Otep – Hydra

Since their first release “Jihad” back in 2001, Otep is a band that either you hate or love. Their nu-metal style which was kind of a trend back in 2000 and their aggressive female rough vocals helped them to get recognized and gave them big opportunities and I remember that Otep was a band that a lot of people talked about them back then. I had to admit that their second album “Sevas Tra” is still an album that I love to listen to. Shamaya‘s attitude and sayings though gave birth to a lot of haters in the metal community.

Anyway, Otep are still here with their 6^th album. “Hydra” is a very experimental album with its angry and rough edges and it’s atmospheric parts. Shamaya tries to show us though her lyrics the pain and suffering within the eyes of a woman who is haunted by her demons. “Hydra” starts with a monologue in “Rising” which kinda indicates what is coming through the hole album. “Blowtorch Nightlight” is what Otep‘s fans would expect. A rough song with groove and dark vocals. “Seduce & Destroy” is a slower piece with “doomy” attitude. “Crush”. “Hematopia”,“Necromatic”, “Quarantine” and “Voyeur” continues with a strange atmosphere and monologues from the character that Shamaya present to us in “Hydra”. Then “Apex Predator” comes in with a groovy rhythm but it kinda tired me till the end. “Feral Game” almost gave me a chance to bang my head but not for long. “Livestock” is another monologue by Shamaya with strange background noises. And then “Hag”. At last I can say that there’s a song in this album that I liked. The album end the same way it started with “Theophagy” with background samples and creepy whispering vocals.

I have to admit that “Hydra” is strange to listen even for Otep fans. This is a poetic album and you wont find a lot of Otep’s rough music in it. As for myself I don’t think I will give this one a second chance.