With Fiend II, Montreal duo Dope.Gng bid farewell to their musical DNA, a bold fusion of trap, emo and punk. Yabock (Victor Tremblay-Desrosiers, son of Mara Tremblay and Yves Desrosier) and Zilla (Marven Jean) close their project with an album that takes stock of their intense but ultimately disappointing journey.
Since their debut album Fiend in 2018, the Dope.Gng duo have explored the intricacies of consumerism, not to glorify it but to depict its realities, seeking to destigmatize users through raw, heartfelt music. Fiend II brings this approach full circle.
The album is distinguished by its balance between hard-hitting tracks and more introspective passages, reflecting the emotional rollercoaster that the duo has always been able to capture. Yabock and Zilla’s sometimes incisive, sometimes vulnerable flows testify to the mastery and artistic maturity they have acquired over the years.
The choice of a final concert on March 15 at the Union Française adds a poignant dimension to Fiend II, transforming the album into a gritty farewell imbued with nostalgia and gratitude to the Dope.Gng audience.
Special mention must go to Amour éternel, which hits hard with its intensity, acting as a bittersweet retrospective against the backdrop of a car chase and panic attack. The next track, Wah-ah-ah-ah, incorporates a heavy distortion electric guitar in Nü Metal mode, which packs a powerful punch. Watch Out also continues in this very punk vein. All in all, Fiend II is a great listen from start to finish, and a fitting conclusion to Dope.Gng’s inventive, assertive sound. It’s a last lap full of dreamy brushstrokes, intensity and excess. One wonders, in fact, if this farewell is not a goodbye, a page turning for a project camped in a self-destructive state of mind, unsustainable in the long term. This allows me to hope for a potential re-emergence of Yabock and/or Zilla in another incarnation. May it be more peaceful and healthy, but… just as dope!
