Dope Body – Noise Rock Cocktails and The ‘KUNK’ Album Review.

Dope Body – Baltimore, Maryland, USA.

We’re back in Baltimore.

Dope Body and their relationship with noise can be melodic in it’s own way, with ‘Powder’ from their 2012 album Natural History for example. On the other-hand, Kicking the 90’s throwback train in the shins is ‘Day by Day’ from their 2014 album Lifer.

And then we come to Kunk, on which Dope Body are bent over the edge of your settee throwing up into a saucepan, it’s brutal.

(Editors Note – Excellent imagery as ever, Mansell.
MS.)

Have a taste: Click Here for ‘Powder’ – Click Here for ‘Day By Day’

Opening with whirring guitars that sound like your laptop trying to start up after last nights baseball bat accident, with ‘Casual’, Dope Body roll on their wave of noise driven interludes, almost baked completions and stand out superstars.

‘Goon Line’ certainly has a hook, but not in such a way that you exclaim – “I love this chorus more than my mother”, but instead it will hook you with an actual hook and drag you along into the heart of the dirty dirty city. The track is pounding and is exactly what was needed after the almost too casual ‘Casual’ and the creepy noise-terlude of ‘Dad’.

‘Muddy Dune’ is another track like ‘Dad’ and the pair only work on the album as a whole, Kunk without them could be a stellar EP, but instead it’s an album that gets distracted by it’s own filth.

However,  ‘Old Grey’ is Dope Body’s Noise Rock on form. It’s catchy and as noisy, sloppy and heavy as squatting double your bodyweight only to split your shorts. The guitars on ‘Old Grey’ swirl around each other, they are simultaneously (thanks to multi-tracking) rusty and smooth.

Okay, so maybe not Prince smooth but this smoothness is acquired, like drinking whiskey, you’re always going to be able to taste the alcohol because that’s what it is. Dope Body are noise and that’s always going to be present – I’d love a Dope Body Manhattan right about now. (Recipe to follow).

‘Obey’ is continuing this noise joy that’s induced by ‘Old Grey’. The pulsating bass rattles against the vocals which are deep and brooding, muddling and… [?] (Dope Body Mojito recipe to follow).

I love ‘Down’ as well,  however the ‘Ash Toke’ interval does get in the way of a possible hat-trick being made on Kunk. ‘Down’ could be from Lifer but instead of sounding like a cut from the sessions of the band’s last album, ‘Down’ is being appropriately placed here because Lifer was less destruction by fire and mutilation and more destruction by brass knuckles.

The album closes in a grander fashion than any album closer I’ve heard the band produce. It plays out like an extended ‘Ash Toke’ or ‘Dad’, as if one of these tracks has reached its peak and it’s a glorious six minute riot.

Overall, Kunk is pretty Dope.

• The album, as well as the band’s other material, can be found on their Drag City Records page – Click Here.
• To keep track of the band’s FACE and add them to your BOOK – Click Here.
• They can also be found on Twitter so… – Click Here.
• Last but not least, do check out the rest of Drag City, there’s some cracking music on there! – Click Here.

#StayFresh