Blasting out of Rhode Island in 1991, Dropdead started off playing sick short blasts of crusty hardcore that belied their love of bands like Icons of Filth, Siege, Crass and Conflict. Always championing the underdog and sticking a middle finger up at oppressors and boot boys these guys have kept angry over the last three decades.
In 2019 the band comprising of Bob- vocals, Ben- guitar, Brian drums (all three original members) and George on bass, headed into the studio with Kurt Ballou and Zack Weeks and recorded the self titled album that is assaulting my eardrums as I type.
23 songs in 24 minutes! I am not gonna drone on for paragraphs regarding this release. I need to keep it short, sharp and to the point just like Dropdead do. If you are a fan of old, there is a change in the Dropdead of covidsville. The previous barked/screamed vocals have given way to a cleaner sung delivery. This means that every lyric is decipherable and the angry messages about government, religion and corruption have more of a chance to seep in before they whizz past at a thousand miles an hour. This reminds me of Rich Kids on LSD played at double speed, or Jailcell Recipes or lots of bands that used to soundtrack awesome death defying skate videos in the late 80’s. The Book of Hate is a slower brooding song that begins like Suicidal I saw your Mommy before blasting into crazed thrashcore – at 2’57 it’s the epic prog track on here! Don’t worry there are plenty of sub 60 second blast including the ferocious 16 seconds Bodies.
It’s fast furious angry fun that turns back the clock to a time when it felt like three chords and the truth could change the world.
(6.5/10 Matt Mason)
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