Dope Stars' third album and a third EP were both in production for over two years, the longest gap to date for the band to release music.

[1] For their third album, the band once again chose to record in Subsound Studios in Italy and use Trisol Music Group for their European label.

Following extensive touring all over Europe and Asia since 2006, Dope Stars began recording the album in early 2008 and it was released on July 14, 2009.

Rather than continuing to use a drum machine for albums and live performances, the band is planning to hire a real drummer for their future projects.

It is a concept album that follows the narrative of a dystopian future in which the world population are subject to large-scale brainwashing by corporate leaders.

Later tracks detail the uprising of an "underground network of cyber-rebels" who attempt to stop Megacorps from taking over the minds of the "sheeple" of the world.

This concept story is heavily influenced by the cyberpunk writings of William Gibson and his series of novels based on similar technological dependence.

Dope Stars describes their album as "A new manifesto for Digital Warriors, Outlaw Technologists and Console Riders of the 21st Century.

Also, the band has continued their influence from 80's Glam Rock and However, the album has shifted farther from electronica and more over to metal with emphasis on guitar sounds.

It is not a song for the hardcore souls but since we already had a lot of tracks in the past with a very pop feeling I think it would not be such a big thing to accept for a large part of our romantic fans.

Smith also wrote that "While ’21st Century Slave’ doesn’t make any major adjustments to DSI’s tried and tested formula of monstrous cyberpunk, it’s certainly their most vibrant and accessible record to date.

Creating a comparison from Dope Stars to Billy Idol and The Cassandra Complex, Roboto stated that "this is one CD you need to have in your collection, especially if you prefer harder music.

Torneberg felt the album was ambitious and promising but noted that the tracks were louder than they were unique, resulting in the mediocre score.

Similarly the reviewer for ReGen, Van der Meer felt the mix of rock and electronic elements was a positive and that the overall album was good and "for you open minded people out there who enjoy music to go nuts to.