Dope/Life
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Instead of trying to be the heavy metal band that they aren’t, they have started writing smart, rock songs that will attract many new fans.
Dope/Life
I had heard Dope’s first album, Felons and Revolutionaries and had mixed opinions about them. Many songs seemed off and out of place. But, after buying and listening to their newest attempt, Life, I have become a fan. Instead of trying to be the heavy metal band that they aren’t, they have started writing smart, rock songs that will attract many new fans. Instead of the constant negative lyrics, Dope has started writing more positive music with an edge. With songs like “Now or Never,” “Nothing (Why),” and “Slipping Away,” it isn’t hard to see the maturity the band has gone through.
Of course, Dope hasn’t forgotten that they are, at the core, a metal band. The track, “Die MF Die” seems to be a little out of place on the album but is none the less a good song. Quite possibly the heaviest song on the album, it isn’t packed with amazing lyrical content but it is packed with damn good music. It just goes to show that even a band that’s trying to change their outlook can’t totally abandon who they are. At least Dope does it right.
Overall, I felt that Life shines over their first album. Better lyrics and better music make for a better band. Maybe their new lineup has helped Dope come together to make a good, quality album. Maybe it’s that Edsel sings more than screams now.
It could be that time and money influenced this CD to be better than it was. Whatever happened, it’s clear that this CD is going to make Dope a lot of new fans while pleasing the old ones. Hopefully, they’ll get some chances to really show people their new face and take it to the live show and make it more than just a thrash-happy moshing experience, but maybe a little touch of an emotional experience. So we’ll see Dope as they evolve more, and continue on this path they’re on now.