DEVILS WHOREHOUSE
If you've ever thought to yourself, what would a mix of The Cult, (dropped-era) Mind Funk, and Cro-Mags (circa John Joseph) sound like if they did the nasty with each other and produced offspring in the late noughties, then think no longer, because I think I've found the answer. I really wasn't impressed with this album on first listen. Something happened on the second though and, by the third, happiness started to sink in and now I'm absolutely cock-a-hoop. This positively gets my groove on, and I'm moshing in my mind in a way that I haven't for some time. The aforementioned comparisons are possibly more incredible due to the non-American nature of the band (I know The Cult weren't American, but by fuck they wanted to be). Most will recognise Morgan Håkansson from Marduk, but there are no black metal stylings here, no matter how hard you look. Instead you get some very gloomy hardcore doom (Wikipedia says horror-punk, but that's just shit), which sets heads on fire with its shear aggression and passion. There is no cowing down to label/public expectations here, just unadulterated song craft and performance. Okay, Valentin Maelstrom wants to be American judging solely by his voice, but I don't have issues with that per se. I miss hearing Cro-Mags, and if this fills that void bring it on. Highlights? All of it really; I cannot for the life of me find something I don't like. That's rare. So, the only thing stopping a perfect ten? Well, it's the production partly, although it fits the style well, the guitars sound slightly too weedy and preset for my tastes. Ultimately though, it's because I think their peak is a couple of albums off. Still fucking good though. Buy it. Now.
LABEL:
FORMAT:
Regain Records
Album
BLOOD & ASHES
Review by Steve Cowan
RUNNING TIME:
37:04
RELEASE DATE:
11th May 2009
TRACK LISTING
1) Oceans Turn To Blood
2) Wicked One
3) Speak The Name Of The Dead
4) The Cult Of Death
5) Werewolf
6) Demons Of The Flesh/Tight White Ropes
7) Shadows Never Change
8) Smell Of The Ancient Ones
9) Face The Master
10) Werewolf Nation
11) Snakes Out The Mouth Of Hell
2) Wicked One
3) Speak The Name Of The Dead
4) The Cult Of Death
5) Werewolf
6) Demons Of The Flesh/Tight White Ropes
7) Shadows Never Change
8) Smell Of The Ancient Ones
9) Face The Master
10) Werewolf Nation
11) Snakes Out The Mouth Of Hell
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN:
Sweden
"There is no cowing down to label/public expectations here, just unadulterated song craft and performance."