[3.5/5] The same old ideas, and a few new ones: This is the sound of Skinny Puppy in 2007. The Ogre/cEvin Key team has mostly abandoned the abstraction that marked their sonic peak on Too Dark Park and Last Rights, two albums that came out in 1990 and 1991, respectively. This disc retains the goth keyboards, a dozen or so different ways of distorting Ogre's voice, the martial drum programming that every once in awhile becomes fast enough to writhe to, and the odd bit of sampled movie dialogue, but it adds classical-influenced piano and acoustic guitar. This sonic expansion is the best strategy the band could have pursued. Industrial's old formula just isn't scary anymore, not after black metal and Gwen Stefani's solo career. Who buys industrial records anymore, anyway? People SP's own age? Skinny Puppy's been at it for 20-plus years and are basically pleasing themselves at this point. Good for them. (SYNTHETIC SYMPHONY/SPV USA) Phil Freeman
 Official Website: http://www.spvusa.com
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