The Devil's Blood - The Time of No Time Evermore
September 2 2009 at 12:00:21 PM
Ahem. Those into a weekender “occult” band fronted by an R. Crumb illustration covered in stage blood who whips her band of merry men into able lockstep aping of the impossibly dreary latter half of Blue Oyster Cult’s catalog will find the quasi-Poe titled, and logically impossible
The Time of No Time Evermore a pulsing vibe on the clit of aesthetic eureka. Myself? I prefer early BOC, and legitimately rocking, uncool lifer “roots rock” bands such as Witch. Even if The Devil’s Blood somehow managed to wrangle the limitless drumming talents of J. Mascis into its fold, they’d still be just another inoffensive crit darling playing Praise-Hell-Satan to other weekender skeez in fresh-from-the-biker-trunk leather vests. To quote the venerable Slim Pickens, don’t piss down my back and tell me it’s raining. Coming soon to a Pitchfork Media column near you.
[Stewart Voegtlin]
The Devil’s Blood
The Time of No Time Evermore
Van Records
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I can't fucking believe you pegged me for a DB man.
TDB thinks it has appropriated all of its influences into this homogeneous artistic vision, which essentially offers something new in an old way.
Witch appropriates all of its influences into this homogeneous artistic vision, which essentially offers something old in a new way.
The difference is Witch is a pick-up band. A bunch of potheads hashing through adolescent fuck-yeahs without a modicum of self-awareness or pretension.
The Devil's Blood, on the other hand, are basically Reality TV's version of "Occult Rock," which is to say it's artificial, empty, without reason.
Vintage rock? Yes, to Uriah Heep. No to Devil's Blood.
Ha - reading back over this post, I had to double check and make sure I used the appropriate "there."
does anyone else think TDB is somewhat similar to Jex Thoth (or vice versa), or is it just me?
simple shit, but driving silly drums and lots of hooks and melody do me well here in sunny california. the satan lyrics and overall live presence does not interest me. this is entertainment and hopefully not on cunting pitchfork.
btw, check their demo. i must agree on some points with what you say about this one, but the demo simply rules.
You put all your chips on the assumption I'm trying to be "profound," when all I'm doing is stating fact. So, sure, it is funny...
As far as the demo goes, I don't plan on wasting my time with this band again. But feel free to send me a copy of the demo. I could probably trade that for TWO bottles of Wild Turkey 101.
"I've never watched them live but I'm sure their appearance and stage demeanor is crucial to the enjoyment of the disc :P "
It shouldn't have to be. I think the two are actually not related at all, unless you have seen the band live.
bleh indeed.
Saying Witch are vulnerable to accusations of "poserism" does nothing to dispel my critique of The Devil's Blood, a band all to happy to regurgitate bad versions of even worse 70s and 80s tunes. The "dodgy" stage affectation only makes them more attractive to folks who want a "safe way" to connect with "The Darkside."
I understand the connection you were making. I don't agree with Witch as the paragon of integrity you chose to hold TDB up against. also I found TDB's music all right so in some ways this is a pointless dogfuck of subjectivity.
BUT your critique of TDB as a band happy to regurgitate bad 70s and 80s rock is not really something I can dispel. you think its bad so you think its bad. that's fine. what I took issue with is you saying that they lack some cred or esoteric integrity that Witch has. to me at least it seems, in terms of cred or whatever the two bands are interchangeable. Witch has an indie rock icon on drums and a good looking folk rocker on guitar that offer indie rockers a "safe way" to connect with "heavy rock" or the "dark side".
And this isn't about Witch. Apprently you want to make it about Witch. So, I will say, sure, Withc boasts an "indie rocker icon" on drums and a "good looking folk rocker" on guitar. But these two guys aren't covered in blood, lighting black candles, standing in a corner and chanting, "Bloody Mary." They don't affect their status. They have attained it through other means.
If we are comparing "trappings," Witch has none. They are, prima facie, "rockers." The Devil's Blood has to don stageblood and Black Metal tees to attain status Witch has inherently. Authenticity, Chauncey. It's not a difficult concept to understand. But then again you seem to just enjoy the rabid-dog-on-mailman's-leg bit. I don't...
If I come across some, maybe we can negotiate a trade involving your copies of VVVVE and TDB.
I can MAYBE see TDB sounding SORTA like bits and pieces of Rocka Rolla. But I mostly see it sounding like late era BOC, which is to say radio-friendly schlock for people who just wanna take a day drive and listen to something mindless while soakin' up the rays, brah.
I was never a big fan of late era BOC, but from the tunes I know, now that you mention it, I can hear some similarities.
I must say that I've only listened to the new TDB once since I got it, and wasn't blown away. At the same time, I didn't find it offensive, brah.
Still love the site.
it's lame.
sorry, but it's polished up and as stew said (and i'm not kissing his ass here) it certainly does sound like late era BOC. really weak, i was very disappointed. the album sounds nowhere near as fresh and raw as the demo, the 7inch and the EP. the songs that made it onto the album from the demo have been polished up and weakened so as to completely fail.
wow, funny someone should mention watain up there, cause i was thinking TDB's stage antics with fake blood can't save them here, as they couldnt save watain from being a very boring as hell early-era dissection clone.
but i did like the new Baroness album, which im looking forward to stewart bitch-slapping to hell and back.
2c
Plus I like BOC whichever way it goes. Not sure how terribly legit or authentic TDB are, but seeing them live they sure could rock a mean solo with the Voodoo Dust song and they were a hell of a warm up band for Pentagram. I still dont have The Time of No Time... album, but i play the shit out of Come, reap and their 07 demo.
Personally, i can't wait till SV reviews the new Nachtmystium record...
Oyster anyone?