Sleep - Dopesmoker
 

Wpnfire and Frownland told me I should give this a listen, and so I got it, and so I did give it a good, work heavy listen (I was at work when I was listening...)

I'm sure some of you have already reviewed this album in your journals, but I wanted to review it outside of a journal, outside of my own journal. Truth be know to all, Sleep was not a band I can say I knew of. Matter of fact actually, if I had read the name somewhere are someone had mentioned them at some point, well I guess it never registered that they were talking about a doom/sludge metal band; obscure band to me, it would seem. So what might my thoughts be on their Dopesmoker album? Read on, reader. You shall know all...


Obvious to some would be that this album was released back in 1998 under the name Jerusalem, 2003 as well, and then in 2012. And I guess this band has only recently become active again, thank the heavens. What this album is though, is one, epic, bone crushing track. I'll tell you this, good people. If you want an album that is heavy as Thor's hammer, or that hits your eardrums like a meteor colliding with the Earth. This is an album you NEED to listen to, like, RIGHT THIS FRIGGIN' MINUTE! Parts of the album had me thinking of Black Sabbath, and other parts of bands like Pallbearer even though Sleep has been around longer, not to mention Dopesmoker has been out longer too. But I actually don't have any other bands I can compare this album or band to as far as how it sounds. But I can tell you that this is a fantastic album that every fan of Metal needs to own, it's what I'd call an essential album for anyone's collection.

Do yourselves a favor. Go out and purchase this record. It was highly recommended to me, and now I highly recommend it to you because I thoroughly enjoyed it.

10/10

It is great album. Perfect for long, lonely car rides.

I had that in mind. But I'll also be playing this at home when the fiance is at work. You know, to read to or do other things while it is playing.

I have reached the exact same conclusion.

That guitar tone is just perfect.

Its a staple of any stoner doomer. Idk how into that genre you are, but you should give Earth's new album 'Primitive and Deadly' a listen/ review as well, one of my favorites of 2014. Less crushing, more ethereal, but still with the heavy.

Now it's time to check out Electric Wizard so you can hear the best that doom has to offer.

The best that STONER doom has to offer. There's definitely some trad bands I'd put above EW. But I think I'm doing myself a disservice splitting hairs like this, good umbrella genre, doom.

EW are definitely my faves but I am by no means an expert in any area of Metal.

Like what? Sleep and EW are my faves.

Getting that Electric Wizard and Earth album now, I'll give them a listen at work and put up reviews when I get home.

I haven't dabbled much in stoner/doom type bands, only recently started looking at the genre(s) and exploring it to see what I'll like. Definitely a cool genre(s) so far.

I assume the EW album you're referring to is Dopethrone, yes?

Wow, does everyone agree that Dopesmoker is at least a good album? Batty, I was shocked to see you here, but then I made the connection with the low-rent metal... I don't think I've seen this on this site before. Not even Reign In Blood or a Black Sabbath album has this kind of effect.

Oh and @Contrived, I spent a great deal of time researching stoner doom bands recently, and if you're looking for heaviness, there's always Acid King. I don't like the singer, but I think you may like her. They are pure fuzz from start to finish.

I personally prefer their s/t, I like the more spaced out tone of it. Dopethrone has the psychadelic thing, but with a little more menace to it. I'd say Electric Wizard is more of a feel good album, it has a nice swing to the tracks and Dopethrone is more of a brooding stoned album, depends what you're in the mood for.

The bands I was referring to on the traditional doom side of things are Trouble and Candlemass, I've listened to a lot more of them over the years than EW. Although EW are definitely one of the best, they wouldn't come far behind those other two for me.

Trad doom is more dramatic than stoner stuff, usually not as drony and the tracks usually aren't as long. Here's some good introductory ones by each, then I'd suggest checking out that particular album if you dig them. Also for Candlemass, and I'm in the minority on this, check out From the 13th Sun, fantastic and underrated and totally different from what I have here.

Seriously bro, for a long time I listened exclusively to doom, it was the first subgenre of metal I got really into. By all means let me know what you're feeling and I can direct you towards some excellent sub-subgenres.

There I go looking like an ******* again.

Time to Die, actually. Lists as their newest, and while I usually don't dabble in bands that appear to worship Satan by the look of song titles, I'm kind of getting over that as I don't consider myself Christian anymore, but I am not Atheist and I believe in God, Heaven and Hell, I still pray and such. But I don't identify as Christian, no sir.

Anyway, I didn't see that EW album Dopethrone on iTunes. Worth a listen?

I wouldn't say you look like an a-hole.

And, I think for Doom/Stoner bands, I would like heavy/fuzzy, more or less clean sung but I dig the sort of sing/growl approach too. I'd say recommend whatever. I am still working through the bands you pm'ed me, too.

Hit up jackhammer too, I've gotten some great recs in the area of fuzzy stoner stuff from him

I shall. I'll also check out those videos you posted in here.

Definitely worth a listen, it's their best IMO. Time to Die is ****ing great though and would be a good starting point for them, as would their s/t and Come My Fanatics....

I'll get those then after work, can't now as I am heading out the door to go get my shift in hell (walmart) over with.

It's not really about Satan so much as a horror movie vibe combined with drugs...


Electric Wizard - "Satanic Rites of Drugula"