At one point it looked like it would never happen, but
Nivek Ogre
and
cEvin Key
made nice and put
Skinny Puppy
back together again. The first thing to know about
Greater Wrong of the Right
is that it's their last album,
The Process
, done right. Not an innovative album, not a visceral album, but there are bits of the old Pup here -- more scary-movie samples than
had, and a lot more of the stuttering beats of yore.
Ogre
is still singing rather than barking, while
Key
has just exploded when it comes to expansive production.
's given
a lush and dark world to deliver his serviceable lyrics over, but it's not always menacing and that's where old fans might cry "sellout." With freaky vocal manipulation
"Ghostman"
recalls the band's earlier work for the better, while
's passe chant of "New World Order" on
"Neuwerld"
recalls it for the worse. Too bad they're done making
Matrix
movies, because the driven and melodic
"I'mmortal"
would have fit on the
soundtrack
and the memorable
"EmpTe"
is just as poppy. Odd to think that
now sound more inspired when playing it straight -- or at least as straight as a band that wears pancake makeup and stage blood to its photo shoots can be -- but the album really comes alive when
croons.
"Use Less"
-- with thunderous drumming from
Tool
's
Danny Carey
-- is
's great moment and the best evidence he can keep up with
's evolution. Get ready for the hardcore fan backlash, but
at least makes up for
, and with stunning structure from
, it beats most of the current
industrial
music competition. ~ David Jeffries