Atavist (Deluxe)

Their fifth album, Atavist, finds Otep delivering another heaping helping of nu-metal. True to the title, Otep continues to feel like a throwback to the breakdown heavy nu metal of the late 90s and early 00s that was pioneered by bands like Korn. Once again, singer Otep Shamaya, whose frantic vocal style ranges from bellowing death growls to creepily sweet, does the bulk of the heavy lifting on the album, putting her vocal talents to work over top of a collection of nu-metal jams that could’ve been released a decade earlier. In a way, the approach makes sense. The approach works for the band, who do a great job of showcasing Shamaya’s vocals and message without standing in her way, making Atavist an album that will easily please Otep devotees.