The Devil
The Devil Candlelight Records
This is an intriguing and fascinating debut album brought to you by the all masked all instrumental band The Devil, hailing from London it is self-produced, and I am sure it’s going to get a lot of notice worldwide. Ghost are currently plying their trade hidden in cassocks, Slipknot with the masks and disguises and various others have done it before. Now The Devil are doing the same but without a vocalist and you know what it’s pretty damn outstanding!
The album combines Classic / Traditional heavy metal with select historical, political, conspiracy-laden oracles and, the anonymous masked and cloaked musicians present a sound that will attract the curious. The opening track 'Divinorium' is due to feature in the soon to be released film The Fury, and deals with Aliens and it really makes you think as the track ends. If there are other worldly beings amongst us, it sends a chill down your spine. The album has news footage / reports and historical speeches throughout and it is cleverly done.
'World of Sorrow' brings back the horror of 9/11 with such chilling effect it gives you goose bumps, you can visualise that fateful day as the news reports and electrifying music take you through that day of terror.
As the track ends you hear the conspiracy theories about explosions being triggered inside the buildings, interesting and captivating. As well as UFOS and 9/11 we get the assassination of President Kennedy, Martin Luther King and much, much, more.
'The Silent City' is really mournful and reaches into your being, it’s an intensely moving piece.
The bomb dropping on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945 starts the topic on 'Extinction Level Event' an act that could have been carried out by either side during the Cold War and the commentary moves through those years of nuclear threat.
'Intervention' carries Martin Luther King’s speech and the music accompanies the speech in a fitting manner. 'Alternative Dimensions' deals with the modern age and how computers could be programmed to develop a new religion, interesting and very probable. The final track goes on for over twenty minutes and like the whole album has your attention and really makes you think.
Many of us would have witnessed, or remember some of the events that are featured on here, and it will bring back memories, and at times the album will make you feel sad, nostalgic, and I guess inspired. I am surprised how much I actually liked this album, it’s a chill out, contemplation album that will get the old brain matter working and at times have you just staring into space.
This is not a head-banging Metal album by any means, but is cleverly constructed and atmospheric, to enjoy on a late night with candles and a bottle of wine. The Devil plans to begin touring soon to support the album and I think it would be quite refreshing to see this band performing an all instrumental album that feasts on your soul, your whole being.
Review by: Seb Di Gatto
Tracklisting:
1. Divinorum
2. Universe
3. Astral Dreamscape
4. World Of Sorrow
5. Devil & Mankind
6. The Silent City
7. Akashic Enlightenment
8. Extinction Level Event
9. Intervention
10. Illuminati
11. Transcendence
12. Alternative Dimensions
13. Ascension