Description
Dorothy – RockIsDead – Gray Marble Vinyl Record
Dorothy’s ROCKISDEAD, released on June 24, 2016, is a fiery, unapologetic debut that reasserts the grit and swagger of classic rock through a contemporary lens. Fronted by powerhouse vocalist Dorothy Martin, the Los Angeles-based band took a bold stance with this album—despite its title, ROCKISDEAD is very much alive with raw energy, bluesy riffage, and a modern hard rock edge. It’s a loud, brash, and attitude-driven statement that merges the rebellious spirit of Led Zeppelin and Janis Joplin with the sheen of 21st-century production.
From the opening track, “Kiss It,” it’s clear that the band has no interest in subtlety. With thunderous drums, gritty guitar riffs, and Martin’s smoky, ferocious vocals, the song sets the tone for an album that thrives on confidence, defiance, and sex appeal. Dorothy’s delivery is both soulful and fierce, immediately placing her among the most commanding female voices in modern rock.
The album’s breakout single, “Raise Hell,” became a licensing goldmine, featured in film trailers, sports promos, and video games. Its stomping beat, anthemic chorus, and sultry, menacing tone make it an ideal rallying cry. It exemplifies the band’s knack for blending old-school rock bravado with radio-friendly hooks. Tracks like “Wicked Ones” follow a similar formula—combining blues-rock grit with an almost gospel-like intensity and heavy grooves that make it both visceral and addictive.
While the record thrives on heavy-hitting riffs and gritty bravado, ROCKISDEAD also has moments of emotional vulnerability and musical restraint. “Shelter” is a standout ballad, showcasing Martin’s vocal range and her ability to convey emotional depth without losing the record’s overall toughness. Similarly, “Medicine Man” slows things down, introducing a swampy, bluesy undercurrent that adds dimension to the band’s sound and hints at a broader musical range beneath the distortion and bravado.
The album walks the line between rock ’n’ roll clichés and empowerment anthems, with themes centered around personal liberation, temptation, rebellion, and female strength. It’s not subtle, but that’s part of the appeal. ROCKISDEAD delivers rock in its most primal, unfiltered form, leaning into familiar tropes but doing so with a fierce, modern feminist edge. Dorothy Martin commands attention not just as a vocalist but as a presence—forceful, charismatic, and unabashedly dominant.
The production, handled by Mark Jackson and Ian Scott, is slick but not overly polished. It keeps the edge intact while ensuring the album is ready for mainstream exposure. The songs are built for festival stages, fast cars, and action sequences, which is exactly where much of this album found its second life through sync placements in media.
ROCKISDEAD received praise for its throwback appeal and vocal dynamism, with many drawing comparisons to acts like The Kills, Grace Potter, and even early Black Keys. While some critics saw it as leaning too heavily on retro rock stylings, others appreciated its unfiltered energy and commitment to keeping rock visceral in a pop-saturated landscape.
ROCKISDEAD is less a eulogy and more a resurrection spell—an album that proves rock isn’t dead, it’s just waiting for someone like Dorothy to light a fire under it. With its thunderous anthems, bluesy soul, and unrelenting attitude, this debut put Dorothy on the map as one of the most exciting modern rock acts reviving a genre many had written off as passé.
Limited Edition
Brand new, never played and still in the factory plastic sealed
Track Listing
Kiss It
Dark Nights
Raise Hell
Wicked Ones
Gun In My Hand
Medicine Man
Woman
Whiskey Fever
After Midnight
Missile
Shelter
