Inspired by the groundbreaking music of Chrome, Kraftwerk, Cabaret Voltaire, Throbbing Gristle, Portion Control, The Legendary Pink Dots, and others, Skinny Puppy experimented with electronic recording techniques and methods. the band composed multi-layered music generally using keyboards, synthesizers, found sounds, drum machines, live percussion, tape splices, samplers, and conventional rock music instruments. Whereas many contemporary remixes and re-edits of songs were created in order to make a song more suitable for dancing or different radio formats, Skinny Puppy approached remixing and re-editing as an artistic process of reinterpreting compositions, often using remixes to push their sound into styles of ambient, dub and techno. Skinny Puppy's often informal, improvisational approach to musical composition is indicated by use of the term brap, coined by them and defined as a verb meaning "to get together, hook up electronic instruments, get high, and record".
Skinny Puppy's first two proper releases, Bites and Remission, fall somewhere between the found-sound chaos of early Cabaret Voltaire and the abrasive, futuristic synthpop of the Units or Crash Course in Science. While the intense synth programming, abstract rhythms, and surreal samples--all Puppy trademarks--are present here, the albums owe as much to new wave as to industrial.
A subsequent EP, Chainsaw, featured a remix of Bites's "Assimilate" that earned the band some attention from club DJs. 1986's Mind: The Perpetual Intercourse earned Skinny Puppy greater attention, as "Dig It" and "Stairs and Flowers" became alternative club and college radio hits; the video for the former was played occasionally on MTV. The album is arguably less club-friendly than its predecessors, as the band continues to refine a claustrophobic, almost surreal sound that buries rhythm and melody. The follow-up, Cleanse, Fold, and Manipulate treads similar territory.
VIVIsectVI was a breakthrough for the band, with "Testure" becoming their biggest club hit to date, and the album itself was received warmly by college radio. The title of the album was a pun intended to associate vivisection with Satanism (ie. the "666 sect"). The album shows SP integrating more political and social themes: "Testure" is an animal rights song; "VX Gas Attack" concerns the use of chemical weapons; "State Aid" promotes sexual abstinence to stop the spread of AIDS/HIV.
Ogre had become very interested in Ministry and Al Jougensen's side projects, and he persuaded the rest of the band to allow Jourgensen to produce Rabies. While "Worlock" (a track Jourgensen didn't produce) remains an industrial club classic, the album was received coolly, as many thought Jourgensen's heavy metal guitar-based signatures did not compliment SP's more complex, intricate sonic sculptures. The band briefly disbanded afterward.
They reformed and returned to their electronic roots with Too Dark Park, a hallucinogenic album that owes as much to psychedelia as industrial music. Two years later, "Last Rights" covered similar territory, culminating in the epic sound sculpture "Download." Although their sound had moved away from industrial dance, these albums expanded the band's audience, and provided the template for many industrial bands of the 1990s.
Following "Last Rights", the band, poised for a major breakthrough in the wake of Nine Inch Nails' commercial success, left their longtime label Nettwerk for American Recordings. Their highly anticipated followup was unfortunately marred by personal tragedy - the death of Dwayne Goettel - and the band's inability to agree on a direction for the record. Numerous producers, including Martyn Atkins (PigFace/Invisible Records founder) and Roli Mosimann (Swans), came and went without success; finally the band regrouped with longtime collaborator Dave "Rave" Ogilvie to finish "The Process". The band expanded their range, working with gothic pop and heavy metal, alongside their familiar electronic textures. While seemingly rushed to completion following Goettel's death (it sounds half-finished in parts), it is an interesting change for the group. Unfortunately American Recordings, tired of waiting for the record, did little to promote it. Skinny Puppy broke up afterward.
With interests in filmmaking, they made a number of music videos, each attempting to further the theme and concept of the composition at hand. Most of these videos received little air play by major music video networks such as MTV (USA) and MuchMusic (Canada) and some were outright banned. For example the video for "Worlock" was universally banned because it is a "non stop gore fest" of clips from various horror movies. Because none of these clips were authorized for usage in the video it has never been commercially available.
Their concerts have been marked by their bizarre and bloody conceptual performance art, which for every concert was planned with the intention of challenging the notions of all who observed. Their music had some acceptance in dance clubs because of its danceable beats, but had little play on commercial radio. Skinny Puppy had little commercial success outside of Canada, but their influence on industrial music is immense.
