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DEVIL
Gather The Sinners

Soulseller (2013)
Rating: 8/10

Gather The Sinners is the second release from Norway’s Devil, another of those creaky doom-laden metal ’n’ roll bands who’ve mastered the art of sounding old yet modern! Sure, this kind of stuff is now out there in abundance, but there are a handful of bands that do it so much better – Devil being one of those.

I have to admit that any band who names themselves after “The Horned One” have a lot to live up to, but thankfully these guys aren’t a flash in the pan (excuse the pun!).

First and foremost, what strikes me about this five-piece is their ability to carve out infectious grooves that combine dirty blues with whiskey-drenched Black Sabbath-styled rock. Devil incorporate elements of folklore too, thus making Gather The Sinners a rather mystical opus where under-produced drums accompany crusty vocals, and where sullen bass slots nicely against distorted guitar.

Fans of Saint Vitus will certainly find this slab appealing. Vocalist Joakim Trangsrud holds a commanding presence over this record, as he preaches and prowls the night with lyrics of darkness, all the while keeping the opus accessible alongside those big bad dirty grooves.

Album opener ‘Southern Sun’ is a minor classic that has all the grace of a dirty elephant as it plods into view on a Sabbath-inspired riff, while ‘They Pale’ is more of an upbeat rocker with its occult-fueled go-go riff and killer melody. Trangsrud shines most on this groove-based monster that evokes images of late 60s / early 70s psych-fuzz, and his vocal hints at Rob Zombie at times amidst that hooky guitar sound.

There is something remotely mainstream about Devil, the outfit having no problem shifting between doom-laden rock (‘Coffin Regatta’) or the two part epic ‘Mother Shipton’ (based on the true story of an English prophetess) with its gnarly guitar sound courtesy of the twin crust attack of Kai Wanderås and Stian Fossum. On ‘Mother Shipton’, Trangsrud is more Cronos (Venom) than anything else, with his mournful sneer complimenting the whining banshee guitars. ‘Beyond The Gate’ flirts with psychedelia, while ‘Ladies Of The Night’ is a more straightforward garage rock affair.

I didn’t think I’d find myself enchanted by Devil, but I’ve given this opus a number of spins, charmed by its direct approach and stab at authenticity. Considering how much of this stuff is creeping from the cracks, Gather The Sinners is very much showcasing the talents of a band reaching its peak, and I look forward to their third full-length offering knowing full well that I am now in the grip of the Devil!

Neil Arnold

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