Skinny Puppy

Eight long years and a shit-load of side projects later we finally have new music coming from Skinny Puppy. Formed originally in Vancouver by cEVIN Key (Kevin Crompton) and Nivek Ogre (Kevin Ogilvie), the group’s uniquely disturbing stage shows, poignant samples, raging vocals, throbbing synth sounds, and stream-of-consciousness lyrics are world-renowned. Add to this a certain level of nostalgia carried by Skinny Puppy fans and it becomes obvious that these guys have a lot to live up to. For the most part, they succeed. The two Kevins (with Mark Walk) manage to take their now varied influences and turn them into a new, albeit more mainstream, Skinny Puppy. The album starts off substandard with radio-friendly swill entitled "I’mmortal.” "Pro-test” continues the disappointment with Ogre actually rapping (ugh!) throughout the song. Nevertheless, as the disc progresses we are presented with the brilliant side of Skinny Puppy. "Use Less,” featuring Tool's Danny Carey on acoustic drum and the vocals of Wayne Static (Static-X), was compiled fantastically. And "DaddyuWarbash” makes up for any earlier sins committed on the album. Overall, the sampling on The Greater Wrong of the Right is great, the beats are strong and the lyrics/vocals are of high quality. The old Skinny Puppy sound is still present (even "Pro-test” contains remnants of Too Dark Park and Rabies), but with a modern edge. This disc goes from commercial to brilliant in ten songs. It is a more accessible sound than previous efforts, but still a solid entry to the band’s discography.Eight long years and a shit-load of side projects later we finally have new music coming from Skinny Puppy. Formed originally in Vancouver by cEVIN Key (Kevin Crompton) and Nivek Ogre (Kevin Ogilvie), the group’s uniquely disturbing stage shows, poignant samples, raging vocals, throbbing synth sounds, and stream-of-consciousness lyrics are world-renowned. Add to this a certain level of nostalgia carried by Skinny Puppy fans and it becomes obvious that these guys have a lot to live up to. For the most part, they succeed. The two Kevins (with Mark Walk) manage to take their now varied influences and turn them into a new, albeit more mainstream, Skinny Puppy. The album starts off substandard with radio-friendly swill entitled "I’mmortal.” "Pro-test” continues the disappointment with Ogre actually rapping (ugh!) throughout the song. Nevertheless, as the disc progresses we are presented with the brilliant side of Skinny Puppy. "Use Less,” featuring Tool's Danny Carey on acoustic drum and the vocals of Wayne Static (Static-X), was compiled fantastically. And "DaddyuWarbash” makes up for any earlier sins committed on the album. Overall, the sampling on The Greater Wrong of the Right is great, the beats are strong and the lyrics/vocals are of high quality. The old Skinny Puppy sound is still present (even "Pro-test” contains remnants of Too Dark Park and Rabies), but with a modern edge. This disc goes from commercial to brilliant in ten songs. It is a more accessible sound than previous efforts, but still a solid entry to the band’s discography.