It's
quite rare that a band states one's influences so plainly nowadays,
and what's more surprising is that those inspirations are not even so
overwhelming! After only a 4-track-demo-CD Devious already have a professional
product in their hands, starting from the excellent recording making
you hear all the instruments clearly including the fretless daring bass
acrobacies to the cool old style artwork, without forgetting the most
important thing, the songs themselves! The only faults I can find in
this CD are the loss of the lyrics and some little imperfections of
the guitars and drums, but on the other side they also make it sound
more natural and human.
I warn you! To listen to this album you need steel eardrums, as evinced
from the opener "Haunted" at once, more a punishing
assault than a song, actually, in which Morbid Angel and At the Gates
are brilliantly matched with a modern edge. The title track proves to
be more dynamic, while "Harlequin of Perpetual Destiny"
stands out through its drum work, various and grounded on kick drums.
After the melody of "Suoived (introspection)" the tension
grows in the course of "Conjuration of Destruction",
which then becomes the most crushing composition of all, quite Kataklysm-like
(like "I'll Slice you into Pieces", presenting great
entwinings between voice and riffs). The closer "Dragged Below"
owns an incredible melodic break midway, soon afterwards followed by
a bridge even reminding me of Iron Maiden!
"Acts of Rage": the proof that it's hard, though possible
to create technical, fresh and powerful at the same time, by using odd
rhythms along with old death metal patterns. And the band can still
improve themselves a lot, so prepare yourself for the Dutch death squad's
rise!
MARKUS GANZHERRLICH - 14/07/03
Contacts:
www.devious.nl
www.cxr.nl
