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DEVILS HENCHMEN
Control EP

Self-released (2022)
Rating: 7/10

This punky-cum-heavy metal-cum-thrash act is from Liverpool in England and this is their fourth EP to be issued since their birth seven years ago, although this particular outing features re-recordings of four previously released tracks.

This won’t be everyone’s cup of tea, but if you like bruising, no nonsense yet catchy punk-infused metal then you’ll dig this. Strangely, this sort of vibe reminds me of American act Kinghorse who released one self-titled album in 1990.

Control has a strong, streetwise feel to it, from the opening title track with its thrashy riffs through to ‘Hatred’ which follows suit, ‘Rot Away’ which is exceptionally metallic, and closer ‘Rollercoaster’ which brings extra fuzz to the table in an almost “stoner” aesthetic.

I sense that these guys have a lot of versatility in their arsenal, and I advise them to be even more versatile next time round because I really like the grooves they throw out.

The vocals of guitarist Joseph Doolan are clear, strong yet no frills but they really do shine on that doomy trudge of ‘Rollercoaster’. However, when the four-piece speeds things up a bit he has more of a hardcore style to his shouts. Daniel Adkins has a concise yet ferocious kick to his percussion, particularly on ‘Rot Away’, and the bass of Elliott Kyriakides, who also features for fellow scousers Reaper, trundles nicely throughout.

This is a sharp little record brimming with attitude and a really crisp guitar sound which brings that thrashy edge. Devils Henchmen is a gem in the rough, a straight up, bruising yet somehow soulful act streaked with varying colours amidst that urban exterior.

Neil Arnold

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