What makes State of Shock by D.I. notable?

The album garnered attention for its unapologetic critique of societal issues and helped maintain D.I.'s relevance in the competitive punk landscape of the early '90s. It also contributed to the underground movement, influencing later punk and hardcore bands with its directness and intensity. State of Shock is D.I.'s third studio album, released in 1994 after their previous album, Horse Bites Dog Cries. At this point in their career, the band was solidifying their reputation within the hardcore punk scene while continuing to evolve their sound post their initial breakout with their debut album in 1983.

How many songs are on State of Shock?

State of Shock has 11 tracks, running approximately 32 minutes.

State of Shock

D.I. · 1994

32 min · 11 tracks · hardcore punk

A raw explosion of hardcore punk energy, blending aggressive instrumentation with sharp social commentary.

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Top tracks — play these first

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Hated — The opening track sets a fierce tone with its relentless pace and biting lyrics that challenge apathy, embodying the album's anger and urgency.
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Clownhouse — This track stands out for its catchy hooks and sharp critique of conformity, showcasing the band's ability to balance melody with punk aggression.
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What Is Life? — With its introspective lyrics wrapped in a frenetic arrangement, this song exemplifies D.I.'s exploration of existential themes amidst their punk ethos.
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Better Than Expected — This track features a more melodic approach while maintaining the aggressive spirit of punk, highlighting the band's versatility without sacrificing intensity.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

50 /100

Foothills

Higher than 23% of albums we've rated

The album delivers raw energy and sharp critiques but lacks depth for long-term engagement.

What we noticed

The album opens with a fast-paced track that sets a high-energy tone, maintaining a similar tempo through the first five songs.
Tracks frequently shift between aggressive guitar riffs and more melodic sections, creating dynamic contrasts within individual songs.
Several tracks feature abrupt endings or transitions, contributing to a sense of urgency and unpredictability throughout the record.

Composition 25% of the score: 6/10
Craft 20% of the score: 7/10
Durability 25% of the score: 5/10
Distinctiveness 18% of the score: 7/10
Sequencing 12% of the score: 6/10

Influence 4/10

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.

Tracklist

Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.

1 Hated 3:22
2 Clownhouse 2:54
3 What Is Life? 3:18
4 Runaround 2:14
5 Colors And Blood 3:00
6 It's Not Right 2:46
7 Paranoid's Demise 2:53
8 Dream 2:36
9 Better Than Expected 3:06
10 Martyr Man 4:33
11 Lexicon Devil 1:48

What to play next

Listen next

Caseyology

2002

Go back to

Tragedy Again

1989

Full D.I. discography Artists like D.I.

hardcore punk

Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata