OHGR
Reviewed by R. Scott Bolton
As I was listening to "Sunnypsyop" the first time through, my thoughts were immediately drawn to the industrial type of music you hear in action movie scores these days, most notably "The Matrix" films. Multiple listens, however, bring out much more. If you have to compare it to other artists, I'd say that Ohgr sounds a little bit like Devo with Pink Floyd and Marilyn Manson influences. I'm sure that there are others out there who are more familiar with the industrial sounds that could give you better examples (Skinny Puppy might be a good one) but I'm don't have a strong background in that genre so the Devo/Pink Floyd/Marilyn Manson combo is the best I can do at the moment.
As its title might indicate, "Sunnypsyop" isn't as heavy as its predecessor but don't expect it to be light, airy and inspirational either. Instead, the music is darker, leaning more toward a goth sound than a metal sound, and it all seems somehow more science-fiction oriented. The Devo comparisons are stronger here than with "Welt," especially on tunes like "Dog." We're talking "Duty Now For the Future" Devo here, not the later "Freedom of Choice" or "Peek-A-Boo" Devo, and all the music on "Sunnypsyop is much darker than anything Devo ever did. For the record, Devo comparisons are a good thing: Devo is a favorite band of mine and - judging from a conversation I had with numerous fans at a recent Motorhead show - that's not an unusual (albeit perhaps surprising) revelation.
Bottom line: If you liked Ohgr's first album, you're bound to like this one as well.
The CD also contains a video for the song "Majik."
Ohgr: Nivek Ogre (formerly of Skinny Puppy) and Mark Walk (Pigface, Ruby). Scott Crane provided additional programming and Loki der Quaeler provided additional keyboards.
For more information, check out http://www.ohgr.net/.
Reviewed by R. Scott Bolton
One of the golden rules here at Rough Edge is that, in order for an album to be considered for review, it has to contain "loud guitars."
Of course, rules are meant to be broken.
I don't think there's a single guitar, loud or otherwise, to be heard anywhere on Ohgr's "Welt." However, that doesn't mean it won't kick your ass. In fact, it's just the opposite: "Welt" is perhaps the heaviest, most listenable industrial-type album I've heard.
Containing 11 tracks, each of which has a single word title, "Welt" surprises because of its funky grooves, haunting vocals, and driving melodies. This is the album you'd expect to hear played at the rave club in hell. It's what Devo would have sounded like if they had played heavy metal.
Guitars or not, it really rocks. And that's the most surprising thing of all.
Ohgr: Nivek Ogre (formerly of Skinny Puppy) and Mark Walk (Pigface, Ruby).
For more information, check out http://www.ohgr.net/.
Rating Guide:
A classic. This record will kick your ass.
Killer. Not a classic but it will rock your world.
So-so. You've heard better.
Pretty bad. Might make a nice coaster.
Self explanatory. Just the sight of the cover makes you wanna hurl.
Copyright © 2006 by R. Scott Bolton. All
rights reserved.
Revised: 18 Mar 2024 11:32:26 -0500
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