Dopethrone - Demonsmoke

by Chris Rowella

I might lose street cred by saying this, but who cares: I’m done seeking out the most extreme, experimental, metal/noise/ambient/prog/core/whatever floating around. At this point in my life, I know exactly what I like, and that’s what I stick to. With the resurgence of old-school death metal and bands coming clean about their inner classic rock nerds (hey there, Blue Record!), I see that I am not alone. Everything’s been done, so play what you love and enjoy it.

Wizard’s Sleeve
Abraxas

Embracing one’s roots is the principle guiding Montreal three-piece Dopethrone on their debut album, Demonsmoke. Eyehategod, Venom, and Southern rock all have an equal say throughout eight tracks of bloodshot bliss. Guitarist/vocalist Vincent keeps things interesting with octane-soaked black metal vocals, providing an interesting counterpoint to the sludge. “Wizard’s Sleeve” intertwines Buzzov*en-type grime riffs and random samples with swirling blues guitar interludes, while you can almost see Ozzy jumping and clapping during the beginning of “Power Violence Forever.”

For me, the highlight is “Abraxas.” The music is deceptively simple but perfect; without the blackened vocals or double-kick, it could have been a Mountain or Sir Lord Baltimore single. It doesn’t last long, but with a song this damn catchy, that’s a good thing.

Wearing influences on your sleeve is dangerous if you don’t have the heart to back it up. But Dopethrone won’t ever be accused of that. They recorded, produced, and released Demonsmoke DIY [ed. note: and made it available for free download — link below], and the album is better for it. These are the people that are not only keeping underground metal alive, but a fun place to be as well.