Dope Skum

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 - Outlaws Of The Sun

Dope Skum, a two-piece sludge/stoner metal band from Chattanooga, is releasing a new single, "Folk Magic," on Friday.
Cody, singer and guitarist for the band, said, "In the Appalachian Mountains, there's a long and storied tradition of folk magic that today is often referred to as granny magic or granny witchcraft. Passed down from generation to generation, folks of the mountains and foothills used religious texts, herbal medicine, and homemade remedies to treat their communities.

'Folk Magic', although mostly instrumental, intends to pay homage to those granny witches of the past and the rich culture of Appalachia." - Chattanoogan

“If you like riffs that can really rumble, honest lyrics delivered with vocals that sting like an onary hornet’s nest, and rhythms that swing wide and heavy with stomping Southern swagger, you’ll be saying Tanasi in no time!” - Doomed & Stoned - Doomed and Stoned

Cody from the band Dope Skum is on the podcast today. We talk Black Flag, Moonpies, and Miniature golf, yea or nay - Doom Tomb Podcast

Dope Skum are a sludge/doom/stoner duo that are new to the scene, bringing with them some interesting punk elements. They draw primary inspiration from bands such as Weedeater but have enough of their own unique twists to keep things interesting. The EP has some truly varied moments including some harsh, dirty, heavy tracks, some punk influenced tracks and an immersive almost ambient track. Overall I think this is a strong debut and that the band will only improve as they refine their sound. - Cave Dweller's Music

"On Tanasi, Dope Skum offer up five tracks of ugly, vicious, and hazy sounding metal, punk, and stoner metal. Overall, Tanasi makes for an awesome listen and definitely should not be missed." - Dead Air At The Pulpit

“[Tanasi] makes for a fun first effort from the group, with enough energy and exploration to entice further listening. Give it a go if you're looking for some sludge without all the studio polish most of it seems to get these days.” - The Burning Beard - The Burning Beard

"In five tracks, this duo offers up a tasty platter of southern-styled stoner riffs, ranging from overt sludge-laden riffage (see lead single "Feast of Snakes,") to a more relaxed heavy psych vibe of ("Chickamauga,") to punky stoner grit a la Iron Monkey. Given the variety of sounds on display, a true strength of Dope Skum is the ability to deliver a lo-fi aesthetic across a variety of sonic directions." - Sleeping Village - Sleeping Village

When I lived in the South as a child, I remember fondly the mesmerizing sounds of the cicada on balmy summer evenings in rural East Texas. Their chorus surrounded us on walks through the neighboring pasture. And every so often I’d see one up close, after they had mated and fallen to the ground.

It is said cicadas symbolize a new beginning, and it’s easy to see why. Once born, these mysterious insects fall from their tree branches and burrow into the ground where they feast on the roots for some thirteen to even seventeen years. They are buried in one form and then rise from the underground to fly away, reborn a new creature.

Chattanooga’s DOPE SKUM summon the cicada’s cry as their latest track begins. In fact, the cymbals even start to sound like cicadas as the song goes on. Guitar strings strum ambiently and percussion taps ritualistically. Then all three musicians emerge for a swampy blues riff, the only lyrics being: “Folk Magic.”

Frontman/guitarist Cody Landress-Gibson gives us the dowlow:

Growing up in a small rural town in Appalachia, there were always older folks in town that could help remedy illnesses with herbs and fauna of the region. Once when I was a child, I had a wart on my finger that wouldn’t go away. My mother took me to a local elder, who had taken a wart off her when she was younger.

When I went to see the man for my wart he rubbed some sort of small stick on the wart, whispered some words under his breath, and then told me to not think about or mess with the wart for a week. I’m not saying it’s magic, but low and behold, a week later the wart had gone completely and there are no remnants of the wart on my finger. Maybe it would have gone away naturally, but I like to think there was something supernatural going on.

This story is similar to other stories that come from Appalachia and the surrounding areas of granny witches or granny witchcraft being used to cure or alleviate ailments of the community. It was this experience and the tales of others that influenced naming the song “Folk Magic” and incorporating some of the sounds you hear on the track. Real or not, I wanted to pay homage to the granny witches of new and old for bringing healing and peace to the foothills and mountains.

Hell yeah. Let’s give it a listen. This is the Doomed & Stoned world premiere.

