Moments of Awakening by Doggystyle: Hardcore Rock That Kicks You in the Feels (and Ears)
Alright, let’s get one thing straight—Doggystyle isn’t about puppy love or cutesy vibes. Nope. This French hardcore rock outfit came out swinging with Moments of Awakening back in 2002, and holy smokes, it’s a wild ride. Self-released under their own label (because who needs gatekeepers when you’ve got raw talent?), this album is like a shot of espresso mixed with adrenaline. It’s messy, gritty, and unapologetically real.
The lineup? A whole crew of contributors for backing vocals on tracks like “Away,” “Control,” and “Slaves.” Seriously, six people chiming in on those songs feels less like a band and more like a chaotic family reunion where everyone wants to be heard. But hey, that chaos works. Then there’s Sébastien Pierre belting his heart out as lead vocalist while Romain Neveu holds down the basslines like a boss. Guillaume Rocha on drums? Dude’s got hands faster than a caffeinated squirrel. And Cédric Bebin shredding guitar on “Time To Change”? Pure fire.
Now, onto the tracks. Let me tell you why two of these tunes stuck in my brain like gum under a table. First up, “For The Love Of”—this song hits hard, both musically and emotionally. The opening riff grabs you by the collar and doesn’t let go. It’s heavy without being pretentious, emotional without drowning in sappy clichés. Plus, the layered backing vocals give it this anthemic vibe that makes you wanna scream along even if you don’t know all the words. Honestly, I think they captured lightning in a bottle here—or maybe just bottled-up frustration and set it on fire.
Then there’s “Friends And Family”, which flips the script entirely. Instead of going full throttle, this track slows things down just enough to make you feel something deeper. The lyrics hit close to home, talking about loyalty and connection without sounding like an after-school special. When Sébastien sings, “We stand together through every storm,” it’s not corny—it’s earned. Like, yeah, dude, we believe you because your voice cracks just enough to sound human.
Oh, and props to Eric Barr for mastering this beast. If he hadn’t reigned it in, this album might’ve spiraled into total sonic mayhem. Not that that would’ve been bad, but sometimes boundaries are good… right?
So what’s the takeaway from Moments of Awakening? Well, it’s not perfect. Some transitions between tracks feel a bit janky, and sure, the production has that lo-fi charm that screams early 2000s DIY ethic. But honestly? That’s part of its charm. This album reminds me of those late-night drives where you blast music so loud you can barely hear yourself think—and somehow, everything feels okay again.
Final thought: Listening to Doggystyle feels like finding an old mixtape at the bottom of your backpack years later. You forgot how much it meant to you until you press play. Or maybe it’s just nostalgia goggles kicking in. Either way, crank this sucker up and thank me later.
