Skinny Puppy: The Greater Wrong Of The Right : Music Reviews : Rolling Stone

Album Reviews

"What we share with everyone is glum and dark," Nivek Ogre intones on Skinny Puppy's first full album in eight years, potentially diluting these industrial pioneers' legacy to typecast platitude. True, Orge and electronics blacksmith cEvin Key have forged a disc that delivers more beat-driven accessibility than atmospheric abrasion. They're no longer the scary Puppy of the Eighties that inspired Nine Inch Nails. But there is still enough edge -- musical and political -- to fuel this streamlined return. "Pro-test" is a standout with its mechanical heartbeat, crunching chords and rat-a-tat vocals, while "Neuwerld" grows electronic and environmental minded. "We must distrust the owners of the Neuwerld order," declares Orge, his sampled voice bent to sound like he's about to puke. "Use Less" is even anthemic like AFI, sporting a drum part from Tool's Danny Carey and vocals from Static-X's Wayne Static. But this Puppy remains too close to its roots for comfort.