On what's been announced as the band's last splash,
Otep
go out in a furious blaze on their sixth and final album,
Hydra
. With heavier guitars and sinister, off-putting electronics, it feels as though the bandmembers are using their final outing to expand their sound in some new directions, oftentimes transcending the nu-metal leanings they have traditionally worked in. The most static element of the band's sound, the vocals of
Otep Shamaya
herself, remain as emotionally charged as ever as they shine a truthful light on the darker corners of the human experience. While the absence of
's music and message will certainly be missed,
finds the band going out at the top of its creative game, a small consolation that hopefully softens the blow caused by the group's departure. ~ Gregory Heaney