TOTIMOSHI
Ladron
(Crucial Blast)

SUNNO)))/BORIS
Altar
(Southern Lord)

OM
Conference of the Birds
(Holy Mountain)

DOOMRIDERS
Black Thunder
(Deathwish)

GIANT SQUID
Metridium Fields
(The End)

THE COFFIN LIDS
Round Midnight 

(Bomp)

NACHTMYSTIUM
Instinct Decay

(Battle Kommand)

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Perennially known as the exemplary marginal underground unit many subsequent bands looked up to Oakland, CA’S El Dopa made some of the nastiest crust punk rock of the second half of the ‘90’s.  Formed by bassist Andy Branton, guitarist & vocalist Greg Valencia, guitarist & vocalist Brian Ward and drummer Sean Tyler; these foursome formed from the ashes of other semi-legends such as Samiam, Econochrist and Grimple and has in the last few years spawned at least two current bands, the highly underrated Watch Them Die and Kalas, which counts former Sleep and current High On Fire centerpiece Matt Pike amongst its members.  The Complete Recordings is exactly that, as it compiles the band’s material starting with the full-length 1332, which is actually the name the band would adopt after receiving a cease and desist order from another El Dopa band hailing out of Boston. 

Produced by Billy Anderson and released in 1997 through East Bay Menace, these twelve-tracks boast the typical Anderson trademark sound; robust, raw, and live-sounding El Dopa’s last recording is mid-paced sludge punk metal at its nastiest.  The band switches speed in counted occasions but the power is peppered evenly through the tracks.  El Dopa usually keeps a beat for a while before presenting their own take on what would by now be known as a breakdown.  The vocals recall Eyehategod and much of the riffage could in this day and age be described as stoner, and certainly during the years of El Dopa’s existence it seems like that sub-genre was always on the verge of exploding, so its influence is undeniable. 

The songs also possess certain primitivity that reveals the band’s old school influences and basic instincts and chops.  Their 1996 7” EP follows; shaped by four tracks it would serve the band as support during a tour supporting Neurosis and Bloodlet, and the recording itself is not that bad.  The bass is more prominent and the drums sound a bit hollow but the power and dirt is still there.  Rounded up with demo material and 4 live tracks, this is a nice collection piece for everyone looking into adding a bit of Cali’s street rock history.  Make sure to wear your helmet though, and if not in the mood for fighting, don’t forget the kneepads.