Dopesick

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Dopesick
Dopesick cover
Studio album by Eyehategod
Released April 2, 1996
Recorded Autumn/Winter 1995
Side One Studios
New Orleans, Louisiana
Genre Sludge metal
Length Original 37:47
Reissue 60:53
Label Century Media
Producer Billy Anderson
Eyehategod
Professional reviews
Eyehategod chronology
Take as Needed for Pain
(1993)		 Dopesick
(1996)		 Southern Discomfort
(2000)

Dopesick is the third album by the American sludge metal band Eyehategod. Released on April 2, 1996, it's been considered the band's best work.[1] It was rereleased in 2006 as part of Century Media's 20th Anniversary series of reissues, with 3 bonus tracks recorded during the original Dopesick recording sessions.

Contents

[edit] Recording and production

After the release of Take as Needed for Pain, Eyehategod's previous album, the band recorded several demos, which were released on various 7" records and splits on various labels,[2] but in autumn of 1995 finally settled down to record a full length record, which would be named Dopesick. The album featured Billy Anderson[3] and Pepper Keenan[2] as producer and co-producer respectively and new bassist Vince LeBlanc.[4] It was recorded at Side One Studios in New Orleans, Louisiana[3] so Mike Williams had to travel often between there and Clinton Hill, Brooklyn in New York City, where he was living at the time.[2]

The recording sessions were infamously chaotic, and involved the studio owner reportedly calling Century Media to ask if the band were insane, and threatening to kick them out. This particular incident occurred after Mike Williams had attempted to record the sound of smashing glass for the introduction to the album, by smashing a bottle on the floor of the studio. In the process he slashed his hand open badly and bled all over the studio floor; this recording did make it to the record as the introduction to the first track, "My Name Is God (I Hate You)". One of the band members then apparently smeared the words "Hell" and "Death to Pigs" in Mike's blood.[2] The album's recording finished during winter of 1995.[3] After the completion of the LP, Brian Patton and Joey LaCaze flew out to San Francisco, California to mix the album[2] at Hyde Street Studio with Billy Anderson, who would be the album's engineer also.[3] This album was far more chaotic than their previous, but still retained the distinct southern, bluesy feel, distancing it from the band's first album, In the Name of Suffering.[1]

[edit] Release

The album was finally released on April 2, 1996.[1] Thanks to the LP, the band was able to embark on a United States tour in the spring of 1997, supporting White Zombie and Pantera, bringing their music to a far wider audience.[2][5]

On June 27, 2006 the album was reissued as part of Century Media's 20th Anniversary series of reissues. The new edition included 3 bonus tracks recorded during the original Dopesick recording sessions.[6]

[edit] Music

Dopesick keeps Eyehategod's tradition of making hateful and painful music. The album opens with Mike Williams' screams[1] and the sound of a broken bottle.[2] It's somewhat diverse musically; not in terms of mood, though. "Dixie Whiskey" has a main riff that sounds, reportedly, like a swamp-bred Black Sabbath. "Dogs Holy Life" and "Non Conductive Negative Reasoning", which shows strong influences from the Melvins, both feature, reportedly, inventive and ear-grabbing guitar parts before ending abruptly. Songs such as "Peace Thru War (Thru Peace and War)" and "Lack of Almost Everything" alternate up-tempo hardcore punk sections with slowed-down grooves to an effect which has been considered perfect. Dopesick is, apparently, denser and heavier than Eyehategod's previous records; with the drums more upfront in the mix and the guitars sounding especially thick. Michael Williams's gives the album his puke-ridden vocals which are, according to critics, what can keep away most listeners.[1][7]

[edit] Track listing

These are the tracks featured in the original version of the album:[1]

  1. "My Name Is God (I Hate You)" – 5:21
  2. "Dogs Holy Life" – 1:10
  3. "Masters of Legalized Confusion" – 3:57
  4. "Dixie Whiskey" – 2:55
  5. "Ruptured Heart Theory" – 3:33
  6. "Non Conductive Negative Reasoning" – 1:06
  7. "Lack of Almost Everything" – 2:48
  8. "Zero Nowhere" – 4:23
  9. "Methamphetamine" – 1:59
  10. "Peace Thru War (Thru Peace And War)" – 1:46
  11. "Broken Down But Not Locked Up" – 3:47
  12. "Anxiety Hangover" – 4:56

