ARE THEY METAL?: Skinny Puppy

Industrial rock and metal's rise in the 90's was made prominent by popular acts like Godflesh, Ministry and Nine Inch Nails. But other acts, more underground and less well-known, would become acts that continued the sound when many of those popular bands broke-up or altered their sound. Straying away from the heavy reliance of the industrial elements that brought them to the dance. One of those acts was the artistic, jarring and creative band known as Skinny Puppy. Formed as a dark synth-pop act in the early 80's, the band would mutate and create a electro-industrial barrage of ambient, metal, noise rock and even funk. Led by the band's creative and artistic front man Nivek Ogre, Skinny Puppy would take industrial rock and metal to a more jarring direction with not only the band's lyrics and sound, but in their live performances that would be captivating in the band's costumes and imagery during their live performances. Inspiring countless acts like Marilyn Manson, Mortiis, 3Teeth, Korn and Attila Csihar of Mayhem with the band's diverse music and stage show.

But with the industrial genre itself, that leans primarily into the electronic and synth heavy usage, is Skinny Puppy metal? Was this band who sometimes are the unsung heroes of the industrial genre, along with KMFDM and Front Line Assembly, be considered metal? Today, I will look into the band's legendary career in music and answer the question Are They Metal?

The band debuted with the E.P. Remission in 1984. Leaning heavily into the synthpop and electro-industrial sound that was beginning to develop, Ogre's voice delivered an uneasy, grizzly impression over an 80's drum-machine and synths. Remission would barely feature electric guitar on the record, leaning truly into the heavy usage of synths and percussion throughout. 1985 would have the band release their debut album Bites. More aggressive and hostile in it's sound, the record showed the band beginning to develop and show their darker take on the industrial rock/metal sound that was beginning to form and come to fruition near the end of the decade.

Glitchier, aggressive, brash and more complex in its sound compared to Bites, Skinny Puppy would follow that record one year later with Mind: The Perpetual Intercourse. A continuation of the previous album, reviews and fans cited the record as a step-back and not a further evolution with the band's abrasive industrial sound. That the band had the right pieces to the puzzle, but just weren't put together correctly to evolve into the form the band would become famous for. The band would push experimentation and ambience with the release of 1987's Cleanse Fold and Manipulate. Described by some critics as "hard to recommend". the album's sound turned from stereotypical synth/techno beats in the first half, before experimental tracks like "Draining Faces" and "The Mourn" pushed the creepy, anxiety inducing feeling with the studio effects and sonic barrage of noises.

On the band's fourth album VIVIsectVI, the band would receive positive reviews and responses from the fans upon the album's release. Tackling more controversial and political topics likes animal rights, chemical warfare and environmentalism, the album's emphasis on guitars and pounding percussion, showed that the band's "metal" side was beginning to show itself on this record . Which would develop even further on the next album. On the band's next album Rabies, Ministry front man Al Jourgensen would contribute electric guitars and vocals to the album. Pushing a heavier and unrelenting metal element to the band's industrial-heavy sound. Though it was a commercial success, the album was mixed upon release from the critics and fans. With some loving the heavier influence of Jourgensen on the band's sound, while others critiqued it as more of a collaboration album or a 70% Ministry album, 30% Skinny Puppy album.

In 1990, the band would release would many consider the band's magnum opus with Too Dark Park. A harsher sound with the usage of sampling and sometimes off-putting electronic riffs and effects, the album was a more abrasive return to form pre-Rabies. The band even cited this record as an almost "grand reset" to return to the band's avant-garde sound that was formed years ago. One critic declared the record as the band's "return to the bloodbath", which I completely agree with this. This was Skinny Puppy at its most harshest, confrontational, experimental, and captivating in my opinion and it is a classic record. Along with being a great record, acting as a starting point for people wanting to check the band out. On the band's 1992 follow up Last Rights, the band continued to push the band's sound in production, harsh noise and sample looping. The band was also in its darkest place at the time of recording as Ogre was not only focusing on his solo project, but was dealing with drug abuse that was putting more strain on the band. As some coverage of the album showed the band being at their angriest and hostile towards each other, being at an all time high. A lot of the second half of the album were instrumental tracks due to Ogre's drug and mental state at time of recording. Which he would later say that Last Rights was considered "a document of his collapse". Following the recording of the album, Ogre would check into rehab.

Following Ogre getting clean and the band signing with American Recordings, the band would hit the studio in 1993 to begin work on their eighth album The Process. According to the band's drummer and guitarist cEvin Key, American Recordings pressured the band to push for a more commercial sound in the vein of Nine Inch Nails. Which that musical direction can be heard on songs like "Candle". Following the recording of the album, that was wrought with bickering and drug use throughout the making of, Ogre would leave the band and the band would be dropped from the label after the album's release. The band's keyboardist Dwayne Goettel would die of a heroin overdose six month's after the album's release. Skinny Puppy would break up as the band would pursue other projects until reuniting in 2000.

In 2004, the band would release their first new album in eight years, The Greater Wrong of The Right. An album that showed the band not return to the sound that made them who they are, but pushing more into more straightforward songs that relied on melodic song structures. Even using equipment from the band's synth-pop era as inspiration and influence on the album's sound. The album would also feature contributions from Danny Carey of Tool and Wayne Static of Static-X on the track "Use Less". Though receiving favorable reviews from critics, fans were mixed. Feeling unsure if this was the record the fans wanted after eight years. Or if the band was trend-chasing popular acts at the time, instead of creating their own path. In 2007, the band would release their tenth album Mythmaker. As the band continued to go the straightforward and simpler route, Ogre continued facing personal issues outside of the band that he said affected the writing and sound of the album. Upon release, it was met with mixed criticism as being more of the same and not really bringing anything new to the table.

2011 showed the release of the band's eleventh album HanDover. Showing a transition to a more "noise music" direction, complexity and experimentation began to return on this album through modern production. With input from other genres like glitch, IDM and harsh noise, it had elements and roots of the band's peak era, but unfortunately didn't stick the landing. Along with label issues with SPV, the album was not received well by fans and critics nor properly promoted. The band's now final album was 2013's Weapon. An album that truly showed the band return to the roots of Remission and Bites with the 80's synth heavy leads and drum-machine prominence. Skinny Puppy would also scale-back the band's theatrical stage show as well compared to previous concerts. In 2023, the band would announce their final tour ending on December 5th of that year.

After listening to the band's entire discography, is Skinny Puppy metal? In my opinion, No. Skinny Puppy does have metal elements in not only it's harsh and aggressive sound with albums like Too Dark Park and Rabies, it truly didn't commit enough to be metal. They dipped their toes in the metal waters with those two records, but they truly never jumped in. Though their stage outfits (like the one above) truly are metal as all hell, the band just doesn't deliver enough elements or traits to distinguish them as metal. I was a fan of Skinny Puppy before writing this piece, being a huge fan of their Too Dark Park album, but as I listened to the earliest records to the most recent, the band was just too electronica or techno for me on those early and most recent releases. I love the band's harsh-edge, which is something they delivered perfectly with their take on the industrial metal/rock sound. They want it to be abrasive, hard to listen to, all over the place in the mix and the anxiety-inducing feeling as you listen to their music. Which I think they achieved that sound perfectly on the records I mentioned above. But at the end of the day, they are not metal.

Do you think Skinny Puppy is metal? Do you agree/disagree with me and why? Let us know in the comments sections of our social media pages. You can also let us know what bands/artists you want us to tackle next in this series as well.