Dope Skum - Hollow Point (Single Review)

Release Date: July 04th 2025. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: DD

Hollow Point - Tracklisting

Hollow Point

Members

Cody Landress-Gibson (guitar/vocals)

Scott Keil (drums)

Review

Doom/Sludge/Stoner Metallers Dope Skum return with the blazing and rebellious new single Hollow Point which is from their upcoming new EP “Hollerwood” due for release on Sept 5th 2025. The single itself is a slightly different sound with the band adding an “Americana” and “Blues Rock” vibe into their mix of Doom, Sludge and Stoner Metal. There’s an authentic WEEDIAN and DOWN-TUNED energy to the record with Dope Skum playing a fast-paced style of music where they even find the time to add small doses of Country Music which allows their “Appalachian” roots to fully shine through.

The song is a very good song indeed and showcases how Dope Skum have matured a great deal since their last record with Hollow Point. As the writing is better, music is tighter and the whole track is perhaps their most impressive to date. Sure, there’s still elements of LO-FI sludgy atmospherics heard on their previous records but Dope Skum show that they mean business and Hollerwood could be a game changer for them.

Hollow Point is another top-notch track from Dope Skum and I can’t wait to hear Hollerwood when it’s finally released.

Excellent and Highly Recommended.

Words by Steve Howe

Links

Facebook | Bandcamp | Instagram

Chattanooga’s Doom/Sludge Metallers Dope Skum return with new single “Hollow Point” And Announce Upcoming Shows

Photo by Jackson Keys

Southern sludge duo Dope Skum return with “Hollow Point” on July 4th, the lead single off their upcoming third EP Hollerwood (due Sept. 5).

Rooted in gritty riffs and born out of the backwoods, Dope Skum blends fuzz-heavy stoner metal with a punk bite. With Cody Landress-Gibson (guitar/vocals) hailing from the foothills of Appalachia and Scott Keil (drums) forging his musical path in Los Angeles, the band’s upcoming EP Hollerwood is an ode to their contrasting origins and is set for release on Sept. 5, 2025.

“‘Hollow Point’ hits hard and fast,” says Landress-Gibson. “It’s the kind of track that captures where we’ve been and where we’re going—showcasing musical influences from all aspects of the band.”

Fans can catch Dope Skum on tour this summer as the band travels across the Southeast, bringing their version of Southern stoner rock sound to stages and dive bars alike.

Formed in late 2020, Dope Skum has carved a deep groove in the Southern heavy underground with two previous EPs: 2021’s Tanasi and 2023’s Gutter South, plus the recently released live album Return to the Gutter South: Live at Cherry Street Tavern.

Follow Dope Skum on Bandcamp, Facebook, Instagram, and Spotify for tour updates and more release news.

Thanks to Dope Skum for all of the info.

Dope Skum - Return To The Gutter South: Live At Cherry Street Tavern (Album Review)

Release Date: October 04th 2024. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: Cassette/DD

Return To The Gutter South: Live At Cherry Street Tavern  - Track Listing:

1.Feast Of Snakes (Live)

2.Belly Lint (Live)

3.The Cycle (Live)

4.Waiting Around to Die (Live)

5.Fiending For A Feeling (Live)

6.Anxiety (Live)

7.Folk Magic

Review

Doom/Sludge/Stoner Metallers Dope Skum return with their new Live EP - Return To The Gutter South: Live At Cherry Street Tavern. The EP consists of live recordings of previously released EP’s Tanasi (December 2021) and Gutter South (April 2023), as well as the new track “Fiending for a Feeling”. This is another excellent release from Dope Skum who bring their style of “NO FUCKS GIVEN” based Doom, Sludge and Stoner Metal to the live stage with fans of WEEDEATER and BONGZILLA should immediately take refuge with. 

The music is raw, filthy and deeply unapologetic that captures Dope Skum creating a whole load of noise and trouble across seven great tracks. The whole vibe is similar to a PUNK ROCK live album with the lo-fi recording techniques and production values used for the record. You feel every snarling Sludgy movement from all angles that Dope Skum presents themselves in. 

Return To The Gutter South: Live At Cherry Street Tavern is full of twisted and down-tuned energy with distorted guitars and seedy FUZZY REVERB appearing throughout the record with some of my favourite tracks being performed here sounding even better than the original versions especially tracks such as Feast Of Snakes. Belly Lint, Waiting Around To Die and Folk Magic. 

The live versions of these tracks sound more cerebral and have a heavier aggressive energy to them. The performance can be hap-hazard and bombastic in places but Dope Skum sound perfectly committed to the underground cause and the new song of Fiending For A Feeling is one of the best tracks I’ve heard from the band that shows a slightly heavier direction from them. 

