Skinny Puppy's live performances had become increasingly more elaborate, with Ogre interacting with an onstage crucifix and other "crudely constructed" stage props. Craig MacInnis of the "Toronto Star" described their new stage show as "neo-dadaist shock theatre", while Tom Lanham of the "San Francisco Chronicle" referred to it as "grotesque". The band continued to tour in 1988 with the European "Head Trauma" tour, supported by Edward Ka-Spel. Following the tour, the group returned to the studio to record what Ogre described would be the band's most critical statement regarding animal testing.