It’s hard to believe that New Zealand’s finest Metallers Devilskin hit double-digits this year – but they are indeed ten years old in 2020! More importantly though they are back with a bang and a new album ‘Red’ which sees the band changing things up a little, but not too much to put off long term fans and just enough to gain a hoard more!
And we start out so well! You’ve gotta love the abandon of the thrusting metal opener ‘Do You See Birds’ – it’s the prefect start to the album really, with the stuttering riff, heavy drums and Jennie given free reign to get brutal! You can imagine a few doubters being silenced right there, and we’ve only just opened the account!
The atmospheric and catchy ‘All Fall Down’ which follows that scalding slab of Metal sees them killing it with contrast – the guitars might be in overdrive but this is a serious ear-worm and one to stick in the head for ages. And it doesn’t relent! The chugging and yearning ‘Corrode’ comes next – and the latest single is pure Devilskin – huge back-line and Jennie smashing it, before again comes the contrast with the lighter searching Evanescence-like ‘Eyes Red Heavy’ which spills with emotion and ends with an acoustic guitar.
You know what comes next though! The rip and tear of ‘Same Life’ that hits hard and fast before you have time to react, then again comes that contrast with the almost pop-infused refrain of ‘The Victor’ which has plenty of bounce and hangs on Jennie’s intonations. And whilst there’s a light start to ‘Blood Bone’ and gentle gathering of pace and plenty of brooding it’s the hard rock epic finish that work so well.
But there’s more ‘new’ sounds to come – starting with the gentle opening to ‘Endo’ and then killer heavy riff to contrast, replete with call to arms chant and growls – it’s an unnerving mix of pop and Metal that’s followed by the rather clean modern rock sound and melodies of ‘Bright Lights’ (that actually didn’t need the dirty vocal and its a shame as up until now the balance has been just right).
But we closeout strongly: ‘Sweet Release’ sees Jennie open with a very clean, even soulful, vocal and hypnotic beat and stays very laid back – it’s as close as these guys get to a gentle lilting ballad before one of my favourites – ‘Be Like the River’ which has a nice rolling groove and throws in everything including the kitchen sink – the sort of epic these guys do so well. We close with ‘Everybody’s High But Me’ – a nice fiery closer almost punky in groove but with a fierce vocal and Metal chug – the perfect way to close!
4/5