The band began with the intention of doing something "raw" and "real." Ogre's vocals, one of Skinny Puppy's most recognizable features, are typically roughly growled snarls of half-sentences and fragmented stream of consciousness. Lyrical themes included animal rights, politics, religion, horror, drug abuse, disease, and environmental degradation; these themes were often lyrically and conceptually intertwined. Other core aspects of the Skinny Puppy sound include the mixture of heavy sampling and experimental noise with softer musical styles sometimes approaching synthpop.
Post-punk politics are a recurring theme utilised by Skinny Puppy. Some say the meaning of their name is that their music and lyrics give a view of the world from the eyes of a starving animal. They have long had an interest in animal rights; this is most obvious in their song Testure, which is about vivisection and other animal testing being scientific fraud. During many of their concerts Ogre would take the role of "scientist" and experiment on a stuffed animal. In 1988 they were arrested for their mocked-up vivisections, and found it ironic to be arrested for a parody of what was happening for real across the street from their concert. During their TGWOTR tour, criticism of the Bush regime was a recurring theme, particularly during their performance of VX Gas Attack, a song about atrocities perpetrated by Saddam Hussein, originally released while he was still considered an ally of the United States.
The last two studio albums are points of contention for old school Puppy fans. During the recording of The Process, the band broke up. Even more tragically, Dwayne Rudolph Goettel died, from an apparent heroin overdose at his parent's home, soon afterwards. Some people say that cEvin, Nivek, and Dwayne didn't connect as well on this album as they had earlier because their respective musical interests were diverging at the time, others claim it was the heroin.
Key and Ogre later reunited as Skinny Puppy for a one-off concert in Germany in 2003. Afterwards, they decided Skinny Puppy should continue as an ongoing project. The newly reconstituted Skinny Puppy released The Greater Wrong of the Right in 2004, their first studio album in 8 years, and have been continuing since, constantly evolving their sound.
There have been a number of Skinny Puppy side projects, both before, and after the breakup in 1995. The Tear Garden is a collaboration between cEvin and Edward Ka-Spel (and later most band members) of The Legendary Pink Dots. Other noteable side projects include Download, Hilt, Plateau, Cyberaktif (a collaboration between Key & Goettel and Bill Leeb, a.k.a. Wilhelm Schroeder), Rx (one-off collaboration between Ogre and Martin Atkins), ADuck (Goettel's side project), A CHUD Convention (one-off collaboration with a;GRUHM...), Ogre's contributions to Pigface, Ogre and Mark Walk's band ohGr and solo releases from cEvin Key.
Worlock
Skinny Puppy Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
sloppy mincing eyedropping biopsy cyclops overlooks optic options rotton showstopper skinpopper babbler dabbler
self confessed criminal tore pen in vain
instant still spellbound
game stock talk back rock
reencounter incident subsistance inexistant
non committed unwitted oblivious
habitual resistor
roughed up edge fluent nudge
pre-collect ignition motivation inexistant
wasted views that's all they see blue
hot blood guild optic nerve
with the right attitude you will succeed blue
self abusive recluse too late for me
make shifting peace on settling crazy
doing crazy things
keep your eyes open soft spoken changes nothing
a view so cruel
dogs body comatose
torchlight roast
disinterest disinfect
retold impressed by possession
insiders know refresh detained contest
off and pure
sure tonight it feeds itself
freeze in time
shadows climb distracting override
instincts evolve
over and over
wasted truth why call at all blue
hot lines eventual decline
with the right attitude you will succed blue
resent that discontent sidestep
define the state of things so far
crazy things
when the eyes open
know soft spoken it changes nothing
a view so cruel
The song Worlock by Skinny Puppy is a dark and intense exploration of the dissociative and self-destructive tendencies of an individual in modern society. The lyrics describe a person who is on the fringe of society and is engaging in a cycle of self-destructive behavior that they cannot seem to escape from. They are engaged in activities such as bingeing and cringing while also being oblivious to the consequences of their actions. The cyclops overlooking their optic options is an image that suggests a lack of vision, and the showstopper skinpopper is a reference to self-mutilation. The individual is torn between their desire to rebel against society and their own self-hatred, which is evident in the line "self-confessed criminal tore pen in vain." They are spellbound by their own destructive tendencies and cannot seem to break free from the cycle.
