Dopes To Infinity

*Dopes to Infinity* is hardly lacking for the sweet-leaf riffs and primal howls that made Monster Magnet stoner-rock demigods, but the narcotic haze clears to reveal an arsenal of chiseled hooks. The dizzying, disorienting swirl of “Negasonic Teenage Warhead” cedes to a righteously fist-pumping chorus, and “All Friends and Kingdom Come” is an apocalyptic anthem propelled by a splendorous ‘60s-psych groove. But the biggest surprise is “Dead Christmas,” which hitches dulcet, Doors-like organ tones to a cool, Santana-esque rhythm.

Expecting Monster Magnet to change from art-sludge-psych monsters into sweet cuddlebunnies from album to album clearly demonstrates a loss of reason.