Skinny Puppy - Weapon

I'm sure there is a lot of bias about this new release from Skinny Puppy as they are a huge foundation to most in the industrial music world. I'm just going to review this album like any other and hopefully you'll listen to it and form your own conclusions either way. 'Weapon' is a message-driven powerhouse and I would expect nothing less; Lyrically well done and as always great production work... Now, for the in-depth of each song; from a listener and a DJ's view point. Here we go;

Track one, Warnin', poetic and full of pleasing synths, invites you into the mentality that is 'Weapon'. I get the feel that this album was a long time coming.

illisiT, track two, takes a distorted twist from the first track; A fierce, take no prisoners and awakened look at the times we are in. "This is a criminal age" repeats throughout and never gets old as lyrics tell how things are getting with governments, media, and mass paranoia as well as how we are being monitored in more ways than we can count or understand. This a standout track. It grew on me instantly. I would play this out at a gig.

Track three, SaLvo, how does one describe it? A "take no more shit" song. Not my favorite song on 'Weapon', but lyrically well written. THE POETIC ENDING IS WHAT GETS ME; SERIOUSLY.

gLowbeL, the fourth track, is a melodic and political song. This track is oddly dance-y yet mellow enough to chill to. A fresh and instantly classic sounding song, period. There really isn't a "bad" song on 'Weapon'. "CRACK!"

The fifth track, solvent, has a classic vibe to it; the synths are divine and the lyrics are passionate and driven. I can feel the emotion in this track; another track that sounds completely different than the others and yet fits within the album.

paragUn, the sixth track, a track to wake you up. An angry, futuristic protest song of sorts against the lies and deception fed to the masses. "paragUn" is an intelligent and honest slap in the face; a cold bucket of digital water to the face to shake you and stir you until you notice whats going on in your world. Well put together.

The seventh track, survivalisto, starts almost reminiscent of the drum riff in "December 1963" by The Four Seasons... Hey, I only call it like I hear it. Anyway, "survivalisto" is yet another track on Weapon that stands out from the others yet fits in. Another political, weapon-grade track. Another song to make you stop, listen, and think.

tsudanama, the eighth track, sounds exactly what it feels like to have smoked too much weed or to be tripping on LSD (Acid). An amazing track through and through! Between the brilliant synths and the thought-provoking yet and powerful lyrics, "tsudanama" is a standout track. One of my favorite tracks on Weapon, period. I love this song and its going on my iPod along with the rest of the album; poetic, gritty, dark, and disturbingly beautiful. I am at a loss for words...

Moving onto the ninth track, plastiCage, a more modern industrial electro sounding song. I'd play this at a gig for sure; Not only does it have catchy and well-written lyrics, its fresh and oh so dance-y. Watch, rather... LISTEN for this track on your local alternative club's dancefloor; It has the makings of an industrial floorfiller.

terminal, the tenth track, a slow and haunting song. A passionate and heartfelt grieving through synth and poetic song. Slow and gripping, this song will catch you if you have an ear to listen. I really love what they have done to this song; It builds and grows into a darker and darker melodic transfer of feeling and then like a phantom orchestra it fades into the wind, leaving you a bit less empty than before.

The eleventh and final track on the album, Overdose, is something else; A short poetic (Yes, I've used that word a lot in this review. Sorry.) and seemingly personal song. A good end to the album, a great track, and it fits in with the others by sounding completely different.



The bottom line is this; I love and adored this album; sure, there are a few songs that aren't as good as the other but that is my personal opinion. This entire album will be on my iPod and I will listen to it over and over because it is literally one of the few good industrial releases I have come across this year and for that it is treasured. Good music is good music is good music and this good album just so happens to be Skinny Puppy's album; all biast aside. Yes, I am a fan and have been for some time; No, I'm not making comparisons to their other albums because let's face it, this is new and should be listened to as such. Don't listen to it because you feel like you "have to", don't pass it off if you think its going to sound like this or that or isn't going to sound like that or this; listen because its one of the best releases so far this year in industrial, PERIOD.

ALSO:
All of the songs on this album, in my opinion, are best played in order. Listen to this whole freaking album from start to finish; You wont regret the 45 minutes or so; In fact, you may thank me. DO IT. Jun 07 2013