Give ear… - Doomed and Stoned

There's a lot that I love about the intrinsic qualities of stoner doom, but perhaps my favorite aspect is the fairly constant relationship between quality and simplicity. More often than not, stoner music striving to complicate the formula loses me, whereas the tunes that stick to a core motif with a grimy dogged stoicism tend to win me over. Despite a catalog only boasting six tracks, Chatanooga's own Dope Skum fall soundly into the latter category. They know their strengths, they play to them. Their tracks aren't overly complex, and that's the damn point.

This new single, "Folk Magic," is the first new music from the Appalachian trio since the release of their debut EP in 2020. While several of the tracks on that project felt slightly long, I quite liked Tanansi, and was excited to see something new from the Dope Skum camp hit the ol' inbox.

And let me tell ye: if you're in the mood for some swampy fuzz, "Folk Magic" will hit the damn spot. This is a great track. Plain and simple.

From a riffcraft perspective, the comparisons are honestly fairly endless, but in my mind, Dope Skum's approach particularly recalls the heft and organic appeal of Bongzilla. There's a tangible weight behind the bluesy central riff, a plodding-through-the-mire. An homage to a long Appalachian tradition of generational folk magic, the track itself has a very strong sense of place, pulling both from the grounded instrumentation and the atmospheric cicada-laden intro. The vocals, which are bellowed more than sung, stick to a single simple refrain of the track's title. It's a simple approach but, illustrating the aforementioned tenet, one that succeeds mightily. One does not need a hooky chorus when repeated howls of "Folk Magic!" serve, in and of themselves, as an earworm of significant proportion.

I can only hope that "Folk Magic" serves as a harbinger of more great music from Dope Skum. Give it a listen and consider snagging it from bandcamp here! - Sleeping Village

Ahead of my scheduled interview with Cody Landress-Gibson, frontman of Chattanooga sludge Metal band Dope Skum, I was given the address for his office.

When Google Maps informed me that I had arrived at my destination, I was surprised to find myself in the parking lot of the 23rd Street Waffle House. For a moment I assumed I’d gotten the wrong address. But that’s when I saw the van.

The van is a 1998 Ford Econoline 150 with a Dope Skum sticker on the bumper. This image – the Hesher van in the Waffle House parking lot, ghost of Lookout Mountain aglow with the twinkle of distant porch lights – is the very image on the cover of Dope Skum’s new EP “Gutter South.”

The album has suddenly come to life all around me, and except for the stench of baked urine along 23rd Street, it’s an enchanting experience.

I find Cody alone in a corner booth, presiding over a stack of waffles like Al Pacino and talcum powder. His bushy beard and tattooed flesh are intimidating, but his innocent eyes and charming drawl are reassuring. I had planned to open with a compliment on the new EP, a brisk and brutal five track collection that veers unexpectedly between Black Sabbath and Ralph Stanley. But instead, I tell him how I cool I think his van is.

Cody’s eyes light up at the mention of his van, and he happily divulges its origin story – which in its own way is an origin story for the band. “At the time I had no intention of playing metal,” he tells me between waffle bites. “Country music is in my blood, and I assumed I’d follow in the family footsteps,” he says, referring to a family tree that includes many Grand Ole Opry regulars.

“I knew if I was going to tour I’d need a van, and I found what seemed like a pretty good one,” he recalls of the day trip he and his drummer, Scott Keil, took to Cocke County. “Apparently, that area has a rich history in regards to moonshining. That’s where ol’ Popcorn Sutton ran his operation for 50 years.”

Cody remembers pulling up to a dilapidated rural farmhouse with the Econoline parked in the overgrown front yard. “A 98-year-old widow lived there alone. She invited us in for sweet tea and told us all about the van.” It had belonged to her son, Caleb Isquith, who like several generations of Isquith men, had made a career of moonshining and running illicit substances throughout the greater Appalachian region. That van was his baby, and he had customized it over two decades until the day federal agents finally closed in on him. He vanished, abandoning both his mother and his prized Econoline van.

“They never found his body,” Cody says as his forks more waffle into his mouth. “According to legend, he left it all behind and disappeared into the ‘Gutter South.’ Supposedly it’s this underground network of old time bootleggers and hellraisers and other malefactors trying to stay hidden from the eyes of the law.”

