A Lethal Dose of American Hatred

If “Use Once & Destroy” was a kick in the teeth, “A Lethal Dose of American Hatred”, the new album from Superjoint Ritual, is a punch to the gut. Musically, the band sounds a bit more evolved than on they’re debut (even though both albums are only a year apart), but the true old school hardcore/metal with a punk vibe element remains. Phil Anselmo sounds better here than he did on “Use Once & Destroy”, and the band as a whole is tighter sounding. Tracks like “Waiting For the Turning Point”, the excellent “Dress Like a Target”, “The Destruction of a Person”, “Death Threat”, and “The Knife Rises” are all headbanging cuts, but the album as a whole is too short. It leaves you wanting more, but just about anything featuring Phil behind the wheel, whether it be Pantera, Down, or even Viking Crown, has that effect. All in all, “A Lethal Dose of American Hatred” is one of the better metal releases this year, but hopefully the best from Superjoint is still to come.

So i was reading some of the negative reviews of this album and at first i couldn’t believe what i was reading. I mean, how could so many people not like one of my favorite bands. Well, it’s simple really. It seems like there are all of these expectations of what superjoint should or shouldn’t be.

Some people think that they should sound like pantera because of phil… some think that they should sound like black flag since the flag were an admitted influence… still others think that maybe they should sound like eyehategod just because jimmy bower is in the band.

The fact is, they don’t sound like any one band. They are doing their own thing, even if it isn’t the most popular thing. Certainly, they aren’t the most technically proficient band, and by no means are they the hardest band around. They do however, have attitude, energy, and some great lyrics(no, not profound, either you get it or you don’t).

If you like bands like down, eyehategod, crowbar, black flag, acid bath, soilent green, or black sabbath, chances are you will like these guys. Just don’t buy the cd expecting a copy of anybody else.

…by the way the production value is excellent on this recording. Dave Fortman produced “lethal dose” with the same clarity as with “confederacy of ruined lives” by eyehategod. (this is a good thing, for those of you not familiar with that album)

Where to begin… Well if you are a die hard Pantera fan you must buy this album with a degree of understanding, There are no amazing guitars period, just thrash speed and breakdowns. The drumming although heavy could not lick Vinnie’s balls on a bad day. Phil himself takes somewhat of a different yet amazing aproach to his vocals.

Now all this may sound somewhat negative but do not [freat]! In an era that is producing little to no quality heavy music Superjoint ethrals you with some bad …thrash/punk/hardcore styling. Lyrically Phil takes a step back more to the roots of emotion and anger rather than just stating dominance in metal as Reinventing the Steel did. Overall, rock it, blast it get the juices flowing and love it for what it is.. blistering heavy music that is not afraid to spit in your face and kick you in the gut

4.0 out of 5 stars
Warning: This C.D. may cause snapped necks
Flash back to 2003: Pantera is officially defunct, Down is on hiatus, and Phil Anselmo has put all of his other projects on the back burner for the foreseeable future in order to…

3.0 out of 5 stars
Some Sympathy
As an album it’s very repettitive kinda punkish metal, but also compared to Use Once and Destroy it’s even worse.

4.0 out of 5 stars
Good hardcore
Many music fans are quick to dismiss Phil Anselmo’s side projects because they hastened Pantera’s break-up.