If it weren't for the absolutely brilliant beginning and ending tracks on this album, aptly title "Prologue" and "Epilogue" respectively, there would be few positive things to say about United in States of Narcolepsy, the latest effort from west coast rockers El Dopa. Indeed, the first track plays at a jumpy, quirky keyboard nightmare theme that shows of some of the talents we'd expect from a lead vocalist that had once worked designing Kurzweil keyboards. However, 56 seconds later, the sound mutates, the guitar comes in heavy, and we're stuck listening to another grunge clone that should realize that all their potential fans are locked up in rehab.

The album embraces all we've come to expect from a mid-'80s metal band-- satirical punches at corporate Amerikkka, criticism of Christianity, and heavy backing guitar that gets in a pissing contest with the vocalist for who can be the loudest at any given point. Take all this and wrap it up with, to their credit, innovative samples and backing keyboard tracks (which are a welcome addition to a music that, stylistically, had been played out long before Def Leppard went on their latest reunion tour). The biggest disappointment is that the innovative parts are quickly drowned out by the masturbatory guitar, leaving the listener teased. "From Here To Reality" is perhaps one example of an exception to the rule. Starting off with a mellow, spooky keyboard, the song kicks in a groove a la good George Clinton before kicking in the requisite guitar, which, thankfully, is restrained enough that it doesn't overpower the material. The next track, "Said And Done," returns to the awful invented formula of creating an interesting premise by opening the song with samples long enough to get the casual listener intrigued and then jumping directly into metal.

Perhaps the title of "Too Much Testosterone" is exactly the phrase needed to describe this effort, which seems to actually boast the Parental Advisory sticker found centered on the front cover. Indeed, all the tracks have enough usage of the "seven dirty words" to keep them clear off of most radio stations (although the band is apparently popular on metal stations on the west coast). Nevermind that Krishna Venkatesh, the dread- headed Hindu lead vocalist once spent a season in a band opening for Nine Inch Nails-- if you're looking for that nostalgic metal sound, you'll find better quality pulling out those old Megadeth tapes from that archive of embarrassing albums you've purchased.

-Skaht Hansen