OCTOBER 2009 ONLINE EDITORIALS

Devil Got Five - Devil Got Five

album cover

By Molly McCowan

Judging by their name, it seems that Beelzebub has admitted this quintet through the fiery gates of Hell (which must have a section reserved for musicians, complete with regular electrocution-by-amplifier and a blindingly loud Britney Spears discography).
Devil Got Five’s self-titled debut definitely has its share of the compulsory fire-and-brimstone components. And with a female singer/songwriter, it has a spark of something different as well, calling to mind bands such as Evanescence, Lacuna Coil, and Nightwish. The question that the album brings up, however, is one of identity.
Some songs, like “This is Now” and “Can’t Abide,” blast straight into bone-crunchingly distorted instruments and operatic vocals. With no subtleties to play with, these songs become monotone and lose their flavor quickly.
Other songs, like “Thousand Razors” and “Price of Bleeding,” exist on a different spectrum, exhibiting well-balanced melodies and instrumentals, starting on the light side and sliding into a harsher sound without losing the musicality. These tracks work well because they tie together a hard-rockin’ sound with the musical aspects that make the songs varied and interesting.
Devil Got Five seems to be split between two distinctions: this band wants to be melodic and progressive, but they also want to be double-bass proud, distorted, and ultimately loud, which isn’t as appealing. The songs that balance both sets of qualities stand out on the album, and they’re the ones I want to hear more of the next time around.
www.myspace.com/devilgotfive