|
The Devil's Blood - The Thousandfold Epicentre (May 23, 2012) |
I have to be honest that I've been meaning to write about this album since its release date at the tail end of 2011 but (thankfully) the last six months have been chock full of so many amazing releases that it simply slipped through the cracks. Time to beg forgiveness from the great horned one and hopefully turn some people on to The Devil's Blood.
If you combined the last six or so months of 2011 with the first six or so months of 2012 you would wind up with some type of "The Year of the Woman" headline when talking about metal bands. There are so many exceptional female-fronted bands within the genre now. Honestly, if you had told this life-long metalhead 20 years ago that there would be a litany of awesome bands the likes of Royal Thunder, Blood Ceremony, Christian Mistress, etc. I simply wouldn't believe it. It was such a dude-centric world with just a smattering of the occasional female musician. (I'm looking in your direction Jo Bench from Bolt Thrower!) The Devil's Blood however is not just another female fronted band looking to cash in on a trend. They have clearly defined themselves as one of the better bands in the metal world.
Hailing from The Netherlands, The Devil's Blood has blessed us with The Thousandfold Epicentre, their Metal Blade Records full-length debut. Combining elements of 60's psychedelia, 70's occult rock, NWOBHM/traditional metal and even a classic aesthetic at certain points, The Devil's Blood have given us and absolutely sinister album worthy of consideration for any black masses you were looking to perform. When you listen to this album you can smell the incense, taste the sulfur of the burning candles, and feel the altar cloth at your fingertips. It's a spiritual journey as much as it is a musical experience. Similar in both message and music to artists like Blood Ceremony, Ghost and Witchcraft, The Devil's Blood would fit perfectly on a bill with all of these bands (can someone please book this tour here in the States...please...). Highly recommended for fans of any of the aforementioned bands or musical genres.
