''SteroidsOrHeroin'' (stylised as ''#SteroidsOrHeroin'') is the debut album of

progressive Progressive may refer to: Politics * Progressivism, a political philosophy in support of social reform ** Progressivism in the United States, the political philosophy in the American context * Progressive realism, an American foreign policy par ...

electronic Electronic may refer to: *Electronics, the science of how to control electric energy in semiconductor * ''Electronics'' (magazine), a defunct American trade journal *Electronic storage, the storage of data using an electronic device *Electronic co ...

band Future User fronted by

Rage Against the Machine Rage Against the Machine (often abbreviated as RATM or shortened to simply Rage) is an American rock band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1991, the group consists of vocalist Zack de la Rocha, bassist and backing vocalist Tim Commerfor ...

and

Audioslave Audioslave was an American Rock music, rock supergroup (music), supergroup formed in Glendale, California, in 2001. The four-piece band consisted of Soundgarden's lead singer and rhythm guitarist Chris Cornell with Rage Against the Machine membe ...

bassist

Tim Commerford Tim Commerford (born February 26, 1968) is an American musician, best known as the bassist and backing vocalist for rock band Rage Against the Machine, and supergroups Audioslave and Prophets of Rage. Since 2013 and 2015, he has also been the l ...

. It was released digitally on February 24, 2015, on the record label Middle Ring Partnership. In addition to Commerford, the band also consists of multi-instrumentalist Jordan Tarlow and drummer

Jon Knox Jon Knox is an American session drummer who has been a member of the bands White Heart, Adam Again, Future User and is currently the drummer for The Union of Sinners and Saints. He is also a producer, beatmaker and composer. Background Knox ...

. Additional studio guitars were done by record producer

Brendan O'Brien Brendan O'Brien may refer to: *Brendan O'Brien (bishop) (born 1943), Roman Catholic archbishop of Kingston, Ontario, Canada *Brendan O'Brien (cricketer) (born 1942), Irish former cricketer *Brendan O'Brien (journalist), senior Irish journalist on R ...

who had previously worked with Commerford during his tenure in Rage Against the Machine and Audioslave.

Background

In the lead-up to the album, music videos were released for the songs "Clockwork", "Supernatural", "Medication Nation", "Mountain Lion", and "Voodoo Juju". The first four videos star a masked character named S.W.I.M. who is revealed to be Commerford at the end of the "Mountain Lion" video. The "Clockwork" video features S.W.I.M.

waterboarding Waterboarding is a form of torture in which water torture, water is poured over a cloth covering the face and breathing passages of an immobilized captive, causing the person to experience the sensation of drowning. In the most common method ...

tennis player

John McEnroe John Patrick McEnroe Jr. (born February 16, 1959) is an American former professional tennis player. He was known for his shot-making and volleying skills, his rivalries with Björn Borg and Jimmy Connors, and his confrontational on-court beha ...

, the "Mountain Lion" video includes an appearance from cyclist

Lance Armstrong Lance Edward Armstrong (''né'' Gunderson; born September 18, 1971) is an American former professional road bicycle racing, road racing cyclist. Regarded as a sports icon for winning the Tour de France seven consecutive times from 1999 Tour de ...

, and the "Voodoo Juju" video stars

Alex Lifeson Aleksandar Živojinović, (born 27 August 1953), known professionally as Alex Lifeson (), is a Canadian musician, best known as the guitarist and backing vocalist of the progressive rock band Rush. In 1968, Lifeson co-founded the band that wo ...

Geddy Lee Geddy Lee (born Gary Lee Weinrib; July 29, 1953) is a Canadian musician, singer, and songwriter. He is best known as the lead vocalist, bassist, and keyboardist for the Canadian rock group Rush. Lee joined the band in September 1968, at the re ...

, and

Neil Peart Neil Ellwood Peart OC (; September 12, 1952 – January 7, 2020) was a Canadian-American musician, best known as the drummer and primary lyricist of the rock band Rush. Peart earned numerous awards for his musical performances, including an ...

Rush Rush(es) may refer to: Places United States * Rush, Colorado * Rush, Kentucky * Rush, New York * Rush City, Minnesota * Rush Creek (Kishwaukee River tributary), Illinois * Rush Creek (Marin County, California), a stream * Rush Creek (Mono Cou ...

Reception

In a 4/5 Ks review, ''

Kerrang! ''Kerrang!'' is a British weekly magazine devoted to rock, punk and heavy metal music, currently published by Wasted Talent (the same company that owns electronic music publication ''Mixmag''). It was first published on 6 June 1981 as a one- ...

''s Amit Sharma said the album is "full of surprises", comparing the songs "Supernatural" and "T.F.U." to "

Depeche Mode Depeche Mode are an English electronic music band formed in Basildon, Essex, in 1980. The band currently consists of Dave Gahan (lead vocals and co-songwriting) and Martin Gore (keyboards, guitar, co-lead vocals and main songwriting). Depeche ...

Killing Joke Killing Joke are an English rock music, rock band from Notting Hill, London, England, formed in 1979 by Jaz Coleman (vocals, keyboards), Paul Ferguson (drums), Geordie Walker (guitar) and Youth (musician), Youth (bass). Their first album, ''Ki ...

, and

The Prodigy The Prodigy are an English electronic dance music band formed in Braintree, Essex, in 1990 by producer, keyboard player and songwriter Liam Howlett. The original line-up also featured dancer and singer Keith Flint and dancer and occasional l ...

having a jam. On

Mars Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun and the second-smallest planet in the Solar System, only being larger than Mercury (planet), Mercury. In the English language, Mars is named for the Mars (mythology), Roman god of war. Mars is a terr ...

", and concluding by calling the album "bonkers" and "every bit as good as that sounds." ''The Heavy Press''s Gerrod Harris said that the album's "clash of moods, going from something extremely energetic, to what seems like a slower, trance-like flow is done very well all throughout", that "''Steroids or Heroin'' is one of the most unique newer act I've heard in a long time", and that "Without a doubt ''Steroids or Heroin'' is a highly experimental, hit and miss record, and although the risks taken by Future User don't always land on their feet, when it does, it borders on innovative genius."

Track listing

Credits

– lead vocals, bass guitar, producer * Jordan Tarlow – keyboards, programming, producer *

– drums *

– guitar * Tom Syrowski – mix engineer

References

{{Authority control 2015 debut albums Future User albums Progressive rock albums by American artists Electronic albums by American artists Hip hop albums by American artists Punk rock albums by American artists