When I reviewed German Melodic Rock/AOR band DeVicious’ last and third album Phase Three I called them a close-but-no cigar band because of the fact that the music they’re playing is right in my wheelhouse and even though they had written some good songs and very few bad ones on their two first records they really never made it all the way through quality-wise. It was like a really good slap-shot but post out instead of post in, to use some hockey terms. Unfortunately the close but no cigar tag did cling itself on to the third album as well. The good news, however, was that Phase Three was easily their best effort to date which brought on some hope for the future. Now that future is here with album number four and hopefully the cigar will be in their hands this time around.
Opening with the leading single “Afterlife” brings a great deal of hope as this crunchy Melodic Rock number cranks on a pretty heavy groove and some raunchy yet slick sounds with a fat guitar and smoother vocal-lines. The riff is catchy and so is the main-melody, the sound is fat and all in all it’s a powerful tune full of direct melodies and a big sing-along chorus on top. Very good. The second single “Heroines” follows on the same path. It’s a punchy, intense rocker with a dense guitar sound, 80’s style keyboards, a bouncy rhythm and a metal-flirtatious groove. At 6 minutes +, the song is quite long for a single, but hey, who dares wins, right? A nod towards progressive Rock comes in the guitar solo with a massive chorus to go with it. Quite unpredictable and a damn good tune.
“A Special Mind” is more classic Hard Rock laden albeit with some slicker AOR vibes within the melodies. It’s an upbeat and quite edgy groover with a live-friendly rhythm with some crunchy staccato riffage and a chorus that holds a mastodon hook which makes the tune catch on right off the bat. It’s catchy as hell but it still rocks. Great. “Liar” comes on with rough edges, a fast pace and a rowdy riff with some poundy and aggressive rhythms. It’s a direct and distinct hard-rocker made for the stage – maybe a live-opener? – but also with a memorable main-melody and an in-your-face refrain that hits like fist on the jaw. Very good.
Also a single, the album’s title track is slower in pace and a bit darker with more of that staccato riffing in the verses on a heavy beat with some gritty guitars giving the tune a Hard Rock edge. The pre-chorus turns around for some more Melodic Rock progressions only for the chorus to bring back the heavy stomp albeit with a direct and distinct catchiness. Very good indeed. “Not What It Seems”, the latest single, starts off more down-beat and held-back verses albeit on a quite beefy rhythm. The chorus however speeds the tune up to a mid pace and brings on the album’s glossiest melodies with a big, catchy melody-hook that just might have been borrowed from ABBA. This is good stuff.
With groovy bass-lines, tribal-like drum rolls and chunky riffed rough guitars “Welcome The Night” goes into Melodic Rock territory. With big keyboards that blends fine with the guitars, smooth 80’s smelling vocal-melodies and a majestic AOR influenced refrain, the song feels more like a hit than any of the singles released here. A good pop-rocker for the summer party. The upbeat yet mid paced “After Midnight” is a rhythmic number, quiet riff-happy and crunchy with a small nod towards Metal where the heavy beat is prominent. It holds a slight modern feel with a pretty strong main melody and a nice hook in the chorus.
“Falling” takes on a bit of an 80’s Sunset Strip vibe, an arena-rocker, Melodic Rock with a sleazier feel to it with a mildly heavier edge. The song holds a chunky live feel, it’s pretty much straight ahead with some smoother melodies on top and a hitty refrain that holds some single-potential. Good one. The album ends with “Miles Away”, a pretty heavy and crunchy number with a harder edge yet still very much Melodic Rock smooth. It’s quite energetic and guitar driven with a juicy keyboard riff inserted as well. It’s another track that will work well live and the big chorus-hook sticks after first listen. A really good tune.
This is easily DeVicious’ best album to date without a doubt. Again, there are no bad songs in sight and the band has made an effort to make this record a bit heavier than the other three – still Melodic Rock but with a bit more grit. What holds the band back still is the lack of an identity though. Style-wise, it’s a bit on the middle-of-the-road side and to write the songs that goes all the way they need to find just a little bit that differs DeVicious from the rest of all the thirteen-a-dozen Melodic Rock/AOR out there. The seven I will give this record is thin but I must say I really enjoy listening to this record despite of the flaws and the band still proves there’s lot of potential in them. The cigar is now really close.
7/10
More DeVicious reviews:
Never Say Never
Reflections
Phase Three
Tracklist:
1. Afterlife
2. Heroines
3. A Special Mind
4. Liar
5. Black Heart
6. Not What It Seems
7. Welcome The Night
8. After Midnight
9. Falling
10. Miles Away
CD & Festival reviews 