Last I'd heard Dave Wyndorf had overdosed on pills and was some comatose vegetable in some storage facility. Turns out the Bullgod doesn't go down that easy and the Superjudge still had something to say.

The album opens up with the manic title track with Wyndorf sounding almost remorseful in his delivery while the heavy tremolo on the lead guitar keeps the edge on throughout the tune. 'Cyclone' stands out as reminiscent of the 'Spine of God' days with more insightful lyrics. Their cover of the Stones' '2000 Light Years From Home' has some of the fuzziest bass i've heard in years; and the drums for 'A Thousand Stars' has me thinking live shows will probably feature a cover of Zeppelin's 'When the Levee Breaks'. The rest of the album is filled with the typical big hooks fans would have grown accustomed to by now, with a little more cynicism in lyrics.

The album closes with the poignant 'Little Bag of Gloom' again reminiscent of older days, notably Superjudge's 'Black Balloon', but again with a refined perspective. Where a half rate band would pull out some cheese ball retrospective about their near death experience and the wisdom gleaned from its survival Wyndorf doesn't candy coat it, it's short, to the point, and selfless.

Anyone who likes no bullshit, old school, psychedelic hard rock should definitely check out 4-Way Diablo

Considering his feelings about drugs and the drug in question was an anti-depression....it was more along the lines of suicide attempt. Just how does anyone accidentally down whatever pills are left in his/her prescription of anything let alone Anxiolytic at one time?

dunno. all i was ever able to find out about the deal before now was that it was prescription pills. i'm not surprised that his stance on drugs has changed over the years, even in the early days there was heavy sarcasm in his lyrics. either way, i still think this album is one of the better ones he's come out with.

You know, 2000 Light Years from Home has only been covered a handful of times.

i'm surprised it hasn't been covered more often. the more i listen to this album and the more it sounds like a reflection of wyndorf's battle with his demons and how he managed to find his own balance. especially on the closer.

then again i've never heard a MM tune that made me think they were all sitting around doped up going on about how 'awesome' being stoned was as opposed to just being stoned as their own way of dealing with their issues. unlike most 'stoner' bands they never glorified drug usage. even on a tune like 'tractor' which is probably their most straight forward dope tune the lyrics 'with a knife in my back / and a hole in my arm / i'm driving the tractor on the drug farm' aren't exactly what i'd call enticing.

Yes, monster magnet rocks.

I sense the spirit of Arthur Brown in the music. Cool.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wee_QhqvT6A

I am a Superjudge fanatic. My hopes were high for their release which followed but Dopes To Infinity did nothing for me. Face Down, Evil (Is Going On), Dinosaur Vacuum, Black Balloon, Twin Earth...that's Monster Magnet for me. I recently acquired the cd again and listen to it about 5 times per week.

yeah i'm still pissed at having lost my copy of superjudge. haven't seen it for sale in a decade. someday...

as for arthur brown i can definitely see/hear why monster magnet draws comparisons to his and kingdom come's work. i'm definitely digging it.

Is this a cover of my man the Wolf?