[edit] Re-release track listing

  1. "My Name Is God (I Hate You)" – 5:21
  2. "Dogs Holy Life" – 1:10
  3. "Masters of Legalized Confusion" – 3:57
  4. "Dixie Whiskey" – 2:55
  5. "Ruptured Heart Theory" – 3:33
  6. "Non Conductive Negative Reasoning" – 1:06
  7. "Lack of Almost Everything" – 2:48
  8. "Zero Nowhere" – 4:23
  9. "Methamphetamine" – 1:59
  10. "Peace Thru War (Thru Peace And War)" – 1:46
  11. "Broken Down But Not Locked Up" – 3:47
  12. "Anxiety Hangover" – 4:56
  13. "Peace Thru War (Thru Peace And War) (Alternate version)" – 1:48
  14. "Depress (Alternate version)" – 4:06 (The original version can be found in In the Name of Suffering)[8]
  15. "Dopesick Jam" – 16:02

[edit] Usage in other works

"My Name Is God (I Hate You)", "Dogs Holy Life", "Dixie Whiskey", "Ruptured Heart Theory", "Lack of Almost Everything", "Zero Nowhere", "Methamphetamine", "Broken Down But Not Locked Up" and "Anxiety Hangover" were covered by different bands for For the Sick, a tribute to Eyehategod by various artists released by Emetic Records.[9] "Dixie Whiskey" is also featured in Identity 3...D!, a compilation album released by Century Media Records.[10] Live versions of "My Name Is God (I Hate You)" and "Lack of Almost Everything" appear in 10 Years of Abuse (and Still Broke), Eyehategod's only live album.[11]

[edit] Personnel

On the album the credits for each member of the band are shown in a different way.[3]

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g York, William. Eyehategod - Dopesick. Allmusic. Retrieved on 2008-03-19.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Williams, Mike. Dopesick. Recording notes on the 2007 European reedition. Century Media Records.
  3. ^ a b c d e Eyehategod. Dopesick. Century Media Records. Album credits.
  4. ^ Huey, Steve. Eyehategod. Allmusic. Retrieved on 2008-04-07.
  5. ^ Eyehategod Bio. The Gauntlet. Retrieved on 2008-03-03.
  6. ^ York, William. Eyehategod - Dopesick (Bonus Tracks). Allmusic. Retrieved on 2008-02-23.
  7. ^ Filicetti, Gino. Eyehategod - Dopesick. www.ChroniclesofChaos.com. Retrieved on 2008-02-23.
  8. ^ York, William. Eyehategod - In the Name of Suffering. Allmusic. Retrieved on 2008-02-23.
  9. ^ Various Artists - For the Sick: A Tribute to Eyehategod. Allmusic. Retrieved on 2008-02-23.
  10. ^ Various Artists - Identity 3...D!. Allmusic. Retrieved on 2008-02-23.
  11. ^ Kennedy, Patrick. Eyehategod - Ten Years of Abuse and Still Broke. Allmusic. Retrieved on 2008-02-23.
v • d • e
Eyehategod
Mike Williams · Jimmy Bower · Brian Patton · Joey LaCaze · Gary Mader
Former: Steve Dale · Mark Schultz · Vince LeBlanc · Daniel Nick · Charles Alexander · Joey Delatte · Chris Hilliard
Studio albums
EPs
Lack of Almost Everything (demo) · Whore/Untitled (split) · Untitled (split) · In These Black Days: A Tribute to Black Sabbath Vol. 1 (split) · They Lie to Hide the Truth/The Age of Bootcamp (split) · I Am the Gestapo/Self-Zeroing (split) · 99 Miles of Bad Road
Singles
Live albums
Compilation albums
DVDs
Live in Tokyo
Related bands
Related articles