Otep have since released six full-length albums featuring many session musicians including Greg Wells, Joey Jordison of Slipknot, Koichi Fukuda of Static-X, Emilie Autumn, Tony Campos of Soulfly and Asesino (ex-Static-X), and Ulrich Wild. Their first three albums, Sevas Tra, House of Secrets, and The Ascension, were released on Capitol Records. However, after the label's merging with Virgin Records, Otep, along with many other bands, were released from their contracts with Capitol in 2007. Two years later, Otep signed with Victory Records and released their fourth album, Smash the Control Machine, which included a reunion with former members Mark "Moke" Bistany on drums and Rob Patterson on guitar. The album also featured Koichi Fukuda on piano and Emilie Autumn on violin.
Atavist was the first album not to feature longtime bassist Jason "eViL J" McGuire who left the band on September 30, 2010, the personnel consisted of session musicians Rani Sharone, Gil Sharone, Tony Campos, Collyn McCoy, Ulrich Wild, and Markus Estrada. On the tour supporting the album, her band consisted of support musicians courtesy of the supporting band and labelmates on the tour, Destrophy. The band is now mainly Otep Shamaya.
In 2011, Otep toured as a supporting act along with Earth Crisis for Cavalera Conspiracy. She also wrote and released a new book of poems titled "New Word Order" in December 2011.
In 2013, Otep released her sixth studio album titled Hydra on January 22 through Victory Records.
Requiem
Otep Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I call upon thee
Arise .. with vengeance
& a voice of blasphemy
[bring out your dead]
Touch, taste, feel ...
[i'm sorry, no, I can't, please, can you hear me? help me.]
That's impossible. THAT'S IMPOSSIBLE. STOP LISTENING!
"as long as you're under my roof, you will respect me"
[HELP ME, STOP THEM ... BEFORE I DO]
"AS LONG AS YOU'RE UNDER MY ROOF, YOU WILL RESPECT ME!"
The only truth is suffering.
The Only Truth Is Suffering.
"& it's ok to hate yourself, just lay still, don't cry for help"
.... every time he comes, you disappear.
NO. NO. NO.
RUN. ANYWHERE YOU CAN.
IT'S COMING. The Suffering Is HERE.
"I'M SICK BUT I NEED MY DISEASE"
[no one is safe, no where is safe]
"I'M SORRY. It was a mistake. Someone let me out of here."
Please, let me out of here. GO AWAY, GO AWAY, GO AWAY.
[ghost child sings]
.... surrender is your only hope.
The lyrics to Otep's song Requiem deal with the concept of suffering and the darker aspects of life. The lyrics invoke a deity, specifically a "fanged mother," and call upon her to rise with vengeance and blasphemy. The scene quickly shifts to a more personal struggle, with someone pleading for help as they resist some unknown force. The force is described as demanding respect, even though the person pleading for help is under their roof. The lyrics then declare the only truth is suffering and that it's okay to hate oneself. The song then takes a darker turn as there is a haunting refrain of "every time he comes, you disappear" and an urgent plea to "run" as the suffering is coming. Finally, a ghost child sings that surrender is the only hope.
The lyrics are open to interpretation but seem to suggest a struggle with an abusive person or entity. The dark and haunting tone of the song indicates the trauma that someone might experience in such a situation. The use of the deity invokes the possibility of divine intervention, but it is unclear whether this is hoped for, ironic, or conveys a sense of hopelessness. Overall, the lyrics to Requiem are visceral, evoking a strong sense of unease and urgency.
Line by Line Meaning
O'great fanged mother
I call upon thee
I'm praying to my mother who has fangs to come help me.
Arise .. with vengeance
& a voice of blasphemy
Come back with energy and speak against society.
[bring out your dead]
Touch, taste, feel ...
Please don't involve yourself with sinful desires.
NO, DON'T DO IT. STOP.
[i'm sorry, no, I can't, please, can you hear me? help me.]
I'm trying to stop myself from sins while feeling helpless and in need of assistance.
"as long as you're under my roof, you will respect me"
[HELP ME, STOP THEM ... BEFORE I DO]
I'm regretful for what I've done and begging for help before hurting someone.
"AS LONG AS YOU'RE UNDER MY ROOF, YOU WILL RESPECT ME!"
I'm being oppressed by someone I'm living with, who's demanding respect by forcefully controlling me.
The only truth is suffering.
The Only Truth Is Suffering.
The only unvariable thing that life has to offer is suffering, no matter the situation.
"& it's ok to hate yourself, just lay still, don't cry for help"
.... every time he comes, you disappear.
It's alright to feel bad about yourself, just don't ask for help. Also, I'm in a situation where I can't run and have to put up with the abuse.
NO. NO. NO.
RUN. ANYWHERE YOU CAN.
IT'S COMING. The Suffering Is HERE.
There's an indescribable sense of danger that's coming and would bring suffering if not run away from.
"I'M SICK BUT I NEED MY DISEASE"
[no one is safe, no where is safe]
Even though I know it's negative, I can't help but feel the need to be sick. There's no safe place to turn to.
"I'M SORRY. It was a mistake. Someone let me out of here."
Please, let me out of here. GO AWAY, GO AWAY, GO AWAY.
I'm hoping for a way out of my current situation while receiving apologies for a mistake I made in the past. Also, trying to push someone away.
[ghost child sings]
.... surrender is your only hope.
A ghost child sings about the only option left of giving up and surrendering.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: GREG WELLS, OTEP SHAMAYA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind