21st Century Slave
Dope Stars Inc. · 2009
52 min · 11 tracks · industrial metal
A fusion of industrial metal and rock, blending aggressive rhythms with dystopian themes and melodic hooks.
Top tracks — play these first
-
→
21st Century Slave — The title track encapsulates the album's core theme of societal oppression, combining heavy guitar riffs with an impassioned vocal performance that critiques contemporary existence.
-
→
Digital Warriors — This track stands out for its energetic blend of electronic elements and hard-hitting guitar work, representing the band's innovative approach to industrial rock.
-
→
Omegadrones — Opening the album, this track sets a dark tone with its relentless pace and vivid imagery about technological domination, drawing listeners into the overarching narrative.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album combines aggressive rhythms and thematic depth but lacks some cohesion in its flow.
What we noticed
- The album opens with a high-energy track that sets a fast pace, which is maintained through the first half before slowing down in the latter tracks.
- Several songs feature heavy use of electronic elements alongside traditional rock instrumentation, creating a layered sound.
- Lyrically, the album consistently addresses themes of consumerism and societal control, with each song contributing to this overarching narrative.
- Composition 25% of the score
-
6/10
- Craft 20% of the score
-
7/10
- Durability 25% of the score
-
6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
-
6/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
-
5/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- intense rhythms with driving energy
- dystopian themes for reflective moments
- melodic hooks that encourage engagement
- dynamic shifts in pacing throughout
Maybe skip if you
- prefer soft, melodic tunes
- want straightforward song structures
Where this album fits
- Career context
- Released on January 1, 2009, '21st Century Slave' is Dope Stars Inc.'s third studio album, following their 2005 debut '10,000 Watt'. At this point in their career, the band was refining their sound, merging industrial elements with more accessible rock influences while exploring socio-political themes through their music.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Nine Inch Nails· Ministry· KMFDM
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Omegadrones 6:49
- 2 21st Century Slave 5:36
- 3 It's Today 3:27
- 4 When I See You Smile 6:00
- 5 Digital Warriors 5:25
- 6 Megacorps 3:35
- 7 Criminal Intents 3:32
- 8 Neuromantics 4:43
- 9 Outlaw Thrones 5:14
- 10 The World Machine 4:34
- 11 It's for You 3:40
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
Sync your library
Everything you track here works immediately — no account needed. Create one when you want to sync across devices.