Otep - Down

(CD Single Review)

****1/2

Bringin' you back to the sound of Nu-Metal!!!

Otep are a band from Los Angeles, California who shot to fame in 2000. They were big around the time of bands such as Slipknot, Korn and My Ruin. In the last few years their has been a resurgence in this genre with bands growing in popularity again, and coming back over to the UK after a long absence.

From the original incarnation of the band, only one member is present in the current line-up. Singer and she beast Otep Shamaya with the other members coming ten years after the start of the band. If you like female Metal singers Shamaya is one you just can't ignore, she has a real force to her vocals and can ram a Metal melody down your throat like any male singer.

New single 'Down' shows her back on her best form, and a real comeback to the mainstream of the band. Like all good Metal singles it just goes over the three minute mark. The songs starts off in a Tarrie B (My Ruin / Tura Santana / Manhole), type way with a bit of spoken word Metal Rap / Hip Hop to a Korn style melody bit. Before the chorus lifts off at you like a thunderous tornado.

Yes! it is really big and a little bit simple, but that is what really makes a good Metal single. You really feel you have heard this before about fifteen years ago, but like an old friend it's brilliant and makes you want to hit the dance floor and mosh for your life. I don't think their has been a good Metal single like this for a long time, and I personally have been looking forward to another one coming along.

My favourite lines of the song are "I'm playing Chequers, I'm playing Chess" and "If people are sheep, don't blame the shepherd" showing that the band can put an element of comedy into their lyrics, and don't take themselves too serious. But at the same time having a message to their music, and putting in subjects from their own lives and beliefs.

I would pay to download this single and look forward to hearing the album of the same name as this track, If their are more songs like this on it... I am sure Otep will make it big in the UK again. Only time will tell, they just need to get themselves on the right tour without cancelling and I am sure they will do well.

Review by Dan Devour