REVIEW: Trip Villain - Dose
- David Waites
- 5 days ago
- 3 min read
Chaotic, aggressive, ferocious yet equally danceable—this is the most accurate way to introduce TRIP VILLAIN as they unleash their debut album Dose. Formed in 2021 in Brooklyn, New York, the quartet pull from a wide spectrum of influences, fusing them into a psychedelic, doom-laden strain of industrial metal. They show no restraint in crossing genres mid-riff or mid-section, creating a volatile cocktail—abrasive, unpredictable, and at times overwhelming, yet strangely intoxicating when it lands.
The album opens with Reign Supreme. Early dial tones and distorted vocals establish an eerie atmosphere before dark, heavy riffs take hold. The battle-ready drums provide a solid backbone, locking in with the vocals to set an ominous tone from the outset. Cyan Spirits leans into a darker, techno-driven pulse. The synths feel off-kilter and uneasy, while the vocals carry a familiar nu-metal snarl reminiscent to that of KORN. It doesn’t evolve much in tempo, but it doesn’t need to—the track thrives on tension rather than movement.
You Flew A Plane Into My Heart is where things start to slip. It’s overcrowded and unfocused, throwing too many ideas and different genres together without giving any of them room to breathe. The monotone vocal delivery drags, the pacing feels stuck, and what should be ambitious instead becomes frustratingly disjointed. It’s a misfire that stalls the album’s momentum.
However, the self-titled track Dose is arguably the strongest moment on the album. The synth work is razor-sharp, while the drums drive it to another level entirely. It shifts effortlessly into darker, dance-infused territory, carrying an unmistakable THE PRODIGY energy—high praise for any act operating in this space. Lowbender keeps that momentum alive, its stop-start basslines adding bite and pushing the track firmly into headbanging territory, while the vocals finally feel locked in rather than drifting above the chaos. It’s tighter, more deliberate, and far more satisfying. That intensity carries into Meth Communion, which strips everything back to a heavier, doom-focused core. It never feels out of place—if anything, it reinforces the band’s foundation, proving they don’t need electronic layers to deliver real weight.
Villain Maw, featuring Vixen Maw, builds around a sinister, almost hellish atmosphere before snapping into a techno-laced groove. The instrumental work does the heavy lifting, with the vocals sitting more as a supporting layer than a focal point. It drives toward a savage, abrupt finish, where the band’s command of synthetic textures takes over—ending the track on a sharp, aggressive high. Angelsmoke surges forward with intensity. There’s a looming, almost militaristic presence beneath the synths, while the robotic vocal delivery fits the track’s futuristic edge. It’s one of the more immersive moments on the album, though it overstays its welcome slightly, with distortion creeping from effective into excessive becoming a somewhat distraction.
The closing track, Shitkill, delivers exactly what the album needs. A crushing, doom-heavy finale, driven by addictive riffs, snarling vocals, and raw aggression. It’s focused, punishing, and leaves a far stronger final impression.
Dose isn’t a safe debut—and that’s both its strength and its flaw. At its best, TRIP VILLAIN fuses genres with precision, delivering something intense, immersive, and genuinely exciting. At its worst, they overreach, packing too many ideas into the same space and losing clarity. Still, even in its messier moments, there is clear intent and undeniable potential throughout. It doesn’t always land cleanly, but it leaves a lasting impression—and that’s exactly what makes it worth attention.
Score: 6/10
Dose will be released on 8th May 2026 via Seeing Red Records.
Words: David Waites
Photos: Robby Grodin
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