Devil Sold His Soul - Empire Of Light (Album Review)
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Tuesday, 18 September 2012 |
Written by Ben Bland
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Capable of creating the sort of heavy music that flattens venues across the UK, and yet also masters of melodic refrains that many pop bands would kill for, Devil Sold His Soul may just be Britain’s finest metal export of the last decade. Some would claim that their ambient influenced post-metal lacks originality, whilst complete morons would argue that Ed Gibbs’ clean vocals make the band emo scenesters. In actual fact, 2010’s 'Blessed & Cursed' was one of the best metal records for many a year, gifting listeners a barrage of uncompromising intensity, and often beauty.
 It is immediately obvious upon listening to 'Empire of Light' that Devil Sold His Soul have made a conscious effort to progress once more upon producing this third album. Where both debut album 'A Fragile Hope' and 'Blessed & Cursed' were heavily concerned with being truly ‘epic’, this record is perhaps more concerned than ever with accessibility. Opener 'No Remorse, No Regrets' may be partially intent on making the same impact as a brick in the face, but it is also instantly enjoyable and memorable. 'A New Legacy', meanwhile, is as close to pop as a ‘post-metal’ band has, or ever should, get.
A big factor in the accessible nature of this album is the production. The mix is crystal clear but does not compromise on mammoth guitar tones. As such, the album is immediately one not just for those less experienced in the art of seriously heavy music but also those who were converted to the church of the riff many a year ago. Perhaps, the continued importance of the huge guitar sound in Devil Sold His Soul’s music is down to their ever improving mastery of the quiet moments that accentuate the moments of true heaviness. The likes of 'It Rains Down' and 'The Waves and the Sea' are pieces of such textural genius that when the powerful guitars finally arrive they feel astonishingly weighty.
With the band also unafraid to try new instrumentation (watch out for some of the more varied keyboard sounds and the odd use of electronic percussion) it seems obvious that this should be the band’s finest album to date. However, towards the end, things do peter out just a little. 'Blessed & Cursed' was such an overwhelmingly excellent work that to follow it up with something equally brilliant was near impossible. Thus, when the band returns to the deliberately expansive sound of that album on the lengthier last three tracks it feels a bit of an unnecessary retread. Certainly the near ten minute closer 'End of Days' lacks the impact of the rest of the album.
For many albums ending on something of a mute note would be a game ender. For Devil Sold His Soul it is more proof of their ambition and increased diversity, and maybe that actually makes 'Empire of Light' seem all the better as a whole. This band may not have quite scaled the heights of their second album once more, but listening to this leaves me in no doubt that they will, and in the meantime this is still more interesting and, perhaps most importantly, more listenable than the vast majority of bands producing this kind of music right now.
'Empire of Light' is out now via Small Town Records.
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