Album is shit. Sounds like generic, “industrial” crap and the vocals are horrid.
sounds kind of too “clean”… i dunno, sort of like missing the grit, which their old shit had.
To me they’ve been missing that grittiness since they reunited with The Greater Wrong of the Right. From then on, with a few songs as exceptions, it’s just been bleh. So clean and safe sounding. I don’t see any difference between them now and their peers. They all sound the same. Whereas albums like Too Dark Park and the like stood out and above.
I miss the chaotic music and the layered, sinister sounding vocals. But those days are long gone, I suppose. Also the obNOXioUS song titles need to stAWP.
To me they’ve been missing that grittiness since they reunited with The Greater Wrong of the Right. From then on, with a few songs as exceptions, it’s just been bleh. So clean and safe sounding. I don’t see any difference between them now and their peers. They all sound the same. Whereas albums like Too Dark Park and the like stood out and above.
I miss the chaotic music and the layered, sinister sounding vocals. But those days are long gone, I suppose. Also the obNOXioUS song titles need to stAWP.
I see what you mean about being more clean and “safe” sounding, though I’d say this actually began with The Process.
They are doing what they want, and I applaud them for that rather than caving and catering to pure nostalgia. I think as people they are not in such a dark place as they were for the classic albums…
I still enjoy their new stuff but to me the most annoying thing is not the lack of grit persay (‘The Process’ is one of my favorite albums) but the cheesy vocal stylings that have dominated since the OhGr project.
I think really it’s Mark Walk that is ruining Skinny Puppy. Also Ogre and cEvin kEy don’t really like each other it seems. I think they are only working together for the money at this point because they can use the b®and name. The albums are done as long distance collaborations. I mean, when you’re not in the same room making music, how good can it be?
That said I still enjoy some stuff and I still follow them. It’s not like Ministry where it’s become utter crap.
I like that Paragun song and Solvent sounds like it was an unreleased song off of Bites or Remission. The rest I didn’t really care too much for… some sounded like the generic industrial stuff everyone is doing these days which is OK but nothing special. If I wanted to hear that I’d listen to Project Pitchfork or something.
solvent IS on remission, it’s a remake
[reply]To me they’ve been missing that grittiness since they reunited with The Greater Wrong of the Right. From then on, with a few songs as exceptions, it’s just been bleh. So clean and safe sounding. I don’t see any difference between them now and their peers. They all sound the same. Whereas albums like Too Dark Park and the like stood out and above.
I miss the chaotic music and the layered, sinister sounding vocals. But those days are long gone, I suppose. Also the obNOXioUS song titles need to stAWP.
I see what you mean about being more clean and “safe” sounding, though I’d say this actually began with The Process.
They are doing what they want, and I applaud them for that rather than caving and catering to pure nostalgia. I think as people they are not in such a dark place as they were for the classic albums…
I still enjoy their new stuff but to me the most annoying thing is not the lack of grit persay (‘The Process’ is one of my favorite albums) but the cheesy vocal stylings that have dominated since the OhGr project.
I think really it’s Mark Walk that is ruining Skinny Puppy. Also Ogre and cEvin kEy don’t really like each other it seems. I think they are only working together for the money at this point because they can use the b®and name. The albums are done as long distance collaborations. I mean, when you’re not in the same room making music, how good can git be?
That said I still enjoy some stuff and I still follow them. It’s not like Ministry where it’s become utter crap.[/reply]
Ah, true. They started getting shitty and generic during The Process (even though Last Rites sounds like a fucking mess to me still). Though it has some good tracks, it’s far behind their previous and more visceral work.
You make valid points too about Mark. The SP era that I fucking loved and will always associate with them is clearly over. I suppose Dwayne played a larger role in what I liked about the band than I originally thought,
Dwayne’s influence is definitely a huge hole to fill. Rave’s production was also a big part that’s missing. He was around before Dwayne even came along. But I agree that they’d be much better without Walk. But it seems like it’s him that’s probably keeping it together. Ogre and Walk write their stuff, send it to cEvin, and they go back and forth. Not sure on any tension though. They do share a tour bus afterall.
edit: oops
http://www.revolvermag.com/news/exclusive-skinny-puppy-premiere-new-album-weapon.html
Previews are out.
Fell asleep before I could get to the end.
[reply]http://www.revolvermag.com/news/exclusive-skinny-puppy-premiere-new-album-weapon.html
Previews are out.
