What's in those fruits?

Dole's Fruit Company - "...endorses..."
Label: Atlanta Zone Records

The collective that is Atlanta Zone Records and/or FACED OUT was some of the coolest shit that was going on in the Punk-underground of 2023. Here's the newest project from the guys out of St. Louis, Missouri. It involes three members of FACED OUT and is called DOLE'S FRUIT COMPANY ENDORSES (AND ENCOURAGES) THE RECREATIONAL USE OF DIPHENHYDRAMINE, ALSO COMMONLY REFERRED TO AS BENADRYL. Well, as they state themselves, the music pretty much sounds like the name might suggest. It's experimental, silly, strange stuff, even in the universe of FACED OUT. Speaking of them, you definitely get some similarities between the two projects, but otherwise they once again (just like with their Midwest-Emo-project GORILLA GORILLA GORILLA) manage to create something totally different...

So, what's it all about? Well, If I could tell?! There's a distinctive 90s-Post-Hardcore-vibe there, especially in the first two tracks. Something like FUGAZI or SHUDDER TO THINK, but mostly the more crazy stuff from that era. I'm thinking NOMEANSNO and VICTIM'S FAMILY. Meaning, they get totally nuts halfway into the track, at least on "Worms". This song is a about being infected with radioactive brain worms, so you know where this is going, right?

While the first three tracks are upbeat and twisted, the closer "God/Complex" probably is their version of a Rock ballad, though a very cranky one. The song is going nowhere and is very weird, basically like the whole EP. Still, there's really a lot going on during these 13 minutes. You gotta love the creativity of these guys, their conssequence at don't giving a fuck, and their willingness at writing fresh music with the help of good drugs. 

I'm sold on them, but I already was before. If you'd too like to get into the universe of Atlanta Zone Records better start with the two linked records above and then work your way up to the FRUIT COMPANY. If you're silly enough, you won't regret it!

DOLE'S FRUIT COMPANY on Bandcamp
DOLE'S FRUIT COMPANY on Instagram