OTTTO – Life Is A Game (Album Review)

Because four T’s would be excessive.

As the prime movers that brought the metal genre into prominence approach their golden years, the inevitable question of succession becomes more and more relevant. Likewise, in these days where recalling the exploits of the denim and leather days of the early 80s has seen a noticeable rise in popularity, one has to wonder if there isn’t a revival of the eclectic to downright odd stylistic strides that the art made in the subsequent decade. Both of these questions have recently found a compelling answer in Ottto, a project that in the past several years has turned heads due to the involvement of legendary bassist Robert Trujillo’s son Tye, who has been making waves in his own right by filling the shoes once occupied by his father with Suicidal Tendencies. Though the end result of 6 years of effort and a small string of smaller releases, this power trio’s debut LP “Life Is A Game” has all the charm and pizzazz of an album that has come from out of nowhere, not to mention one that opts for a road less traveled in metal circles of late.

Doing what it is expected is often the first ingredient of surprise, and even the shortest sampling of the auditory treats that round out this studio album showcase a musical surgeon and a process of song creation that falls perfectly in line with what one would guess a successor to the Trujillo name might accomplish. A balanced mixture of the crossover brand of thrash that the likes of Suicidal Tendencies and D.R.I. had pioneered with the funky, alternative sensibilities of Mordred, Infectious Grooves and even a bit of Faith No More is the best way to described it, touched up with a crisp, modern production approach that lends comparison to the most recent output of Anthrax. For his part, Tye functions as the chief attraction with his highly animated and intricate take on constructing a low-end foundation, though drummer Patrick Chavez’s bombastic battery is far from a slouch element in the equation and guitarist/vocalist Bryan Ferretti rides a close second with a crunchy and innovative riff display, an intermittent yet intricate assortment of guitar solos and a forceful yet smooth vocal assault that lands between a vintage 90s alternative howl and a 2000s metalcore wail.

Variety is the name of “Life Is A Game”’s game, as the previously noted alternative elements that suggest a mid-paced rocking affair are adorned with several swifter orthodox thrash metal elements, and the arrangement proves quite rich in spite of consisting all but solely of a barebones mixture of guitars, bass and drums. One can’t help but be instantly transported to those exciting days in the late 80s when the early strides into funky territory were first being explored, when the animated banger “Skyscraper” commandeers the speakers, all the while that neck-destroying, quick-paced thrashing element is not gone from the formula. Likewise, the rhythmic nuance and almost Alice In Chains-like sense of vocal harmony that adorns the bottom-heavy crusher “Scopa” takes an auspicious moment about halfway through to jump back into 1987 Bay Area territory for a brilliant solo segment. But wherein catchy hooks with a driving thrash metal sense that truly bring home the bacon are concerned, it’s tough to top the crossover-infused attitude that oozes out of “Dance Of The Dead”.

“Ottto” Album Artwork

Nevertheless, the majority of the material that rounds out this album sees Ottto crossing the Rubicon that rests between the sounds of the 80s and 90s, favoring the latter at just about every turn. One need only hear the opening chords of this album’s first rocking shot across the bow “My Pain” to hear a brand of metal that was reacting to alternative sensibilities. The semi-ballad mixture of atmospheric respite and crushing grooves “Night Howlers” could almost be mistaken for something off Machine Head’s “Burn My Eyes” were it not for Tye’s wildly animated bass work, a greater sense of precision between the riff work and the drumming and Ferretti’s smoother and more cutting vocals. The previously mentioned heavy-grunge tendencies in how Bryan and Tye blend their voices reaches an absolute fever pitch on the down-tempo romp “Trip”, though the end result is something a bit less brooding and more quirky. But the point where this band truly lands a knockout punch is right at the end with “The Void”, which might well stand as one of the more memorable and intricate blends of quirky alternative/avant-garde/funky high-jinks and metallic crunch to come out of 2023.

Though perhaps hampered a tad by being so varied in approach as to borderline on schizophrenic, “Life Is A Game” is the sort of solid debut entry that could find a comfortable home in the playlists of many a metal head young or old. In most respects it stands in direct opposition to the current NWOTHM and traditional 80s thrash metal scenes, yet it’s so well accomplished that it wouldn’t be too much of a stretch to see some adherents to those crazes taking to several of these songs. We truly hope the the target audience of this band is not limited to those who have been immersed in the current exploits of Suicidal Tendencies and Metallica, and correspondingly the son-of-a-superstar counterpart project Bastardane, featuring James Hetfield’s son on drums. It’s unclear whether this album will be the catalyst of a whole new generation of bands adopting the stylistic template that ruled the metal world from 1991 through 1995, but there is enough in this opening salvo to guarantee a succession of solid entries under the Ottto name down the road.

Released By: Independent
Release Date: March 24th, 2023
Genre: Groove / Hardcore / Funk  Metal

Musicians:

• Bryan Noah Ferretti / Vocals, Guitar
• Tye Trujillo / Bass
• Patrick “Triko” Chavez / Drums

“Life Is A Game” Track-list:

1.  My Pain
2. Skyscraper
3. Night Howlers
4. Scopa
5. Let Them Return
6. Ride Low
7. Dance of the Dead
8. Trip
9. Cosmos
10. The Void

Order “Life Is A Game” HERE.