All that remained of Caleb Isquith was his beloved van and a collection of homemade audio cassettes Cody found in the glove compartment, each filled with improvised heavy metal music Caleb had made by banging on the steering wheel and playing air guitar while evading cops on mountain roads.

“I drove home that night by myself but I wasn’t alone,” Cody explains to me as a breeze inexplicably chills the air inside the Waffle House. “The spirit of Caleb Isquith was in that van with me, brought to life by the music on those tapes he made.” By the time he returned to Chattanooga Cody explained to his drummer that they were no longer a country band. From that moment on, they would make heavy metal. “But metal that honors the Appalachian roots of Caleb’s music and his life and his Econoline,” Cody tells me.

By the time we finish talking about the van, I realize I’ve forgotten to ask any questions about the album. Unfortunately, the hour scheduled by his publicist has lapsed and the reporter from Rolling Stone is waiting in the vestibule.

Dope Skum’s new EP ‘Gutter South’ is available for streaming on all platforms.

https://open.spotify.com/album/50v2QH71UUX4cb6NeJ9QzD

https://dopeskum.bandcamp.com/

by Alex Volz

April 24, 2023 - The Pulse

Chattanooga, Tennessee based sludge metal duo Dope Skum stream their new EP, »Gutter South«, which just dropped on April 21st, 2023.

Listen to »Gutter South« on all major streaming platforms!

Tracklist:
01. Folk Magic
02. Interlude
03. Feast Of Snakes
04. Belly Lint
05. The Cycle

Chattanooga sludge band, Dope Skum, is back with their highly anticipated sophomore EP, »Gutter South«, set to release on April 21, 2023. The five-track album showcases the band’s evolution, highlighting a shift in direction and sound. This release is bound to take their followers and fans of the sludge, grunge, and stoner metal genres on a trip down south with its fuzz-laden, groove-oriented, heavy, yet dynamic songs.

Written with a new line-up featuring Cody Landress-Gibson (guitar/vocals) and Scott Keil (drums), »Gutter South« builds on Dope Skum’s solid foundation, staying true to their roots while offering a fresh perspective on their sound.

The EP’s first single, »Folk Magic«, was released in November 2022, paying homage to Appalachian tradition and granny witches, folk healers known in the mountains to cure ailments with herbalism and home remedies. The single received praise from several heavy music-oriented blogs, including Doomed & Stoned, Sleeping Village, and Outlaws Of The Sun. The second single, »Belly Lint«, to be released on March 10, 2023, takes a different approach, tackling addiction and the resilience of the human spirit.

»Gutter South« is a testament to Dope Skum’s growth and versatility. With a unique blend of old-time influences, as seen in the interlude track, and heavy sludge, the EP marks a significant milestone in the band’s journey. While holding on to and acknowledging their roots in their debut EP »Tanasi«, »Gutter South« captures a fresh new spin on their sound and brand of sludge. »Gutter South« is the next chapter of Dope Skum.

Mark your calendars for April 21, 2023 when »Gutter South« drops on all major streaming platforms.

Get »Gutter South« EP on CD format here:
dopeskum.bandcamp.com/album/gutter-south-2

“From a riffcraft perspective, the comparisons are honestly fairly endless, but in my mind, Dope Skum’s approach particularly recalls the heft and organic appeal of Bongzilla. There’s a tangible weight behind the bluesy central riff, a plodding-through-the-mire.” – Sleeping Village

About Dope Skum:
Big ol’ southern stoner riffs. Conceived towards the tail end of 2020, the duo released »Tanasi«, their debut EP, in March 2021. Nastier than an old timer’s moonshine mash, this 5-track effort stands on a rock-solid foundation of sludgy stoner metal with a notable punky inflection. Raw, raucous, and generally mammothian riffs. Weedeater, Iron Monkey, EyeHateGod, and Toke all qualify as influences and suitable aesthetic comparisons.

Dope Skum is Cody Landress-Gibson on guitar/vocals and Scott Keil on drums.

For fans of Weedeater, Bongzilla, Toke, Sourvein - Doomed Nation

We once again greet DOPE SKUM in the heat of summer, the chicada’s growl prefacing the rough ‘n’ tumble Chattanooga trio’s “Folk Magic,” which starts the new EP, 'Gutter South’ (2023).