As the song progresses, the lyrics become more abstract and fragmented, suggesting a descent into madness. The individual is described as being "instincts evolve over and over" and is unable to escape the cycle of destruction. They are caught up in a world of disinterest and disaffection, unable to find meaning or purpose in their life. The lyrics suggest a sense of hopelessness and despair, with the line "with the right attitude you will succeed blue" suggesting that success is unlikely and the individual is resigned to their fate.
Line by Line Meaning
binge cringe on the fringe
Indulging in excess while being on the outskirts of society.
sloppy mincing eyedropping biopsy cyclops overlooks optic options rotton showstopper skinpopper babbler dabbler
A grotesque, one-eyed being disregards visual choices and promotes despicable practices.
self confessed criminal tore pen in vain
An admitted lawbreaker failed to express themselves effectively.
instant still spellbound
Suddenly frozen in awe and wonder.
game stock talk back rock
Ready for confrontation and challenging the norm.
reencounter incident subsistance inexistant
A chance meeting offers no support for survival.
non committed unwitted oblivious
Not dedicated and lacking intelligence to recognize the situation.
habitual resistor
A chronic opponent.
buff the stuff
Make preparations.
roughed up edge fluent nudge
A raw, yet smooth push towards change.
pre-collect ignition motivation inexistant
Absent motivation before starting a task.
wasted views that's all they see blue
Their vision is lost and one-dimensional.
hot blood guild optic nerve
Intense passion guides perception.
with the right attitude you will succeed blue
Success requires the correct mindset.
self abusive recluse too late for me
Isolating oneself and experiencing self-harm, beyond repair.
make shifting peace on settling crazy
Attempting to settle down amidst chaos.
doing crazy things
Engaging in irrational behavior.
keep your eyes open soft spoken changes nothing
Being observant and quiet will not invoke change.
a view so cruel
An incredibly harsh perspective.
dogs body comatose
A lifeless, meaningless body.
torchlight roast
A severe and painful punishment.
disinterest disinfect
Lack of concern leads to a sterile environment.
retold impressed by possession
A story told in admiration of ephemeral objects.
insiders know refresh detained contest
The privileged are aware of the worth, yet eager to maintain control.
off and pure
Unadulterated and authentic.
sure tonight it feeds itself
It will continue to grow and feed solely on itself.
freeze in time
Trapped and unchanging in the moment.
shadows climb distracting override
The darkness encroaches, overpowering the senses.
instincts evolve
Natural impulses progress and adapt.
over and over
Repetitive and cyclical.
wasted truth why call at all blue
Truth is disregarded and questioned, rendering communication pointless.
hot lines eventual decline
Intense connections inevitably diminish.
with the right attitude you will succed blue
The correct mentality can lead to success.
resent that discontent sidestep
To dislike and skip over dissatisfaction.
define the state of things so far
Determine the current state of affairs.
crazy things
Irrational behavior.
when the eyes open
Upon realization of the truth.
know soft spoken it changes nothing
Speaking gently will not lead to change.
a view so cruel
A perspective filled with wickedness.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@cloudparter
Lyrics:
Binge
Cringe
On the fringe (The police used to watch over the people. Now they're watching the people)
Sloppy
Binge
Cringe (Now is the only thing that's real.)
Sloppy
Mincing
Eye-dropping
Biopsy
Cyclops overlooks
Optic options
Rotten showstopper
Skinpopper
Babbler dabbler
Self confessed criminal tore pen in vain
Instant still spellbound
Game stock talk back rock
Reencounter incident
Subsistence inexistent (Now is the only thing that's real.)
Non committed
Unwitted
Oblivious
Habitual
Resistor
Roughed up edge fluent nudge pre-collect ignition
Motivation
Inexistent
Wasted views that's all they see blue
Hot blood guilt optic nerve
With the right attitude
You will succeed blue
Self abusive
Recluse
Too late for me
Make
Shifting peace
Unsettling
Crazy
Doing crazy things
Keep your eyes open
Soft spoken Changes nothing
A view
So cruel
Dogs body comatose
Torchlight roast
Disinterest
Disinfect
Retold
Impressed by possession
Insiders know
Refresh
Detained contest
Offer is pure
Sure tonight
Freeze in time or shadows climb distracting override
Instincts Evolve
Over and over
Wasted
(Do you, don't you
Want me to make you?
It's comin' down fast
But don't let me break you
Tell me, tell me, tell me the answer
You may be a lover
But you ain't no dancer)
Wasted truth
Why call at all blue
Hot lines
Eventual decline
With the right attitude
You will succeed blue
Resent That discontent
Sidestep
Define
The state of things
So far
Crazy Things
Soft spoken
With your eyes (Open)
You know soft spoken changes nothing?
