Devil Electric is the debut self-titled release from Melbourne based heavy rockers Devil Electric. Taking inspiration from Black Sabbath and more modern acts such as Kadaver and Graveyard, the band build their sound on slow, heavy riffs. However what separates Devil Electric from many other bands in this genre, is that they complement this sound with the haunting vocals of female singer Pierina O’Brien.
For their debut release, the band have put together an album made up of nine tracks in total, all of which really showcase the unique style they have been honing since their formation in 2015. Opening with “Monologue (Where You Once Walked)”, the band kick straight into one of the many heavy riffs which fill the album, accompanied by a catchy bass line and plodding drums. The song is a strong opener and certainly sets the tone for what the rest of the record has in store.
Moving on through the album, “Lady Velvet” definitely has hints of Black Sabbath both musically and vocally, which is never a bad thing. Whilst “The Dove” and “The Serpent” snaps back and forth from almost musical silence during the verses to a crunching riff when the chorus kicks in. Offering a further piece of variety to the album are the tracks “Monolith” and “Lilith”, both of which are under two minutes in length and contain no vocals. They act partly as extended introductions to the songs they proceed but they also give a sense of the band experimenting and teasing what could be the beginning of much longer tracks.
The final song on the album is “Hypnotica” which is also the lead single and longest track on the release. Coming in at six and a half minutes, the track initially builds slowly before the main riff comes crashing through for an extended intro. The pace is then brought right back down again to allow Pierina’s vocals to lead the track, supplemented by some short bluesy guitar licks before everything picks up again for the main chorus. Overall ‘Hypnotica’ is probably the best showcase for the band and it is clear in this respect why it was chosen as the lead single from the album, as it allows each member a chance to shine.
With their foundations firmly planted in the doom and stoner rock/metal genres, the band have produced an album which more than delivers on the riff front as you would expect. However to merely focus on the riffs would be unfair, as the album also contains so much more and rewards the listener with each play through. “Hypnotica”, in particular, is a great track and definitely one of those songs that could easily be put on repeat. Overall Devil Electric is a very strong debut release and instantly establishes a sound which I am sure the band will continue to build on going forward.
