AT DEVIL DIRT - The Gentlemen Bastards - IT'S NOT NIGHT: IT'S SPACE - State of Micky and Tommy - WHEELFALL
AT DEVIL DIRT - Chapter II "Vulgo gratissimus auctor" (2012)
Having put it off for far too long I finally bought a copy of the last of my top 10 albums of 2012 that were available (Moon Curse is the only one left now as it hasn't been available as a physical release, but word came in that they have sent their album off to the vinyl plant and their EP is being pressed even as we speak). It took about three weeks in getting here, which isn't too long a wait for it to come all the way up the coast from Chile to BC and when it arrived it came with a copy of the band's self-titled debut album as well! I hadn't gone back and heard it yet as I'm still quite satisfied listening to 'Chapter II' at the moment. Admittedly it's been a long moment. If you haven't read it yet, and you want to know what I think of the music, you can read my full review. It's actually one of my most read posts (or at least, one of my most 'looked at'). Like every band featured on Paranoid Hitsophrenic, they're a very good band and it seems a lot of folks are really taking notice of them. Such is the power of 'Chapter II'.If you're not familiar with the band, they are a two piece from Chile. There's Nestor Ayala on guitar and Francisco Alvarado on drums and they pound, fuzz, wail and crash with a tone that pierces straight to the center of the brain. Great stoner rock in the Queens of the Stone Age tradition.
Listening to the debut for the first time I'm struck by an aspect I never got to touch on in my review, which is the band's growth between releases. 'At Devil Dirt' takes a more aggressive approach while 'Chapter II' takes is more laid back with the confident swagger of a band finding its voice while maintaining a sharp focus. Also, the vocals are mostly in their native Spanish with only a few in English on the debut. 'Chapter II' is all in English.
The 'Chapter II' CD is available on the band's bandcamp page for 12 US dollars and comes in a single panel digipack with credits on the inside cover and band photos beneath the CD tray. The debut has much the same format and is for sale at 10 US dollars on bandcamp. The digital version of this album is also a "pay what you want" while the digital version of 'Chapter II' is available at 4 dollars.
Highlights include "I am an Ugly Skin" and "That the Start Sweet Ends Bitter".
Rating 5/5
