Alien presence and all other sorts of conspiracy theories form the center of the entire The Devil operation. Musically speaking The Devil has a lot to offer. They tap conveniently into the current retro occult doom/heavy metal trend and mix it up with an Arcturus-type of spooky symphonic ambiance. It may look a bit awkward on paper, but it works like a charm in practice.
The truly astonishing part of this album is The Devil’s innovative way of using samples from an assortment of obscure movies. They almost act as a narrative, thus providing an odd type of framework. It may take a bit of getting used to, but it certainly works. Compositions like “Astral Projection,” “The Devil And Mankind” and “Alternative Dimensions” are poignant examples of that.
Production-wise there’s nothing to complain about. The sound is clear but gritty enough to give the album a nice dirty edge.
The Devil might not be for everyone and it remains to be seen whether the concept will have any long term longevity, but musically it’s one of the most compelling and enigmatic albums you will hear this year. Brilliant!
(released November 20, 2012 on Candlelight Records)
