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Dopethrone
Dopethrone Band
Dopethrone circa 2018.
Background information
Origin Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Genres Doom Metal, Sludge Metal, Stoner Metal
Years active 2008 - Present
Labels Totem Cat Records
Associated acts Unquintessence, Downtrodden, Vatican
Website Facebook
Current members Vyk
Vincent Houde
Shawn
Julie Unfortunate
Past members Big Borman
Thomas Polychuck

Dopethrone are a band from Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Active since 2008, this DIY band is known for their abrasive mix of sludge, stoner and doom with lyrics based in self-destruction, murder, cannabis and sleazy drug abuse. Although some people think they are named after the Electric Wizard album, they hold no dedication to the Electric Wizard sound, leaving many to believe it is simply a nod at the titanic gods themselves. In a 2018 interview with Decibel the band confirmed the band's name was a joke and a spoof on "Darkthrone", though the band also enjoys Electric Wizard. Dopethrone also refer to their style of music as "Slutch".[1]

Since their formation Dopethrone has released five studio albums to date and have regularly toured Europe and Canada.

History[]

Demonsmoke, Dark Foil and III (2008 - 2013)[]

Dopethrone started in 2008 with the lineup of Vyk, Shawn and Thomas. The band thought up the name as a joke as the band were smoking a ton of pot and listening to black metal in their high school years, going with Dopethrone as a spoof on Darkthrone, whom they were huge fans of. In the band's early days they largely played only in Montreal, sharing the stage with the likes of Downtrodden,[2] Depletion, Memories of an Old Man, Fuck The Facts,[3] KEN Mode and The Great Sabatini just to name a few in their early days. A debut album in Demonsmoke would see release sometime in 2009, seeing positive reception from the likes of Doom Mantia among others.[4] According to an interview with Temple of Perdition, Demonsmoke was recorded only nine months after the band had formed and according to the band, was "still figuring out what our sound was gonna be, it was kind of a experiment".[5]

Following recording in late 2010, Dopethrone would release a follow-up album in Dark Foil circa 2011, featuring five new songs and a cover of "Ain't No Sunshine" by Bill Withers. The next year would see the band's earliest known European show with an appearance at Roadburn Festival. Around the same time the band would release their third album, colloquially calling the album III. III saw it's release on 12 August 2012 to positive reviews. The next year would see a full tour of Europe alongside Huata along with signing with Totem Cat Records, whom re-released all three albums. The band also made their earliest known live appearance in the United States at Autumn Screams Doom in Baltimore.

Hochelaga (2014 - 2016)[]

2014 would see the trio on an extensive tour of Europe alongside gurt, spanning nearly two months. Following the tour work would begin on a fourth studio album through the remainder of the year. On 22 January 2015 it would be announced that Dopethrone would be releasing their fourth album Hochelaga through Totem Cat Records on 13 April 2015.[6] Hochelaga would see critical praise along the likes of Echoes and Dust,[7] Doom Metal Heaven,[8] CVLT Nation,[9] More Fuzz[10] and The Sludgelord[11] among others.

Following the album's release Dopethrone would go on a tour of Europe seeing the band at DesertFest London, DesertFest Berlin and Heavy Days in Doomtown amid marquee shows alongside the likes of Acid King, Black Cobra, Eyehategod and Belzebong.[12] Further touring would be intended in 2016 but several dates would be canceled after Vincent broke his leg, forcing the band to cancel appearances at Maryland Deathfest and Hellfest. However touring through Europe would happen in the fall, with second drummer Carl Borman quitting. Notably Dopethrone would also release a split with Fister on 11 May 2016 and an EP entitled 1312 on 29 August 2016.

Transcanadian Anger (2017 - Present)[]

With a new drummer named Shawn in tow the band would take a break from touring in January to concentrate on their fifth studio album, with one notable exception being an appearance at Maryland Deathfest. On 7 May 2018 Dopethrone would announce their fifth album Transcanadian Anger in lieu of their tenth anniversary as a band. Seeing a further evolution on their mix of sludge, crust, blues and punk Transcanadian Anger saw praise from several publications such as Metal Injection,[13] Outlaws of The Sun,[14] More Fuzz,[15] Metal Nexus,[16] and CVLT Nation[17] among others. Notably guest vocalist Julie Unfortunate would also officially join the group as a second vocalist.

Dopethrone would embark on some of their most extensive touring yet, embarking on a lengthy summer European tour with Bongzilla, Sons of Otis and Church of Misery. This tour would also see festival appearances at Duna Jam, Red Smoke Festival, Stoned From The Underground and Hellfest. A tour of North America was planned but ultimately canceled due to VISA issues so thus the band returned to Europe in the fall alongside Sunnata and featuring an appearance at Desertfest Belgium. Further touring in support of Transcanadian Anger would follow in the summer of 2019 throughout Europe.

Discography[]

Studio Albums[]

Misc. Releases[]

  • Dopethrone / Fister (Split with Fister) (2016, Self-Released)
  • 1312 (EP) (2016, Self-Released)

Members[]

Current members[]

  • Vyk - Bass (2008 - Present)
  • Vincent Houde - Guitars, Vocals (2008 - Present)
  • Shawn - Drums (2018 - Present)
  • Julie Unfortunate - Live Vocals (2018 - Present)

Former Members[]

  • Big Borman - Drums (2011 - 2017)
  • Thomas Polychuck - Drums (2008 - 2011)

List of Known Tours[]

  • Europe13 Tour (With Huata) (2013)[18]
  • 2014 European Tour (With gurt) (2014)[19][20]
  • 2015 European Tour (2015)[21]
  • Tour XVI - Part I (2016; Canceled)[22]
  • Tour XVI - Part II (2016)[23]
  • Tour XVI - Part III (2016)[24]
  • 2018 European Tour (With Bongzilla, Sons of Otis; Select Dates with Church of Misery) (2018)[25]
  • 2018 North American Tour (2018; Canceled)
  • September 2018 Canada Mini-Tour (2018)
  • 2018 Fall European Tour (With Sunnata) (2018)[26]
  • Transcanadian Tour 2019 (2019)[27]
  • 2019 European Tour (2019)

External Links[]

Official Links[]

Archival/Reference Links[]

References[]

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