The Dope fiends have returned with their first album since 2003's Group Therapy. Time has not tempered the aggression brought forth by this four piece. I have had the opportunity of seeing them live on a few occasions, and have discovered they have built quite a following despite the lack of radio support, that and they put on a helluva show. This latest release, American Apathy, puts them right at the forefront of the current metal scene. No nu-metal, punk, or pop to be found here, just pure aggression. This is possibly their most aggressive release since their debut, back in 1999.
If you have not heard Dope before, get out and get this album. It is a blast of metal from start to finish. I slipped this disk in expecting a good album, but what I got was much better than that. Guitar driven, this album is a heavy music fans dream. The sound is raw, immediate, demanding, once you hit play, there is no turning back.
The album opens with "I'm Back," a loud rocking track announcing their presence, there is no denying they are here to stay. Continuing the drive towards destroying your ears and blowing your mind, it continues with "Survive" and "No Way Out." It continues on to the charged "Sex Machine." The pace changes a bit with "Let's F**k," where we get a dose of raw metal groove. That isn't the only cut to exhibit that raw groove, there is also "I Wish I Was the President." There really isn't a weak song on this album.
In addition to 14 new tracks, Edsel and crew have also given us 3 bonus tracks. There is an alternate version of "Bitch," which first appeared on Group Therapy, and a new version of "Burn" featuring the Detroit Hate Choir, also originally from Group Therapy. The final bonus track is a new studio version of "F**k tha Police," the NWA track that Dope has made their own. It has become a huge part of their live show, and it is great to see them revisit it with the current lineup, it was originally an unlisted track on Felons and Revolutionaries.
Article comments