Today’s video of the day is Skinny Puppy – "Smothered Hope" released in 1984.
“Smothered Hope” by Skinny Puppy captures the raw energy of early industrial music. Released in 1984, the track appears on their debut EP Remission, their first release on Nettwerk Records. The video mirrors the bleak tone of the song, combining grainy visuals with dark, surreal imagery. Skinny Puppy formed in Vancouver in 1982. The founding members were vocalist Nivek Ogre and producer cEvin Key. They blended synthpop with dark electronic textures. This mix created a new style that would later define electro-industrial. At the time of Remission, the band had not yet added Dwayne Goettel. His arrival in 1986 would push their sound in a harder, more layered direction.
“Smothered Hope” stands out as a signature track from Remission. The song features harsh synth lines, distorted vocals, and heavy drum programming. It also uses the Roland TR-909, then a new innovation. These elements gave the song a cold, mechanical feel, which later became a Skinny Puppy trademark. Though Remission was technically an EP, its 1985 cassette version expanded it to a full album. That release became the default version and later appeared on CD. Songs like “Smothered Hope” laid the groundwork for later albums, especially Bites and Mind: The Perpetual Intercourse. These records grew darker and more aggressive but kept the experimental roots.
In 2013, the band released Weapon, seen as a tribute to their early years. It featured a new version of “Solvent,” another song from Remission. Like “Smothered Hope,” it reflected the minimal, synth-driven style of the early ’80s. The “Smothered Hope” video helped introduce Skinny Puppy’s visual style—chaotic, nightmarish, and political. It matched the band’s themes of control, suffering, and resistance. The video continues to influence industrial visuals today. Skinny Puppy would go on to become a major force in industrial music. Yet, Remission remains a vital piece of their legacy. “Smothered Hope” shows where it all began. The song still holds power—forty years later.
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