The band’s previous EP (reviewed here) introduced us to the band’s vibrant, humid, and grimacing brand of stoner-doom. Now Dope Skum doubles down on dank with five more songs. We gave you a listen and talked at length about the opening track, which was revealed as a single back in November (read review).

A banjo and guitar interlude separates it from the tracks that follow. The deep south and religion going hand in hand, it was not entirely surprising to hear a voice-over quoting Jesus Christ’s fiery words of doom and wonder from the Gospel of Mark. This song serves not only as interlude, but prelude to the damning “Feast of Snakes” which follows and further elucidates the sentiment, inviting listeners to “kill your ego.” “Belly Lint” is a lumbering sludge beast, of the same ilk as Bongzilla and Weedeater, while final number “The Cycle” hurries the pace with swampy doom meets jazz-punk and quasi-tribal undertones.

Mark your calendars for April 21st, when Dope Skum’s Gutter South drops on all major streaming platforms (get it here).

Give ear… - Doomed and Stoned

Dope Skum - Gutter South (Self Released) [Mark Young]

Tennessee natives Dope Skum drop their latest piece that just ambles up and out of the speakers with an unhurried pace, and an incredibly warm sound. Five songs that are just prime doom metal, all wrapped up in a 17-minute runtime. These guys are all about the riff and how well they can hammer you with it. Sometimes you just want music that is simple and unpretentious and has that righteous groove to it.

Belly Lint has one of the best starts I’ve heard in a while, perfectly measured in how to control volume and attack. Did I mention its heavy AF? Feast Of Snakes continues in the same vein with another great riff movement. It moves along with that tidy pace and steady attack.

Folk Magic has a Helmet vibe to it and is certainly something that wouldn’t have been out of place on the Meantime album, right down to the middle section where the pace picks up just before we drop back into a Southern style picking motif that swells into the end moment.

Interlude gives us more of that American South (Bible Belt?) style that does act as a circuit break before final track The Cycle that starts us off on a speedy trip and then goes into Black Sabbath mode with a cracking riff breakdown. This is repeated throughout and is a welcome end to the tracks here, the whole thing just wants you to get up and move to it and you would be hard pressed not too watching this live.

It’s got that classic groove to it, with simple riffs that are heavy and invite you nod along. The guitar just has a great tone, with a phaser for cool effect that somehow has been covered in honey for that sweet vibe that gives it that something which engages you. Ok, the vocals are not the strongest, but neither was Helmets back in the day. What is important here is the riff, and the song built around it and on here you have 4 absolute pearlers (Not counting Interlude, sorry Guys) that are spot on.

If you are into doom, sludge or just generally the slower side of metal then you should check these out. They are well worth your time. 7/10 - Musipedia of Metal

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. - Outlaws Of The Sun

If you’d look at the name and the fact that the trio hail from Tennessee and think you’re probably in for some caustic Southern sludge, you’re part right. Dope Skum on their second EP, the 17-minute Gutter South, embrace the tonal heft and chugging approach of the harder end of sludge riffing, but rather than weedian throatrippers, a cleaner vocal style pervades from guitarist Cody Landress-Gibson across opener “Folk Magic,” the banjo-laced “Interlude,” “Feast of Snakes,” “Belly Lint” and the punkier-until-its-slowdown finish of “The Cycle,” and the difference between a shout and a scream is considerable in the impressions made throughout. Bassist Todd Garrett and drummer Scott Keil complete the three-piece and together they harness a feel that’s true to that nasty aural history while branching into something different therefrom, genuinely sounding like a new generation’s interpretation of what Southern heavy was 15-20 years ago. More over, they would seem to be conscious of doing it. Their first EP, 2021’s Tanasi, was more barebones in its production, and there’s still development to be done, but it will be interesting to hear how they manifest across a first long-player when the time comes, as Gutter South underscores potential in its songwriting and persona as well as defiance of aesthetic expectation. - The Obelisk

That opening riff sets the tone, chords that harken back to an older time and place. It’s “dank,” not in the current sense of the word, but old and musty and hard to get rid of. It’s the kind of riff that bores itself into my brain and keeps digging long after the song is over. This is an Appalachian “Straight Outta Compton,” full of anger and a grim reality that refuses to be ignored or marginalized and refuses to play the victim. - Clean and Sober Stoner

