(Victory Records) Victory Records has signed Los Angeles recording artist Otep. The first release under the new alliance is Otep's fourth full-length studio album "Smash the Control Machine". The new studio album will be released August 18, 2009. Otep was originally signed after only four shows, without a demo, strictly on the power of the band's live performance. Sharon Osbourne offered the unsigned act a spot on the 2001 Ozzfest Tour leading to three appearances on the festival.
Otep had this to say about signing with Victory, "When I received the news of a possible Otep/Victory alliance I could swear I felt the sky tremble. This triumvirate (of myself, my manager Jack Ponti and Victory Records) is going to be a terrifying coalition for some and a righteous confederation for others."
Manager Jack Ponti had this to add, "It both thrills and honors me to be working with Otep and Victory Records. In my thirty years in this business, it's always been about the proper "marriage". I cannot convey how excited I am about the possibilities of these daunting forces joining together in what promises to be a thunderous union." [punctuation errors from the press release which has also been trimmed to remove most of the hyperbole]