Search - Psyopus :: Odd Senses

Easy listening for the 9th circle of hell!!!

C. Schriber | Los Angeles, CA. | 02/19/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Frantic, frenetic, crack pipe smokin Psyopus are back with with what may be their most listenable album to date. Odd senses is a weird collection of (now) downtuned AND high pitched heavy metal jazz riffage. On this album more of the band's founder and guitarist Chris Arp's real passions start to show: Serial killers, demon possession, tranvestitism, child molestation, snuff films, and murder. All of these are mixed in with chords I never heard of an whammy bar gymnastics that are in themselves, a new kind of performance art. The sound of this album isn't slower, and it isn't faster, it just richer and deeper. It's soothing like the endorphin rush you'd get from breaking a leg. This album features the vocals of Brian Woodruff whose satanic roar is a welcome addition to the dynamic line up, along with longtime drummer, madman Jason Bauers. This is a technical smorgasbord that will keep real music fans full for a long time. Something to aspire to indeed!"

Odd Senses certainly is odd

Byron Ridenour | Richmond, VA | 04/18/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Psyopus is a phenomenal band. Ideals of Reference and Our Puzzling Encounters... were great tech metal albums. They have been hard at work, trying to step up the pace. I was at first skeptical about getting this album, because every member, expect the infamous octopus known as Arp, left the band. However, I decided to pick it up, and I sure am glad.



On Odd Senses, Psyopus uses their patented whammy bar guitar and frenetic drumming. However, they add in some new suprises. On Boogeyman, between passages of music, there is spoken word poetry, with a new person reciting every new word. The poetry is also pretty demented. On Imogen's Puzzle Pt. 3, they mastered the track backwards and reversed it to accompany Imogen's Puzzle Pt. 1 off of Ideals. Also, on Choker Chain, they loop samples of love phrases(similar to the hidden track on Encounters, when they said the word "annoying" for 20 straight minutes). And on the album closer, they use classical guitar and cello in the instrumental.



All in all, this was a fine progression for Psyopus, I'm very impressed. As the other reviewer noted, their new music sounds much richer. Definitely pick this album up if you're a new or old fan, you won't be disappointed.



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