LIVE REVIEW: Dopethrone @ The Fish Factory, Falmouth

September 10, 2019 Abi Coulson

All the way out in the sticks in deepest darkest Cornwall doom heads from all over the county have gathered for a very special event in The Fish Factory in Penryn, just outside of Falmouth. It’s not actually a fish factory and there is no hideous fish odour other than that of the Stargazy pie made especially for DOPETHRONE. It is in fact an art studio and so has a great DIY vibe, perfect for a DIY band who have risen through the ranks of doom, which is the almighty filthy slutchy Canadians DOPETHRONE!

Monolithian live @ The Fish Factory, Falmouth. Photo Credit: Darktones Photography

Opening up the proceedings is the monolithic local duo MONOLITHIAN who roar, blast beat and pound out booming basslines following a hectic roller coaster of crusty blackened doom which excitingly flows from speedy riffs and drums and to slowed funereal crawl.

Rating: 8/10

Gurt live @ The Fish Factory, Falmouth. Photo Credit: Darktones Photography

Quartet GURT from London are a hell of a lot less serious. Touring their release of the hilariously named Bongs of Praise they rip, roll and stomp and groove through a weed fuelled set of stoner metal with a serious rock n roll groove. They play a few gems from the new album including the catchy Rolling Stoned and Weed It And Weep which vocalist Gareth Kelly howls and yelps through, putting a twisted accent into the sound as he prowls the floor and grimaces at the head banging audience.

Rating: 8/10

Dopethrone live @ The Fish Factory, Falmouth. Photo Credit: Darktones Photography

It really is quite surreal to witness Canadian sludge metal (and self-described Slutch) trio DOPETHRONE in Cornwall, especially in a DIY venue, but these are their roots after all and the intimate atmosphere is awesome. The sound could be better and there are some technical issues but the DIY utility lights give just the right vibe and new singer Julie rips the place apart and adds an even crustier edge to the already crust tinged sludge metal with super low and heavy as fuck basslines and pounding drums.

She emits an angry monstrous snarl to match that of previous vocalist Vincent Houde who has stepped back to backing vocals but still shreds on guitar and with all the rage of a runaway train as they tear through tracks from 2018’s Transcanadian Anger (apparently a satirical ode to DARKTHRONE‘s Transylvanian Hunger) such as Killdozer, Tweak Jabber, the crushing Miserabilist and Snort Dagger. 2015’s Hochelaga’s Sludge Kicker has a delicious filthy groove but due perhaps to being in deep dark Cornwall, the usual singalong Scum Fuck Blues doesn’t quite get the crowd as enthusiastically joining in as is usually expected, but they are well received never the less.