Theme From "Masterburner" - Monster Magnet, Calandra, Joe
Vertigo
One of the last great heavy metal/psychedelic combinations, the early '80s tour "Black & Blue" featured Black Sabbath and Blue Oyster Cult laying waste to stoned freaks nationwide. First you'd get blitzed by BOC's post... more »-Armageddon, intellectual metal space show--"Don't Fear the Reaper", "Godzilla", and so on--and then, while everyone's brains were still reeling from too much rat weed and cheap booze, Sabbath would come out and bash everyone square between the eyes with two-ton riffs. Black and blue indeed. The members of Monster Magnet no doubt took in a few of these shows as whelps and have absorbed and regurgitated everything that made that tour so great on their record Dopes to Infinity. Witness some of the heaviest riffs you'll ever hear, and be dazzled by subtle acoustic numbers and instrumental wizardry. And if that's not enough for you, they've even thrown in a certified hit in "Negasonic Teenage Warhead", equal amounts BOC's "Godzilla" and Cream's "White Room." Like Kyuss and Corrosion of Conformity, Monster Magnet has suckled at Sabbath's teat, and though they owe the Sabs their existence, they've grown up and created their own vision. This is by far the best, most fully and successfully realized Monster Magnet record and will no doubt stand as one of the classic psychedelic metal albums of all time. --Adem Tepedelen« less
One of the last great heavy metal/psychedelic combinations, the early '80s tour "Black & Blue" featured Black Sabbath and Blue Oyster Cult laying waste to stoned freaks nationwide. First you'd get blitzed by BOC's post-Armageddon, intellectual metal space show--"Don't Fear the Reaper", "Godzilla", and so on--and then, while everyone's brains were still reeling from too much rat weed and cheap booze, Sabbath would come out and bash everyone square between the eyes with two-ton riffs. Black and blue indeed. The members of Monster Magnet no doubt took in a few of these shows as whelps and have absorbed and regurgitated everything that made that tour so great on their record Dopes to Infinity. Witness some of the heaviest riffs you'll ever hear, and be dazzled by subtle acoustic numbers and instrumental wizardry. And if that's not enough for you, they've even thrown in a certified hit in "Negasonic Teenage Warhead", equal amounts BOC's "Godzilla" and Cream's "White Room." Like Kyuss and Corrosion of Conformity, Monster Magnet has suckled at Sabbath's teat, and though they owe the Sabs their existence, they've grown up and created their own vision. This is by far the best, most fully and successfully realized Monster Magnet record and will no doubt stand as one of the classic psychedelic metal albums of all time. --Adem Tepedelen
"Only once every few years do I happen to find an album that is so beautifully crafted, that it is near impossible to select any favorites from the album, or only listen to one song; Dopes to Infinity is one of those few albums, where the album might as well be one long song, instead of divided into 12 individual sections.MM blend psychedelic and rock elements together to create an hour long episode inside MM's brainchild Dave Wyndorf. The lyrics are purposefully written to be obscure with many science fiction and space-tinged themes, which is one of MM's glamors by truly being askew from the normal, standard popular rock crowd.While I find it difficult to select any one song as a favorite, the top of my list would be "Dopes", "Negasonic" (which is the song that introduced me to MM), "Third Alternative" and "King of Mars". The lowest points I would point out would be Blow 'Em Off and Dead Christmas which have a more acoustic feel to them, but even they have their shining moments.Not only would I label this among my favorite albums in my collection, this album has also placed its stamp in my life, detailing my life back in 1995-6."
The reports of rock and roll's death are greatly exaggerated
07/20/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This album is the reason I despise MTV and commercial radio. To think that I've lived my life for four years without this album, or even the knowledge of it's existance! If it hadn't been for Powertrip's radio play, I would have lived on never knowing that this band still existed. Every track on this album is infused with energy, and memorable in it's own right. This band opened for Marilyn Manson? In a just world, the situation would have been reversed. This band is all about energetic rock, and totally free of pretention and fake emo posturing. Try it, you'll like it... especially if you're like me, a music fan who's felt deserted by Metallica and Megadeth, and either disgusted or unimpressed by recent entries into the heavy music market."
Buy It
Jason L Cheung | Seattle, WA United States | 04/04/1999
(5 out of 5 stars)
"While they are currently relegated to opening for Marilyn Manson, Monster Magnet undoubtedly deserves to be touring on their own. Dopes to Infinity was probably one of, if not THE most underrated rawk album of 1995. You will really be missing a gem if you don't buy this one."
A Monster Album
Baltasar Gracian | Outside, Time | 07/27/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"The lads of MM aim to play with the big cats on this album and they succeed beyond their wildest dreams. The title track opens the album with nerve shattering snorting violence and the action doesn't let up until 70 minutes later. "Negasonic Teenage Warhead" can be used as a therapeutic device for highschool brats. "I will deny you!" That is, you've got nothing on me, you pseudo-peers. Things get downright scary in "All Friends and Kingdom Come." But like any good trashy horror novel, if you're not scared you wouldn't be getting what you want. Robert A. Heinlein's Stranger in a Strange Land meant to purge its readers of pity and fear. MM agree. By making you so damn scared you get a huge rush when you realize that what's so bloody scary is YOU. If you like trash, you probably read comics. & Dave and the boys have come up with the perfect soundtrack to any cosmic comic with "Ego the Living Planet." This one can be profitably listened to while you read things like Marvel's Earth X. "I Control I Fly" kicks out the jams and rocks frenetically, while "Dead Christmas" provides some darkly amusing moments of introspection.This is the best thing that Monster Magnet has produced so far. But I suspect that they're only beginning to tap into the demented mind of the teenage brat. We Want More!"
THIER FINEST HOUR
Daniel J. Hagerman | barnegat, NJ United States | 03/03/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"their best album ever!!! this album combines black sabbath doom style riff-o-rama with hawkwind style psychadelic mind mending music to offer up, without a doubt, the most awesome album MM ever spewed forth. despite the few reviewers who do not see the beauty of this album, i assure you, this is the goods delivered.
with hits like "negasonic teenage warhead" with the simple verse riff (one string strummed) and the flanger to give it flavor which leads us to the explosive awesome chorus that just makes me jump out of my skin. we also have the instrumental "ego, the living planet" which is a bit repitive but still rocks. "look to the orb for the warning" and "third alternative" are alos worth noting as exceptional pieces.
this whole album i can listen to from start to finish & top to bottom. rarely do i skip a track and when its over, frequently do i replay some of them. if this is your first MM experience or you are looking to get into them, this is one good place to start but you may be too blown away to go to work tommorow."