Devilsome – Devilsome EP
Devilsome – Devilsome EP
Self-Released
Release Date: 18/08/23
Running Time: 29:03
Review by Dark Juan
8/10
As it is the anniversary where I celebrate yet another lap around the sun and not achieving any of my goals (being an RAF fast jet pilot, a guitarist who has the world at his feet and being a world famous racing driver have all unfortunately passed me by as my age and experience increases and the broken bones I have suffered ache more with every passing day) on Wednesday I am furiously scribbling as I will be too fucked up by half past one on my birthday to write anything that makes sense. This is my third review today and it is another of the famous wild card reviews instituted by Editor-in-Extremis Simon Black, to give the true underground scene a chance, where the bands have day jobs and normal shit to deal with and Simon chucks stuff at the EM staff for us to get out there for you lot to read about and hopefully listen to. It’s a valuable public service, I don’t mind telling you that Ever-Metal.com offers this free, gratis and for nothing.
You’re all very welcome.
Devilsome are a three-piece band from Northern Ireland. Newry, to be precise, and they were foolish enough to allow Dark Juan access to their latest self-titled EP to pass under his critical microscope. Hence it was bunged on to the leather and stud covered Platter Of Splatter™ and it is now wildly oscillating as I pass judgement upon it. Abandon hope all ye who enter here…
The first two songs on the EP, being ‘Children Of The Night’ (did Tobias Forge, Peter Steele or Darren White write this paean to dangerous nocturnal ladies with milk white thighs? Don’t get me wrong, Dark Juan is TOTALLY down with this) and ‘7th Seal’ have a very strong Ghost meets King Diamond meets The Blood Divine vibe going on as well as ex-Cradle Of Filth string slinger Richard Shaw offering some guest shredding on the second song, mixing Pop sensibilities and hooks with Hard Rock power and a fairly idiosyncratic vocal that teeters just on the right side of control that is almost too harsh for the music, very much like TBD’s Darren White.
In fact, the whole EP has three major influences as I see it. They are Ghost, Thrash Metal and King Diamond with even more added Gothic silliness. And I am going to say it and I don’t give a fuck what anyone thinks of me for it – ‘Necromantic Girl’ I am CONVINCED is a fucking sneakily re-written Peter Andre cover version and I am convinced that Devilsome have only done it so they can reveal their rippling, oiled torsos on a video for the song, where there will be lots of scantily-clad dancers and posing next to expensive cars. They will be dancing set-piece dances on extravagant sets. They have gone for the panty-lobber market. Devilsome will be the idols of a new generation of girlhood. I will not be challenged on this assertion. Dark Juan drinks and he KNOWS things…
‘Morning Star’ is a heavier, more grinding proposition than the first two numbers on the EP, being brooding Gothic Metal, all slow paced, extended chords and swirling, atmospheric keyboard – Garth Kidd’s atavistic vocal delivery is really working on point here as the song goes from loud to quiet. The menace is rather more palpable when it is just voice and bass in the middle eight of the song as opposed to the full mental power of the song when the guitars are chugging away. The last couple of minutes of ‘Morning Star’ speed everything up and remind us that guitarist Joe McGuigan is a Thrasher through and through in Gama Bomb.
After ‘Morning Star’ it is the bizarre Cradle Of Filth (the intro with the plinking keyboards sounds just like ‘From The Cradle To Enslave’)/ The Blood Divine/ Ghost/ Peter Andre hybrid that is ‘Necromantic Girl’ which I can’t help but fucking adore, especially because on repeated listening there’s a real Dead Coyote vibe going on in there as well. It is spectacularly silly and the performances are Vaudevillian in extremis but that is exactly the kind of stuff that gets Dark Juan’s motor running. Vroom vroom, etc. This piece honestly has everything Dark Juan ever wanted in a song – Satanism, sex, sadism, necromancy, and blasphemy. Sounds like a normal night out for Dark Juan, but probably not in Newry…
‘Charge Of The Nephilim’ is a whole new genre being revealed before our very eyes – Gothic Thrash. It’s a speedy little number this one, all double bass drumming and furious moshing with big shouty bits as well as a bizarre bass-led middle eight with weird chanting behind it. It’s not as good as ‘Necromantic Girl’ but let’s be honest, there’s nothing that is going to top Gothic Peter Andre is there?
Vaporwave synth work comes to the fore on ‘Time Of The Season’, with a relaxed, slowly rocking bassline underpinning oh-so-80s buzzy Bontempi synths that eventually give way to the galloping guitar work that Iron Maiden do so well.
The EP closes with ‘The Witches Of Pendle Hill’, which is VERY VERY reminiscent of The Blood Divine. Particularly ‘Aureole’ on the verses. It switches up and out of this on occasion throughout the song, but there’s a clear link there… The chorus is very Gothic Punk with shouty bits that are tailor-made to be howled back at the band by an absolutely trolleyed audience.
Production-wise the record is fine without being exceptional. Every instrument is clearly heard, and the bass is suitably earthquake inducing. The drums are resonant and sharp. Vocally, I hate to say it, is where the great weakness of Devilsome lies. The vocals frequently stretch the abilities of Garth Kidd and it shows, with notable strain on the lad’s voice being easily heard as he struggles to physically match his musical vision. Don’t get me wrong, the man can sing, it’s just that his range is not as great as it needs to be, and there’s a few flat notes throughout the record. However, Dark Juan appreciates a warts-and-all delivery that is at times frighteningly committed. Quality control for the songs is fine, bands at this point of their career frequently shove any old crap on a record to get it out there, but Devilsome have neatly avoided this trap and released a record that has a decent selection of tunes on it.
I’ll be humming ‘Necromantic Girl’ in my coffin. Hell will reverberate to the poorly rendered version Dark Juan will be singing. Bloody Micks and their catchy tunes!
The Patented Dark Juan Blood Splat Rating System has annoyed Mrs Dark Juan with ‘Necromantic Girl’ to such an extent she’s fucked off to the pub. 8/10 for a damned fine EP, but one with a couple of flaws. Still damned enjoyable though…
TRACKLISTING:
01. Children Of The Night
02. 7th Seal
03. Morning Star
04. Necromantic Girl
05. Charge Of The Nephilim
06. Time Of The Season
07. The Witches Of Pendle Hill
LINE-UP:
Garth Kidd – Bass, vocals
Joe McGuigan – Guitars
John McSherry – Guitars
Guests:
Chris Williams – Drums
Kevy Canavan – Keyboards
Richard Shaw (guest solo on ‘7th Seal’)
LINKS:
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