by It was only a matter of time before Otep would address Trump and the current political climate. While I applaud the effort and sentiment of “To the Gallows,” there are a few issues to be had with the song and lyrics.
True, musically the song is very enjoyable, although it sounds like nu metal from the late ‘90s. Nonetheless, it’s fun, heavy, has a great bass sound, etc. Then, while it’s fun to take cheap shots at Trump, calling in daughter and saying that he lusts after seems a bit like sinking down to his level and a trite issue in a political/anti-Trump song. Then, while I’m sure the song’s title is a metaphor for Trump to hang himself politically, it comes across as a wish for his death. And, last but not least, what’s with the oil dykes in the lyric video? That seems so Bush-era, and yes, Otep did a similar lyric video for “Warhead.”
“To the Gallows” will appear on Otep’s eighth full-length album, Kult 45, which will be released on July 27th, via Napalm Records. Order now in digital formats here, and/or CD and vinyl formats via the Napalm Records Online Store.
Vocalist Otep Shamaya said about the track:
Art is resistance. Art allows us to fight back without violence. This song, ‘To the Gallows,’ is meant to shine a light on Traitor Trump’s attacks on the Constitution, on Healthcare, on the LGBTQ+, the African American, Hispanic, and Muslim communities, DREAMERS, and women’s reproductive rights. Not to mention that this spurious president might have committed just a little bit of light treason, but this is why we rally, this is why we march, and this is why I write. Because when I look back someday I want to know that I did everything in my power as an artist, activist and citizen, to stop him and his bigoted embryonic autocracy.
Kult 45 was recorded at The Lair in Los Angeles, completely utilizing the same equipment used for Otep’s first album, Sevas Tra (down to Shamaya’s vocal microphone, a SHURE Beta 58), in order to create a sound reminiscent of their roots. Kult 45 was self-produced by Otep Shamaya and Aristotle, with assistant engineering from Larry Goetz, Nicolas Schilke, and Lizzy Ostro.
Otep will go out on a headline tour supporting Kult 45 this summer. The tour begins on July 5th, in Las Vegas, NV, at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino. The tour will run for nearly a month and a half, coming to an end in Ventura, CA, on August 18th. See below for all currently confirmed tour dates.
Otep Summer 2018 Headline Tour Dates:
7/5 – Las Vegas, NV @ Hard Rock Hotel & Casino*
7/6 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Metro Music Hall*
7/7 – Grand Junction, CO @ Mesa Theatre*
7/8 – Denver, CO @ Oriental Theater*
7/9 – Colorado Springs, CO @ Black Sheep*
7/11 – Merriam, KS @ Aftershock*
7/12 – Sioux Falls, SD @ Icon Lounge*
7/13 – Cadott, WI @ Rock Fest – hosted by Lou Brutus
7/14 – Joliet, IL @ The Forge#
7/15 – Detroit, MI @ Diesel Concert Lounge#
7/17 – Toronto, ON @ The Rockpile
7/18 – Ottawa, ON @ Brass Monkey
7/19 – New York, NY @ Gramercy Theatre – w/ Kore RozZik
7/20 – Reading, PA @ Reverb – RockRoom#
7/21 – Poughkeepsie, NY @ The Chance#
7/22 – Buffalo, NY @ Buffalo Iron Works#
7/23 – Warrendale, PA @ Jergel’s Rhythm Grille#
7/25 – Lexington, KY @ Manchester Music Hall#
7/26 – Cincinnati, OH @ Bogarts#
7/27 – Cleveland, OH @ The Odeon Concert Club#
7/28 – Findlay, OH @ All American Rock House#
7/29 – St. Louis, MO @ Fubar#
8/1 – Oklahoma City, OK @ Ruins Live&
8/2 – Austin, TX @ Come & Take It Live&
8/3 – Dallas, TX @ Gas Monkey Live!&
8/4 – Houston, TX @ Scout Bar&
8/5 – San Antonio, TX @ The Rock Box&
8/7 – Mesa, AZ @ Club Red&
8/8 – Los Angeles, CA @ Whisky A Go Go
8/9 – Flagstaff, AZ @ The Green Room&
8/10 – Tucson, AZ @ The Rialto Theatre&
8/11 – Anaheim, CA @ The Parish @ House of Blues&
8/12 – Sacramento, CA @ Holy Diver&
8/14 – Seattle, WA @ El Corazon& – NEW VENUE!
8/15 – Portland, OR @ Hawthorne Theatre&
8/17 – Fresno, CA @ Fulton 55&
8/18 – Ventura, CA @ Ventura Theater&
* w/ Dropout Kings & One Day Waiting
# w/ Dropout Kings & Kore RozZik
& w/ Dropout Kings & Ragdoll Sunday
Rock Hard \m/
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