Dopethrone are the most consistent band in the genre, and this record further cements their legacy as one of the greats.
“Transcanadian Anger” CD//DD//LP track listing:
1). Planet Meth
2). Wrong Sabbath
3). Killdozer
4). Scuzzgasm
5). Tweakjabber
6). Snort Dagger
7). Killbilly Krush
8). Miserablist
The Review:
Dopethrone is a no frills stoner metal band that has nothing to hide. “Transcanadian Anger” is everything you want to hear from the band, only further refined. With each new release, Dopethronefurther solidify themselves as the Mötorhead of their genre. “Transcanadian Anger” is all substance, and no bullshit.
Dopethrone slithers out of the gate with “Planet Meth” and “Wrong Sabbath”. These bluesy riffs are the sonic equivalent of drowning in a vat of tar; a syrupy heavy tone only made possible by Dopethrone. The miasma of thick sludge kicks into high gear with “Killdozer” and “Scuzzgasm”. These four tracks showcase Dopethrone’s ability to create such diverse music within their brand of stoner/sludge metal.
The overall production on this record exemplifies the band’s strengths; full of lush textures, and really pushing the low end tones to the forefront of the listening experience. Even though the vocals seem quite low in the mix, they have this ominous quality to them that work perfectly in creating the soundscape that Dopethrone aspires to.
“Transcanadian Anger” is must have stoner/sludge metal record, but the listeners already knew that. Dopethrone are the most consistent band in the genre, and this record further cements their legacy as one of the greats.
At a time when sludge fans are being sold their favourite tipple heavily cut and in short measure, Demonsmoke are the real deal and “Morphine Moonshine”, their first full-length, is an accomplished debut.
It draws directly and joyously from an esteemed musical heritage that takes in early Sourvein and the first two Eyehategod LPs, and draws alongside the sounds of Weedeaterand Dopethrone. And like those heavyweights, Demonsmoke are steeped in hard living.
“We're from the slums of the [San Joaquin-Sacramento River] Delta,” explains drummer Mitch Groseclose,alluding to another Delta notorious for paradoxically serious partying and swollen grooves. “We just try to recreate the attitude of where we live.”
Demonsmoke grew up together in Antioch, California, mostly meeting in the local high school apart from bass player Boug Groseclosewho is Mitch’suncle. Eight years after high school, Mitch met guitarist Vinny Messina again at a party and soon after they began jamming together. Nothing was to come of that, but after the abrupt end of the band Mitch and vocalist Cam Salas were both part of, the way was paved for the three to come together, Mitch then bringing in Boug to complete the rhythm section.
“We love heavy shit and having a good time,”says Mitch. “We decided to start a band that sounds like the music we all love to listen to.”
Woozy, iron heavy guitarwork punching through feedback, lo-fi film samples lifted from Mitch'slarge VHS collection (notably Gummo, The Wild Angels, Apocalypse Nowand GG Allin), and overlaid with reverb-sodden bong-gurgle vocals. There is no ambiguity as to the kinds of record collections that inspired the creation of “Morphine Moonshine”.The sound is unashamedly classic sludge, and the band are keen to point out the help they had in creating it from Greg Wilkinsonat Earhammer Studios, Oakland.
“Recording the album was an amazing experience”says Mitch. “[He] really knows his shit! We showed him the demo, recorded by Nick Massonat Blue Rock Studios two years earlier, and he was down to record the full length. We were super excited and all ears when we showed up in the studio. Gregmade sure all of our gear sounded tits before we even put a microphone to them. Our vision of the album came out better than we could have hoped. Crispy, crunchy, fuzzy as hell, but you could still hear everything clearly. Gregis a super nice, down-to-earth guy and knows his shit about more than just recording. He dropped tons of wisdom on us and the whole experience was enjoyable as hell.”
Beyond the music, the record also adheres closely to sludge traditions thematically. The band name, album’s title and artwork, as well as individual song titles like 'Set in Stoned’ and album highlight 'Junkie’, signal the group's subcultural position unabashed.
“Wouldn't be stoner rock without some stoners in the group!” says Cam.
Now that Proposition 64 has passed making the sale of recreational marijuana legal in California, surely life has never been so good for stoners.
“We're not political in our music, but personally I think legalization is a double edged situation,”Cammuses. “On one hand I’m glad to see more acceptance of weed, but on the other hand big business is going to try and get involved and I don't want it to get all commercialized.”
Mitchis also unsure about what the new legislation means. “Weed has always been my drug of choice. I grew up with ADHD and all those fucking speed pills, so smoking pot seemed like the natural medicine to me. I've had my medical card for nine years now and really enjoy the system. Prop 64 wasn't necessary, I think, because things were already set up if you wanted them to be.
“I've tried almost all drugs,”Mitchcontinues. “I had a big psychedelic phase. Mushrooms, LSD, DMT, 2C-I. I loved opening up my mind. Now I mostly just stick to weed and hash. I'm a big-time dabber!” he laughs.
While not all the band indulges, Mitch isn't the only member to have broader tastes in this regard.
“Well I used to pretty much do whatever I could get my hands on,”Vinny admits. “Went from smoking weed, droppin’ acid and eating shrooms to doin’ coke and oxy. Got into a lot of trouble with crank there for a little while, but now all I really do is drink. Got me a class A and I'm drivin’ big rigs now so I can't fuck up and come up dirty, ya know?”
Listening to “Morphine Moonshine” it's hard to imagine any of the band notcoming up dirty. This record would impart a hazy high to even the most hard-bitten prohibitionist who ventured to listen to it and is a tonic for any hangover. It's as if the thing was crafted with an alternative harm reduction motto in mind: Crush. Dab. Weight.
The Finnish quartet deal in a potent blend of filthy sludge-encrusted riffs tempered by hypnotic stoner grooves and nasty gravel gargling vocals. The band conjure up the sound of a bar room brawl between Weedeater and Colour Haze.
“Seaweed” CD//DD//LP track listing:
1). Taxbear
2). Heavy Chase
3). Seaweed
4). Cavity
5). Backwoods
6). Pure Cold
7). Saturnday
8). Peninkulma
The Review:
There’s nothing better than a boatload of no-frills, weapons-grade riffage to blow away the January blues. Demonic Death Judge deliver the goods in fine style on new album “Seaweed”. The Finnish quartet deal in a potent blend of filthy sludge-encrusted riffs tempered by hypnotic stoner grooves and nasty gravel gargling vocals. The band conjure up the sound of a bar room brawl between Weedeater and Colour Haze.
“Taxbear” kicks things off in punishing fashion. Gargantuan riffs pummel the listener into submission until they are enveloped in waves of swirling guitar noise and menacing samples. The pure low-end dirt of “Pure Cold” and the dangerously addictive “Heavy Chase” run “Taxbear” close for heaviest track on the LP but quality riffs abound throughout “Seaweed”.
Demonic Death Judge demonstrate that they don’t need to rely on constant hard-riffing to be effective. The title track begins the introduction of more melodic elements into the mix with suitably aquatic effects-laden guitars providing a hazy calm before the storm of the band’s arrival at full bore. “Cavity” sees the band explore this relaxed side further to achieve powerful psychedelic results while the brooding first half of closer “Peninkulma” creates an almost post-rock slow-burn before being crushed under one final tonne of leaden riffage.
“Seaweed” is a killer effort from Demonic Death Judge that strikes a good balance between no-nonsense sludge and minor excursions into more tuneful territory. In an often overcrowded genre, the band stick out by rocking hard while bringing their own distinct character to the fore.
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