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EP Review : Devilskin – Surfacing

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Review by Ritchie Birnie for MPM

Multi platinum Kiwi four piece Devilskin celebrate the 10th anniversary of debut We Rise by dropping a six track monster of an EP with both old and new.

The EP can be split into two with the first three tracks well covered by the bands history and three brand new numbers.

I cannot believe it is 10 years since a review copy of We Rise fell through my letterbox and blew me away immediately and set up a decade long love of a band that will be with me to the grave. In 10 years we have had three studio and one live albums and I have a whole host of amazing songs and memories. It seems quite a while ago now since I last saw the band live and I hope that is rectified again soon.

The EP opens with “The Whale Song”, a track that harks back to early live shows and most memorably from the live CD (That was never available here in the UK). It is great to see this get the studio treatment as it bursts out of your speakers with such force and precision all your orifices will be bleeding. That dirty, gritty riff spewing from Guitarist Nail’s guitar is just sheer grease and father and son rhythm section of Paul and Nik Martin is brutal and oh how amazing it is to hear the amazing vocals of Jennie Skulander again as she pops, crackles and growls her way through this beast.

Talking of beasts next track up is “Holy Diver”. Can anyone be Ronnie James Dio? The answer is obviously no, the man may have been small in stature but he was a giant. There is no other person that can sing with three different bands and produce the quality of their catalogues and there is only one man who has three albums in my top 10 albums of all time so for me he is untouchable.

If I had not seen the band perform this live I would have probably winced when I saw that track title on the EP but I knew what was coming. A homage to end all homages. This track is magnificent. Many have tried to cover this song and nobody comes close to Devilskin. I loved the fact that there is a woman singing the song so that is all the difference required so the music stayed true to the original and is perfect. The production also has to be applauded as it is immaculate and Nail shreds the Vivian Campbell solo with aplomb.

You may already have heard the next track as it was released as a video and “Barracuda” is one of those songs that has been covered by so many bands but Devilskin pull it off again. Jennie just owns this Wilson sisters anthem, so much so that the band Disturbed reached out to Jennie to learn the song parts from their recent duet with Ann Wilson and Jennie owned that stage and part when they sang it live together.

I do not need to say anything further on this song as everyone knows it but I will state again Devilskin nailed the cover.

Now to the new tracks with the first in “Let Me Breathe” and listen to that sloppy strung bass line…it is garage floor dirty with the drums giving the clarity. It sets the scene for the lyrics, it builds a sense of foreboding and constriction. The ferocity of the track leaves you breathless and when Jennie comes in with that scream and guttural vocals holy crap what a way to build a song and hold your attention never mind blow your mind.

“Insects” goes for the throat from the start. A repeating hook that burrows into your ears as Jennie soars inside your skull. It never fails to make me smile that such power, grit and aggression comes out of one of the nicest people on the planet. I remember the first time I saw her and I could not believe that voice was cased inside the tiny frame before me. She is a powerhouse and one listen to this songs proves my point.

“Unborn” is a very personal song, its meaning is quite harrowing and it is portrayed both beautifully and horrifyingly. The song is once again made by Jennie as she pushes that beast within her to the side for a moment as she draws on the angelic, the untouched and the almost holy voice that she also posseses. Her lilt is hypnotic until all hell lets loose and the voice held within the lyrics cries out in anguish. The addition of strings gently played in the background is perfection.

Nail’s solo screams at you, it shakes you, it is looking for an escape route, just a chink of light, a glimmer of hope whilst all the time knowing the fight is useless. This song could very well be Devilskin’s most powerful number to date and both Nail and Paul have outdone themselves with the writing and lyrics on this. It soars with a feeling of hope and love.

Surfacing proves that Devilskin go from strength to strength. I will openly admit they are my favourite new band in the last decade and having that high status I always fear they will not keep it up or stay attuned with my abnormally high expectations but they never let me down.

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This is six tracks of old and new, borrowed and original but each slice is succinctly Devilskin. Jennie’s voice cannot be mistaken and she owns every word and every note that comes out her mouth but a voice alone does not make a band. No, in this instance it takes four members that are a well oiled, heavy and pneumatic machine that never lets up, never lets you down and always produce the goods.

DEVILSKIN:  WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM

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