach and Tool's drummer Danny Carey.

Lots of surprises wait for the listener among these tracks, as the Canadian masters seem to clearly manifest their will to proceed, to go further, finding new ways and not repeating things already done in 20 years of career. The use of heavy guitar samples in the initial "I'mmortal" and following "Pro-Test" would suggest a link with previous "The Process", the most rocking of all Puppies albums and, probably for this reason, the less convincing. But, tracks like "EmpTe" and "Ghostman" immediately show a completely different approach, a return to more subtle, creepy electronics, while "dOwnsizer", with its menacing martial rhythms and aggressive vocals calls to mind some of the best episodes of "Rabies". Undoubtedly, the second part of the CD is the most interesting, with the dreamy, Download-like "Past Present", the epic, dramatic and powerful "Use Less" and final "DaddyuWarbash", which really has the feeling of an old-style Puppy anthem.

Both musically and vocally, the band experimented different solutions and tried to incorporate new elements in step with the times: it is so that on "EmpTe" and "Goneja" it's breakbeat to take over, while on "Pro-Test" and "Goneja" again Ogre sings in an accelerated, almost hip hop-like style. While it seems that lots of long-time fans didn't like such brave experiments very much, you will see that, if you'll be patient and constant enough to give these new songs several listenings, in the end they will conquer your ears.

Talking about lyrics, Skinny Puppy are angrier than ever, Ogre's words are as sharp as we remember, and this time their target is mostly the US and their current, disgraceful president, to which "DaddyuWarbash" is, of course, dedicated. Differently from so many bands who in the last four years exploited fake and cheap anti-Bush feelings to justify their boring outputs, the Canadian duo is attacking with all the intelligence and refinement that made them famous.

"The Greater Wrong Of The Right" is the beginning of a new course in the history of Skinny Puppy, something fresh and innovative, which you may or may not like. It is anyway wonderful to see Ogre and Key so vital and full of ideas and enthusiasm, just like they had formed the band yesterday. If you have loved their music for many, many years, listen to it several times, concentrate on single tracks, don't stop at the first impression. Soon you'll sort it out that it doesn't sound like "Worlock", but can be listened and appreciated anyway.

- Simon V.

Website: http://www.skinnypuppy.com