Returning to the electronic scene, industrial music innovators Skinny Puppy just released their thirteenth album "HanDover." With a musical catalogue spanning nearly thirty years, they follow up their 2007 album "Mythmaker" in prime form, dispelling any question of fading into irrelevancy.
From the moment "HanDover" abruptly begins with track "Ovirt," you are pulled into a classic 80s Skinny Puppy sound. Emerging in this first song are inviting synthesizers and effervescent beats which provide an enchanting backdrop that complements the distorted vocals.
The stage is set early on for an array of songs that are able to satisfy even the most diehard Skinny Puppy fans. It is an album of powerful musical landscapes, compelling imagery and gritty lyrics. They have never seemed afraid to take risks in music and this album is no exception.
Some of the most intriguing tracks on this release are "Cullorblind," "Wavy" and "Village." Each of these is uniquely different but adds something distinctively wonderful to the album. It seems chancy for such a heavy band
to start out with such intensity on the first song, but then they backtrack with a soft-spoken power ballad like "Cullorblind," and it manages to flow together seamlessly. The removal of vocal distortions makes the cryptic lyrics more powerful and gives the heavy guitar sound a platform to build on.
By far, the strongest track on the album is the song "Wavy." It's hard to put into words all the effects and musical soundscapes in this track, but it consists of a slow, waning synthesizer that enthralls the listener with an elegant and lingering drumbeat. It paints a picture of a vintage, black-and-white horror film with a dark creature looming in the background.
Toward the end of the album, "Village" is an upbeat danceable hit. Progressive beats coinciding with signature Skinny Puppy sounds help bring this album to an amicable ending point before closing with an instrumental track of noise.
Due to their unconventional sound, Skinny Puppy's latest musical endeavor may not be for everyone, but this album definitely deserves a listen in its entirety if just for a glimpse into how modern technology can be used to create music.
They have always been on the cutting edge of the industrial music threshold. This album is a brooding lullaby I recommend for anyone with an affinity for dark, atmospheric music or an appreciation for the band's previous releases.
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