If the press info sent along with Kunk is to be believed, Dope Body mostly came up with the material on its latest album as it noodled around between takes and left the tape rolling while recording the previous long-player, Lifer. That record found the Baltimore noise-rockers trading in their squelchier side for a more straightforward set of nostalgi-grunge. It wasn’t a bad album, but it’s definitely the weakest in the Dope Body discography. Thankfully, the rowdy and chaotic Kunk suggests that Lifer was a detour. If Lifer was self-conscious ego, Kunk is all id—the sound that came out when the four-piece stopped thinking about want it wanted to do and just did what it does. The melodic hooks sound like Dope Body was fished out of the garbage disposal, all bent and twisted with chunks missing. Feedback is the duct tape that holds it all together. There might be a little dirt on it, but it’s still good.
—Matt Sullivan
