Jihad (also known as Otep on European versions) is the debut EP and release by American nu metal band Otep. It was released on June 19, 2001, by Capitol Records. It is the only Otep release to feature guitarists Traver Marsh and Dave "Spooky" Aguilera, who were fired from the band shortly after the EP's release.

Background

Otep was formed in November 2000. After an appearance at the Roxy Theatre (their fourth show) in February 2001, the band was selected by Sharon Osbourne to appear on the bill for Ozzfest 2001, despite the fact they had no record deal or demo. This increased the band's attention, and Nik Frost, an A&R representative, signed the band to Capitol Records in March 2001. The band publicly announced and celebrated the label signing with a performance at The Viper Room on April 5, 2001.

Capitol signed the band on the belief the band had written eleven songs; in reality, Otep had lied, as they only had five or six playable songs that were around eight months old at the time of Jihad<nowiki/>'s recording, but the band was not worried about needing new songs as Otep Shamaya had already written all of the lyrics, and the band was on a creative spree at the time. Afterwards, they started working on their EP with producer Rich Costey. Capitol gave the band one week to complete the EP, which meant its production was rushed, and the songs were not as fleshed out or developed as they could have been. Despite these time constraints, Otep was overall satisfied with the quality of the songs.

Composition

Jihad is generally described as nu metal, rap metal and gothic metal.

The album was written in a stream of consciousness style, whereby no songs were written prior to being played, but rather played spontaneously; "If we try to write something it's not going to be as fulfilling or sound as interesting as it would if we do it and it simply comes from someplace that we have no control over." Shamaya described the writing style as "a surrender to the subconscious". Otep described jazz, funk and fusion music, originating from each of the band member's musical backgrounds, as an influence on the sound of the EP. Otep has cited The Doors as a musical influence.

All of the songs on Jihad, aside from "Germ", were re-recorded for the band's debut album Sevas Tra, with "The Lord is My Weapon" being renamed "Sacrilege".

Release and promotion

Jihad was released in the United States on June 19, 2001, by Capitol Records as a digipak CD. The EP was planned to be released in Europe in September 2001;

Otep toured in support of the EP from May to September 2001. The band toured the US and appeared at Ozzfest 2001. Their headlining show in Detroit, Illinois, was their eighth show and the band's performance of "Filthee" was recorded and released on the live compilation album Ozzfest 2001: The Second Millennium. Otep were the only female band on the Ozzfest 2001 bill. Following Ozzfest, Marsh and Aguilera were fired from the band, as they were not fitting in with the rest of the band. They were both permanently replaced by Rob Patterson for the rest of the tours that year.

Track listing

Personnel

Personnel per liner notes.

Otep

  • Otep Shamaya - vocals/backing vocals, art direction
  • Jason "eViL j" McGuire - bass, backing vocals on "The Lord Is My Weapon"
  • Mark "Moke" Bistany - drums, assorted percussion on "Germ"
  • Tarver Marsh - guitars
  • Dave "Spooky" Aguilera - guitars

Production

  • Rich Costey - producer, engineering, mixer
  • Eddy Schreyer - mastering
  • Xen Lang III - executive producer, management

Artwork

  • Wendy Dougan - art direction, design

Management

  • Ron Laffitte and Perry Watts-Russel - A&R
  • Franklin Management Group: management

Release history

{| class="wikitable"

|+

!Country

!Date

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|United States

|June 19, 2001

|-

|Europe

|November 19, 2001