Fell asleep before I could get to the end.[/reply]
I think that’s how this album is always supposed to end.
Late,
grmpysmrf
I think that’s how this album is always supposed to end.
Late,
grmpysmrf
Ouch.
I think this album is quite good.
[reply]
I think that’s how this album is always supposed to end.
Late,
grmpysmrf
Ouch.
I think this album is quite good.[/reply]
I haven’t even heard it. But peligro doesn’t care for most music so I was just encouraging him.
Late,
grmpysmrf
It’s understandable if someone were to pass out while listening to this album. It’s a failed attempt at recreating their earlier sound (Remission, Bites) and it’s boring as hell.
I enjoyed a good portion of it. Remission and Bites have always been my favorites and I really wished they would revisit that era. This new one has that early 80s electronic vibe, but I don’t know. The songs certainly sound cool, but they are lacking a certain element.
I really enjoyed The Greater Wrong of the Right and Mythmaker, but these two newer albums have moments, but fail to capture the classic sound. Give Weapon a spin. Then throw on Cleanse Fold And Manipulate. You’ll see what I mean.
Love this album, though when I listen to it I skip tracks 4,7-9. However the remaining mini-lp is easily my favorite Puppy since Too Dark Park with noting in the intervening years coming close. Consider that “Remission” is my favorite album by them and my love for this will make sense. Love hearing Puppy still wear their Portion Control influences.
Still can’t form a complete opinion. Skinny Puppy shouldn’t be this divisive.
This is the first album of theirs that I’ve slept on with its release, being all too distracted by other new albums and recent discoveries. I keep going in, thinking this is the listen when it will click with me.
The purposeful throwback into older eras doesn’t captivate the way I feel it’s supposed to. There’s too much structure within the songs. I’ve gotten used to how freeform many of the reformation material felt, often utilizing recognizable verse-chorus patterns but usually featuring the sonic disruption and unpredictable noise that’s been a staple in their sound.
Weapon on first impression sounds like the successor to unDeveloped which conversely sounded more akin to the classic Skinny Puppy eras many fans have clamored for. I’ve championed these guys as being progressive in moving forward, being seldom rooted in going down memory lane and it’s apparent in this album they’re content with doing just that. A little disappointing.
I dunno…I agree with a lot of the above comments. I like the retro throwback, but it’s like they went too far or something…
It seems like these guys just can’t get it right since reforming. Then again, I suppose they are doing what they did all along and if we’d been around back in the day, we’d have been bitching about ‘Last Rights’ being too much a departure from the early sound, ‘The Process’ being too disjointed and poppy, etc.
I think the reality is that the band either should have called it quits many moons ago, or people need to realize this is an ever changing best and just take it for what it is…
my experience of weapon: i didn’t like it at first, i thought it was a bit shit. too old school, crappy vox and no guitars. then after a few listens i realised i actually really liked it, which caught me by surprise. and then i noticed there are actually a couple of guitars on there (especially in Paragun), the vox are actually awesome and the sound of it is ace. now i can’t stop listening to it. it’s a great record.
I really dig this album, I think it is the strongest release since Dwayne’s passing which had the biggest impact on the change in Skinny Puppy’s sound.
Glowbel is the weakest track for me, too bright and poppy.
Tsudanama or Survivalisto are my favorites. I like the structure of Tsudanama and how the lead synth weaves into the percussion, Ogre’s vocal delivery here is more chanty (which I prefer) and that breakdown at the end is sick. Survivalisto, again that lead synth and the way Cevin makes it dance with the percussion, really dig it…and I like the vocal delivery here as well. More spoken than sung and that wavey effect during the chorus has a nice haunting quality.
I think a lot of Skinny Puppy fans are turned off by the “cleaner” sound of the recent albums. That wall of sound, those textures, they don’t seem to be present anymore. It feels like the chaotic qualities have been lost but Cevin still puts out great music and when paired with Ogre, Skinny Puppy still rocks. Maybe not as hard, but still miles above the majority of artists that have been in the game this long.
I like the structure of Tsudanama and how the lead synth weaves into the percussion, Ogre’s vocal delivery here is more chanty (which I prefer) and that breakdown at the end is sick. Survivalisto, again that lead synth and the way Cevin makes it dance with the percussion, really dig it…and I like the vocal delivery here as well. More spoken than sung and that wavey effect during the chorus has a nice haunting quality.
I think you just sold a copy for the band
Late,
grmpysmrf