Description: Sludge band Dope Skum from Chattanooga prepare to release their eagerly awaited sophomore EP, Gutter South. The band's development and adaptability are demonstrated by their new material which underlines a transition in mood and sound. Latest single, Belly Lint, shows a different route compared to the band's norms, and addresses addiction and the resiliency of the nature of humanity. The whole EP represents an important turning point in the band's career with its distinctive fusion of heavy sounds such as doom metal, stoner rock and sludge. Gutter South is set to release on April 21st, 2023. - Heavywave

Dope Skum from Chattanooga are expected to release their new EP, Gutter South, on April 21, 2023. The band's advancement is evidenced in the five songs included on the record, which emphasize a change in direction and sound.

Gutter South builds on Dope Skum's firm heavy rock base, holding fast to their sludge and doom metal origins, while providing a new outlook on their sound. Written with a new lineup that includes Cody Landress-Gibson (guitar, vocals) and Scott Keil (drums), Gutter South develops on Dope Skum's strong basis.

With a fresh angle, new single offering, Belly Lint, deals with addiction and the tenacity of the human spirit. The group's dedication is once more on display, and their detailed take on stoner rock and sludge metal sounds both fresh and recognizable, recalling artists like Weedeater, Bongzilla, Dopethrone, and Eyehategod. - Destroy//Exist

Today we’re excited to premiere the latest single from Chattanooga sludge band Dope Skum.

“Belly Lint” is the second single from their highly anticipated sophomore EP, Gutter South. Different from their first offering off the project, the hard-hitting “Belly Lint” tackles addiction and the resilience of the human spirit.

Heavy, fuzz-laden, and in your face – while still maintaining an undeniable groove – are the best ways to describe this up and coming band’s sound. With the raspy vocals and relatable songwriting taking things over the top, they’re delivering their own taste of Southern rock.

The soon-to-be-released five-track album is a testament to Dope Skum’s growth and versatility. With a unique blend of old-time influences, as seen in the interlude track, and heavy sludge, the EP marks a significant milestone in the band’s journey. - Living Life Fearless

Is there anything more important than a bands name? Well, yeah, for the most part. Things like the songs, writing, production and stuff like that matter a lot. But first, you gotta get the name just right.

The thing is, more than most genres, the name tells you all you need to know. A band named “Black Mammoth Goat Bong Wizard” would give you a pretty good idea that it’s gonna be Stoner, a bit of Doom, and a few cannabis references.

Then, we have an outfit like Dope Skum to contend with. They hit all the “sludge” checkmarks, including comparisons to bands like Bongzilla and Weedeater. Then, there’s the interesting name drop of Helmet on their Bandcamp page. Oh, really…

You can check out their Bandcamp here. I’ll let the band tell you more:

“Gutter South is a testament to Dope Skum’s growth and versatility. With a unique blend of old-time influences, as seen in the interlude track, and heavy sludge, the EP marks a significant milestone in the band’s journey. While holding on to and acknowledging their roots in their debut EP Tanasi, Gutter South captures a fresh new spin on their sound and brand of sludge. Gutter South is the next chapter of Dope Skum.”

Belly Lint lived up to those references and then some. That opening riff sets the tone, chords that harken back to an older time and place. It’s “dank,” not in the current sense of the word, but old and musty and hard to get rid of. It’s the kind of riff that bores itself into my brain and keeps digging long after the song is over.

The Helmet influence is hard to miss on this one. Just that hard, matter-of-fact edge to it that works. If Helmet brought a New York street sensibility to their songs, Dope Skum doubles down on it with an Appalachian vibe. Angry, hurting and defiant as hell. They will not be ignored.

On it’s own, Belly Lint is good enough to get attention. I think you should definitely stream it and check it out. But that one song only tells part of the story. I’ve heard the whole EP, and it’s fucking excellent. I have a lot more to write about Cody and Scott, the two members of Dope Skum. But I’m going to save that for the EP, which releases in April. In the meantime, be sure to check them out on Bandamp and streaming services, and prepare to get hooked on one of the most interesting bands in the heavy underground. Just don’t let the name fool you too much: this is some seriously good stuff! - Clean and Sober Stoner