A view so cruel (profits)
A view so cruel (A view so cruel)
A view so cruel (A view so cruel)
A view so cruel (A view so cruel)
A view so cruel (A view so cruel)
A view so cruel (A view so cruel)
A view so cruel (A view so cruel)
@ricktherrien8235
I found a tape of Skinny Puppy in Good Will when I was about ten, I had a listen and it haunted me and kinda freaked me out.
I have never been so effected by music in my life and I never listened to them again till I just remembered this moment that was lost to me from so many years ago.
So out of curiosity, and to see if my memory for the past is still sound as ever, I searched Skinny Puppy and I found them and the first song I listened to was Assimilate and at that moment I was sent back to childhood in a way because that was the song I had heard as a child by them which haunted me.
So I listened to it and thought nothing of it but astonishingly that same day I was compelled to listen to it again and the second time I heard more of the substance of what Skinny Puppy where and at that moment understood the true affinity which is related to Skinny Puppy.
The darkness draws one in only to disclose to you, in a totally intimate way, the true beauty to their essence.
That dark and scary place that I found as a child through this song suddenly became more clear now that I was old enough to understand and not be frightened by them.
So something which once scared me and made me uncomfortable was now something totally compelling and profound then I ever could have imagined in my mind as a ignorant child (ignorant as in unaware or not informed not stupid or foolish)
Now Skinny Puppy is a integral part of my musical repertoire.
Glad I found them again and overcame a fear only to find something much more profound and remarkable in something which may seem dark and haunting.
@SogoTX
This takes me back to the heady days of the 80s... DJ'd at a Goth/Industrial club and got to see amazing Talent like these Guys come through on tour and get to hang out with them after the Show and talk shop...
Those were amazing times!
;)
Lyrics:
Binge
Cringe
On the fringe (The police used to watch over the people. Now they're watching the people)
Sloppy
Binge
Cringe (Now is the only thing that's real.)
Sloppy
Mincing
Eye-dropping
Biopsy
Cyclops overlooks
Optic options
Rotten showstopper
Skinpopper
Babbler dabbler
Self confessed criminal tore pen in vain
Instant still spellbound
Game stock talk back rock
Reencounter incident
Subsistence inexistent (Now is the only thing that's real.)
Non committed
Unwitted
Oblivious
Habitual
Resistor
Roughed up edge fluent nudge pre-collect ignition
Motivation
Inexistent
Wasted views that's all they see blue
Hot blood guilt optic nerve
With the right attitude
You will succeed blue
Self abusive
Recluse
Too late for me
Make
Shifting peace
Unsettling
Crazy
Doing crazy things
Keep your eyes open
Soft spoken Changes nothing
A view
So cruel
Dogs body comatose
Torchlight roast
Disinterest
Disinfect
Retold
Impressed by possession
Insiders know
Refresh
Detained contest
Offer is pure
Sure tonight
Freeze in time or shadows climb distracting override
Instincts Evolve
Over and over
Wasted
(Do you, don't you
Want me to make you?
It's comin' down fast
But don't let me break you
Tell me, tell me, tell me the answer
You may be a lover
But you ain't no dancer)
Wasted truth
Why call at all blue
Hot lines
Eventual decline
With the right attitude
You will succeed blue
Resent That discontent
Sidestep
Define
The state of things
So far
Crazy Things
Soft spoken
With your eyes (Open)
You know soft spoken changes nothing?
A view so cruel (profits)
A view so cruel (A view so cruel)
A view so cruel (A view so cruel)
A view so cruel (A view so cruel)
A view so cruel (A view so cruel)
A view so cruel (A view so cruel)
A view so cruel (A view so cruel)
Songwriters: Cevin Key / Dwayne Goettel / Nivek Ogre
@rozz_synthclair
I think it's literally impossible for me to get bored of this song.
@haggispixie
Correct.
@jasonwarren2002
Yup
@milananimates
Same.
@andysartantiquesoddities3181
Agree 100%. One of my favorites!
@rachelmoore4284
@@haggispixie 0
@sermedzainy1892
In my opinion, this is one of their most beautiful songs, definitely my favorite. I would listen to it over and over as a teenager, I'm 43 now and I still can listen to this over and over and over....
@Vwlss
It's flawless.
@faust8569
💚 at first hearing 🤘 🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘
@VonBearsJr
Guilt
Optic nerve.