A hard-hitting and outspoken female-fronted metal outfit from Los Angeles, California, Otep’s lethal blend of gothic, extreme, rap, alternative, and nu-metal draws from a wide array of influences, including the Doors, Metallica, Slipknot, and Deftones. Led by fiery singer/songwriter, poet, author, performance artist, and activist for LGBT rights and animal welfare Otep Shamaya, the band emerged in 2000 and quickly caught the attention of Sharon Osbourne, who invited Otep to join that years Ozzfest. The band spent the ensuing years blazing a trail of sonic destruction via career-best outings like Smash the Control Machine (2009) and Atavist(2011), while maintaining their penchant for pairing sheer volume with cultural and political provocation.