Dope Body

A frenzied convergence of post-punk danceability and noise rock abrasiveness, Dope Body's sound straddles that fine line between a tightly packed dancefloor and a mosh pit. Evoking some kind of fantasy world where the Jesus Lizard cover Gang of Four while playing through a blown-out PA system, the Baltimore, Maryland quartet of Andrew Laumann, David Jacober, Zachary Utz, and John Jones have been running their influences through a sonic blender since 2008. Since their inception, the band have managed to rack up an impressive discography in a short time, starting with the 2009 EP 20 Pound Brick, which was released on Watercolor. They followed up with the split EP (on Orphan) Self Entitled through Black Tent Press in 2010 before making their full-length debut the following year with Nupping. Dope Body's years of basement and eardrum destruction eventually paid off in 2012 when they hooked up with indie giant Drag City to release their second full-length, Natural History. After relentless touring, the band followed up in 2014 with Lifer. They recorded a wealth of material for the album. Deciding that much of it was too good to abandon, they did some editing and a little extra recording, but otherwise compiled 2015's Kunk from Lifer's inspired leftovers. Preceded by the single "Old Grey" in June, the album was released two months later. ~ Gregory Heaney