Dopethrone- Classic Review

Coming a few years after their self-titled album, as well as “Come My Fanatics” and “Supercoven”. “Dopethrone” is generally regarded as Electric Wizard’s best album to date. Recorded by the band’s original three members, Jus Oborn, Mark Greening and Tim Bagshaw; the album has acquired critical acclaim throughout the seventeen years since its release in 2000.

The subject matter of this LP (long play) is that of a harsh reality of a sad state of human existence, and how meaningless life is in the grand scheme of things, using drugs as an escape from the depressing reality of our planet, as well as aggression and violence. But as is a frequent theme among doom metal bands, there is a hint of Lovecraftian mythos in the lyrical content of the album too. Especially in the track “Weird Tales”.

Where this album gets its acclaim is in its tone. It’s a harsh, gritty, hour-and-ten-minute-long, piece of sonic sludge. From the monolithic, distorted guitars to the guttural bass and reverberated drums that hit hard yet also take a backseat in the mix, every instrument in this album seems to have its place. The band was abel to find the secret recipe to obtaining simultaneous heaviness, and sonic depth. In addition to this, everything seems to be expertly mixed and mastered by Rolf Startin. Many doom metal bands seem to either make their music too docile or too distorted to even be listened to. However, Electric Wizard hits the nail right on the head with this LP.

Electric Wizard has historically deployed many dark, yet witty samples from film and television into their songs, while also centering cover art and posters around an homage to the most widely respected stoner band of the past few decades: Black Sabbath. This homage gives them an almost comical appeal to the preconceived notions of what the average 'metalhead' is like. However, Electric Wizard manages to advertise this aesthetic without going overboard; still retaining the gravity of their music; both sonically and lyrically. Some of the songs in this album can even be melodic (or as melodic as a doom metal LP can be). The second track on the album, “Funeralopolis”, starts off with a slow guitar riff that truly serves as a great intro to the sound of the band after the opening track, “Vinium Sabbathi”. In addition the chorus of the song, “We Hate You” is one of the best parts of an album I’ve heard from Electric Wizard up until that point, especially when it comes to Jus Oborns vocals.

I believe that this is Electric Wizards best LP to date. The Wizards perfected their apocalyptic sound, composed a multitude of great riffs, and created a general theme that stayed together throughout the album. This is an album that refuses to be surpassed within the metal community as a whole. Whether or not you are a doom/sludge/drone metal fan, this LP is something that not only garners attention, but demands it. “Dopethrone” receives an 8/10.