The Summary Judgment Reviews:
Title: A Lethal Dose of American Hatred
Artist: Superjoint Ritual
Label: Sanctuary Records Group
Release Date: 7/29/03

Rating: 5 Skulls
  • Read the Reviews of Use Once and Destroy
  • Read the Review of Live in Dallas, TX 2002 (DVD)
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    • Reviewed by Savage (8/13/03):
    Phil Anselmo is at it again. This time his sights are targeted solely upon Superjoint Ritual and their sophomore release A Lethal Dose of American Hatred, which proves to be better than their previous effort, Use Once and Destroy, an album that featured a thrashier foundation and Phil's patented painful scream. A Lethal Dose.... feels more focused, most likely because Phil insists that from here on out, SJR is his first priority.

    The biggest difference here is Phil's vocals. On the opener "Sickness," he employs back a throwback style more akin to 80s hardcore punk. It's fast and monotone with a few added barks and growls that have become his trademark. "Waiting for the Turning Point" follows suit at a mere 1:27, reinforcing the punk mantra of short fast songs. One useless tidbit I noticed throughout this album was that eight of the thirteen songs start out like a jam session with a "one, two, one, two, three, four!"

    Musically, this runs the gamut between the minefields of thrash, hardcore and punk for a sound that embraces the past while still maintaining a sense of originality as it forges into the future. Lyrically, the CD reaches into the depths of the psyche with tales of violence, woe and destruction. "Personal Insult" showcases Slayeresque riffing and soloing and kicks some serious ass as it takes a stab at the war in the Middle East. This excerpt explains it better:

    Unholy war you will get, you can get, it's just bullshit
    Unholy war you will get, you can get, Jihad is a joke
    Fight us the American Public, the most pissed off motherfuckers in the world!

    "Never to Sit or Stand Again" cries: Die for me! as it screeches along at breakneck speed. Phil explores heroin addiction on "The Destruction of a Person" where he barks: The destruction of a person builds character. He also tackles the media in "Dress like a Target."

    I would gladly break down every track but opt for you to experience it yourselves. Each song dragged me deeper into the depths of a mind insane. A Lethal Dose of American Hatred takes you on a twisted roller coaster ride through Hell and is sure to be one of THE BEST releases of the year!
    5 out of 5

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