Return To The Gutter South: Live At Cherry Street Tavern allows Dope Skum to position themselves once again as one of the best uncompromising Doom/Sludge/Stoner Metal bands within the underground scene. They may not be the most original band around but it’s what they do with their music and how they deliver their intense WEEDIAN sound that truly matters.

These guys have a dangerous QUALITY to them and I’m hoping there’s a full length album being planned in the near future.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Dope Skum for the promo.

Return To The Gutter South: Live At Cherry Street Tavern will be available to buy on Cassette/Digital Download from Friday 04th October.

Links

Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

Dope Skum - Gutter South (EP Review)

Release Date: April 21st 2023. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: CD/DD

Gutter South: Tracklisting

1.Folk Magic 

2.Interlude

3.Feast of Snakes

4.Belly Lint 

5.The Cycle

Review

Sludge/Stoner Metallers Dope Skum impressed me greatly back in November 2022 when I reviewed their single Folk Magic with their blend of down-tuned and crusty punk based grooves. The song had rough production values which only added to the overall charm of the single.

Dope Skum return with their new EP Gutter South and it continues their down-tuned journey into the harsh realms of Sludge/Doom/Stoner Metal with that Crust Punk environment allowing the band to play some mighty fine bleak grooves throughout the release. There’s also a sense of fun with their new EP and if you dig bands such as BONGZILLA and WEEDEATER then you’ll be in fine company with this great band.

The EP is quite Blues Rock based with an Americana feel at times which comes out fully on the opening song Folk Magic. There’s a trippy element to their music that makes it even more compelling.

Second song Interlude is an eighty second song that is mostly a subtle Blues Rock Acoustic jamming session with the vocals being inspired by Johnny Cash but with a devilish occult rock edge. The song is quite spooky and thought provoking despite its short running time.

Third song Feast Of Snakes sees the band get back to business of playing down-tuned Sludgy grooves and it’s one of my favourite tracks on the EP. The song has an unforgiving down-tuned tone with the music being more distorted as time moves on. The highly atmospheric atmosphere works superbly well with their dark NOLA based sounds. The vocals have a classic grunge quality to them with Dope Skum even injecting Spaced Out elements to the song. The instrumental work is superb and despite the rough heaviness of the track, Dope Skum still play some highly melodic elements to this track.

The final two tracks Belly Lint and The Cycle offer a darker style of WEEDIAN and NOLA based sounds with Dope Skum being fully aware of the bleak vision they’re singing about especially on Belly Lint. The lyrics have a real life quality to them and I can hear an EYEHATEGOD and DOWN influence running throughout both of these tracks. 

Gutter South is a sublime EP full of richly deserved real life observations contained within the harsh lyrics. The music is the real star even with the more outlandish moments that appear on the EP. The DIY Production values allows Dope Skum to offer their best release to date.

I have a feeling when these guys release their debut full length release that we’ll be in for something special. As Dope Skum could be one of the most exciting bands to look out for within the Doom/Sludge/Stoner Metal underground scene especially if you like your music with a sense of bleak realism. 

Gutter South is seriously that good. Add this to your collection now. You won’t be sorry!!!

Words by Steve Howe.

Thanks to Dope Skum for the promo.

Gutter South will be available to buy on CD/DD from April 20th 2023.

Links

 Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

Dope Skum - Folk Magic (Single Review)

Date Released: November 11th 2022. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: DD

Folk Magic: Tracklisting

Folk Magic

Review

Folk Magic is the new track from Sludge/Stoner Metallers Dope Skum and is best summed up by the band themselves.

In the Appalachian mountains, a long tradition of folk magic that today is referred to as granny magic was passed down for generations, women of the hills used a combination of religious texts and traditional herbal medicine.This track is homage to those before.

Dope Skum offers over 5 minutes of classic sounding WEEDIAN RIFFAGE powered by the standard Sludge/Stoner sounds with a more DIY approach compared to other bands within the scene. The music is more Punk based with perhaps a more Americana feel which isn’t too surprising when the creative theme is using Appalachian folklore. Though, thankfully no FOLK MUSIC is in sight.

The music does have a slightly muffled sound and lesser production values but the song still offers an excellent introduction to the band with one of the best covers I’ve seen this year as well. The vocals are simple and brief but add a certain charm when they do appear. 

Folk Magic is a great introduction to Dope Skum and is a major step-up in quality to their 2021 debut EP which also offers some great moments of LO-FI Sludge/Stoner Metal.

Hopefully, we’ll see a lot more of Dope Skum in 2023.

Excellent and Highly Recommended.

Words by Steve Howe

Links:

Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram