The Devil's Blood - The Time of No Time Evermore

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 September 2 2009 at 12:00:21 PM

• 52 comments

  

  neu konservatiw

  1:25 PM on Sep 02, 2009 // reply »
  
  I'm glad you took them to task. I was afraid you might be another one of their "crit darlings." By the way, "weekender" is a favorite Stewvenalism of mine as of late.
• 294 comments

  

  VOEGTLIN

  1:30 PM on Sep 02, 2009 // reply »
  
  That's it. I want my Stretch Armstrong, benwa balls, and French press back. We're through.
  
  I can't fucking believe you pegged me for a DB man.
• 98 comments

  

  jniff

  1:45 PM on Sep 02, 2009 // reply »
  
  I haven't heard this one yet, so can't comment on the album proper. The one song I heard didn't do much for me, but I do quite enjoy their EP. Personally, I'd take these guys any day over Witch. Should the urge for vintage rock arise, I'd probably grab some vintage Scorps, Heep, or Pentagram instead. Cool for calling out the BOC reference. Never really thought about it before, but makes sense.
• 294 comments

  

  VOEGTLIN

  1:55 PM on Sep 02, 2009 // reply »
  
  The split here is dramatic, however, if we're gonna contrast the two bands.
  
  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.
• 98 comments

  

  jniff

  2:08 PM on Sep 02, 2009 // reply »
  
  Hmmm... I confess I don't know much about TDB's MO other than there seems to be some sort of mutual admiration between them and some BM bands (and they share a member w/ Urfaust). If they're claiming their own sound, I'll call them to task, cause original they're not. That said, I still think their EP is an enjoyable listen. Not amazing, but...
  
  Ha - reading back over this post, I had to double check and make sure I used the appropriate "there."
• 16 comments

  

  James

  6:17 PM on Sep 02, 2009 // reply »
  
  I have a nagging suspicion that if it weren't cool to throw in a few references to teen-fiction level occultism in one's lyrics and cover a few Roky Erickson tunes (intentionally or otherwise), this band would never have even formed.
• 26 comments

  

  -c

  9:02 PM on Sep 02, 2009 // reply »
  
  i haven't heard this latest TDB output but neither the EP or debut 7" did much for me. perhaps one song really grabbed my attention. but i agree with Stew's summation of them being somewhat artificial when compared to Witch. i'd still like to hear this though.
  
  does anyone else think TDB is somewhat similar to Jex Thoth (or vice versa), or is it just me?
• 17 comments

  

  trummer

  10:14 PM on Sep 02, 2009 // reply »
  
  i'll go against the flow here and say that i really enjoy all of their releases and am looking forward to this one, i'll happily take your copy off ye stew.
  
  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.
• 294 comments

  

  VOEGTLIN

  5:59 AM on Sep 03, 2009 // reply »
  
  Imagine my surprise when a promo copy fetches a bottle of Wild Turkey 101 in trade... And throw in those Masters of the Universe figures, too.
• 1 comment

  

  agymosott

  12:01 AM on Sep 04, 2009 // reply »
  
  which critically acclaimed underground band does not get into a pitchfork column near to you? that line sounds really funny when you read it first, but if you think twice about that, it is total nonsense.
  
  btw, check their demo. i must agree on some points with what you say about this one, but the demo simply rules.
• 294 comments

  

  VOEGTLIN

  5:08 AM on Sep 04, 2009 // reply »
  
  If you weren't so hellbent on making me into more of an ass than I already am, you would have realized how nonsensical it is for you to point out how logically sound the sentence, "Coming soon to a Pitchfork Media column near you," is.
  
  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.
• 1 comment

  

  Groin for teasing

  5:08 AM on Sep 04, 2009 // reply »
  
  Bla bla bla bla, bla bla bla. It's for ffs really enjoyable music, I give TDB thumbs up, cool album indeed.
• 294 comments

  

  VOEGTLIN

  5:13 AM on Sep 04, 2009 // reply »
  
  Unemployed? Down on yr Luck? Just start a band aping shitty '80s "dark rock!" Package your music with posters and patches and t-shirts and badges and sell it for 3xs what it's worth! You'll be vactioning in San Tropez in a year!
• 2 comments

  

  bleh

  11:40 PM on Sep 04, 2009 // reply »
  
  I used to like this website. This here "review" is typical mainstream metal journalism from the darkest age, think mental hamster UK in the late 90's. Actually Pitchfork would be less up it's own ass... I like TBD, the demo was their best work, the band is cool, grooves, works great in a car... I've never watched them live but I'm sure their appearance and stage demeanor is crucial to the enjoyment of the disc :P
• 294 comments

  

  VOEGTLIN

  5:53 PM on Sep 05, 2009 // reply »
  
  This here "comment" reminds me why I wanted to do this website in the first place: (a) Edify music I like and (b) shit on critically lauded music whose big claim to fame is being "cool" or "grooving" or "working great in the car" - a typical mainstream response to typically mainstream music.
• 6 comments

  

  kevin

  10:59 PM on Sep 05, 2009 // reply »
  
  It's a bit shorter than I would have hoped, but I back all of what you're saying. Some of the responses here are only proving you right.
  
  "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.
• 2 comments

  

  bleh

  10:11 PM on Sep 06, 2009 // reply »
  
  Fair enough mr. Voegtlin, you have a point. I firmly believe all art should serve a purpose, if nothing else capture a feeling. I think TBD do that astoundingly well, maybe did it better than they do now, you think it's calculated cash-in with nothing to offer, you're entitled to your opinion, or even more appropriately perception, the rest of us can merely agree to disagree. After all, you run a "webzine" (no offense intended, like I said, I used to rate this site highly), I on the other hand do not. Cheers!
• 5 comments

  

  meatstupid

  8:21 PM on Sep 07, 2009 // reply »
  
  That music "serves a purpose" or "captures a feeling" is beyond your powers of conviction... I think you'd be hard pressed to find any music that fails to accomplish both. The real question is whether you agree with the purpose or enjoy the feeling. So either refute V's assertion that this band is poorly-appropriated schlock, or admit that you're down with said musical endeavors. Don't hide behind agreements to disagree. Own your opinions.
  bleh indeed.
• 3 comments

  

  Kalle Runeson

  6:13 AM on Sep 08, 2009 // reply »
  
  I saw this band this summer, and they were very awesome live, all covered in blood and stuff. This was at Tyrolen, folkpark in a hillbilly area of Sweden, wich dident make things less awesome. All the bands lived in the camping with the 1000 headed audience. I talked to the singer. She was very nice even thou I was embracing local hillbilly customs, and was halfway into alcoholic coma. Unusual situation when only female willing to talk to you is the star of the evening. Have only hear 7", which ruled and I hope to get into new stuff too, cause I want to keep liking this band.
• 294 comments

  

  VOEGTLIN

  8:31 AM on Sep 08, 2009 // reply »
  
  Gawdamn, Kalle. I forgot how much I love your hillbilly ass.
• 50 comments

  

  chauncey chomperz

  8:52 AM on Sep 08, 2009 // reply »
  
  I don't know man, I heard a few songs from them a while back that I thought sounded all right. I havent heard all the songs on the EP so I can't speak to it in its entirety, but I can say that Witch is just as vulnerable to accusations of poserism as this band is. you just happen to like Witch's music. and that's fine. but to say that Witch is the genuine article here and TDB are trying to cash in by fancy packaging and over priced CDs? first off no one's going to get rich playing stoner/occult/whatever rock anyway, and second there's nothing uncool or lifer about Witch. Witch are fine, I don't have a bone to pick with them, but to hold them up as some sort of symbol of unpretentious scumbag integrity is silly. The singer's a good looking VT folk rocker on devendra banhart's label who wears Wayfearers and plays power pop on the side. hey, if people will release your music, indulge as many interests as you can...but uncool lifer? no, that's someone like Wino.
• 294 comments

  

  VOEGTLIN

  9:06 AM on Sep 08, 2009 // reply »
  
  You're right. Who woulda thought two dudes wearing robes and playing Earth 2 woulda gotten rich, huh? Even fancy packaging and over-priced CDs couldn't have helped them. Or could it have?
• 50 comments

  

  chauncey chomperz

  9:16 AM on Sep 08, 2009 // reply »
  
  uhh...you certainly will get no argument from me about Sunn being pretentious or selling their less than spectacular music in expensive packaging.
  
• 294 comments

  

  VOEGTLIN

  9:20 AM on Sep 08, 2009 // reply »
  
  We're getting somewhere then.
• 50 comments

  

  chauncey chomperz

  9:27 AM on Sep 08, 2009 // reply »
  
  yep. I say something, you change the subject. to wit, At War and Whiplash are playing here in new york next week. should be pretty bitchin'...
• 294 comments

  

  VOEGTLIN

  9:34 AM on Sep 08, 2009 // reply »
  
  If you agree w/ the assessment of Sunn making a living by exploiting a subgenre and packaging those exploitations in bright 'n' shiny ways, you should have little trouble seeing the logical connection between this and what The Devil's Blood is doing.
  
  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."
• 50 comments

  

  chauncey chomperz

  10:01 AM on Sep 08, 2009 // reply »
  
  
  
  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".
• 294 comments

  

  VOEGTLIN

  10:20 AM on Sep 08, 2009 // reply »
  
  Naw, I didn't say Witch was the "paragon of integrity;" I said "I prefer [them.]"
  
  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...
  
  
• 3 comments

  

  Aaron

  11:45 PM on Sep 09, 2009 // reply »
  
  It appears no one has said it yet: I like The Devil's Blood.
• 98 comments

  

  jniff

  1:47 PM on Sep 10, 2009 // reply »
  
  I like The Devil's Blood; both the band (still haven't heard this one, though) and the Watain song.
  
  
  
• 98 comments

  

  jniff

  1:13 PM on Sep 15, 2009 // reply »
  
  So, I finally had a chance to check out this album this past weekend. I wasn't blown away, but it has it's moments. While these folks definitely dig classic rock, I hear a lot of Priest and Maiden in the guitar work. That said, after the new Marduk made it into the rotation, TDB hasn't made it back...yet.
• 294 comments

  

  VOEGTLIN

  1:18 PM on Sep 15, 2009 // reply »
  
  Man, I've been on the lookout for some good shrooms. Can you hook me up?
• 98 comments

  

  jniff

  1:34 PM on Sep 15, 2009 // reply »
  
  Ha! What I had was ingested whilst listening to TDB. Can't you tell??
  
  If I come across some, maybe we can negotiate a trade involving your copies of VVVVE and TDB.
  
  
• 294 comments

  

  VOEGTLIN

  1:40 PM on Sep 15, 2009 // reply »
  
  I just assumed you were tripping your face off if you heard Maiden and Preist in TDB... Alas, all I heard was TDB doing bad 80s "occult rock" so it hit the circular file.
• 98 comments

  

  jniff

  1:57 PM on Sep 15, 2009 // reply »
  
  I would definitely not call TDB metal, but would Priest and Maiden. If I had to label TDB, I guess I'd call them occult rock. If it's in the rubbish bin already, then... If not, and you're up for it, listen try Christ or Cocaine. I hear 80's Priest. For some reason, something about the guitar sound also reminds me of Somewhere in Time. That said, maybe what I'm hearing is a residual effect from unnamed activities I participated in years ago.
  
  
• 294 comments

  

  VOEGTLIN

  6:10 AM on Sep 23, 2009 // reply »
  
  Hey, jniff - if TDB sounds like "80s Priest" does it sound like Turbo or British Steel? Or does it sound like Screaming for Vengeance or Defenders of the Faith? Sure doesn't sound like Point of Entry or Ram it Down?
  
  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.
• 98 comments

  

  jniff

  12:26 PM on Sep 23, 2009 // reply »
  
  I wouldn't say any TDB release sounds like any Priest record in particular. I can think of two TDB songs that for whatever reason make me think of Judas Priest - River of Gold from their EP and Christ or Cocaine from their demo and LP. If anyone reading this is familiar w/ either song, feel free to chime in. At times, TDB also makes me think of Somewhere in Time - the album. On one hand, nothing TDB is doing sounds anything like a song on that classic album, so I'm not sure why I hear it... Maybe it's the guitar sound/chord progressions. I grew up on Priest and Maiden, and revere both, so I'm not attempting to put TDB in the same class. (Actually, can't think of any newer bands that come close.)
  
  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.
• 294 comments

  

  VOEGTLIN

  5:36 AM on Sep 24, 2009 // reply »
  
  "River of Gold" and "Christ or Cocaine," I think, is accurate, and both songs are much more enjoyable and interesting than anything TDB has released.
• 17 comments

  

  trummer

  6:26 PM on Sep 26, 2009 // reply »
  
  well, after having defended them earlier on in this here comments thread i must now chime in again after hearing the actual album.
  
  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.
  
  
• 294 comments

  

  VOEGTLIN

  7:23 AM on Sep 28, 2009 // reply »
  
  Trummer, you better watch it or the other DFFD drones will seal you in the wicker man and light a match...
• 17 comments

  

  trummer

  9:08 AM on Sep 28, 2009 // reply »
  
  actually their was quite a bit of agreement on this at the DFFD roundtable.
  
  
• 294 comments

  

  VOEGTLIN

  9:11 AM on Sep 28, 2009 // reply »
  
  I long for the day when said roundtable will possess a similar critical eye when viewing its beloved Sunn.
• 17 comments

  

  trummer

  10:31 PM on Sep 29, 2009 // reply »
  
  i gave this another two spins, just to be sure. and its not so much that they polished it up after the EP, the come reap EP was already of similar sound. i realized that except for two tracks the songs just really really suck. no hooks, theyre really boring and not memorable. and this band only worked cause you could whistle their songs for hours after hearing them.
  2c
• 294 comments

  

  VOEGTLIN

  9:00 AM on Feb 16, 2010 // reply »
  
  Y'all like HEART, too?
• 1 comment

  

  bonte

  1:01 AM on Feb 22, 2010 // reply »
  
  OMG all the negativity.. it's just what it is: a cool old-school Hard-Rock album with kinda weird lyrics. So everything must be non-commercial, totally new (pref. heard by you first) music? About the satanist-thing, they really believe that crap so I've understand, well what can you say?
• 2 comments

  

  Joey

  7:06 AM on Feb 22, 2010 // reply »
  
  They use real blood.
• 294 comments

  

  VOEGTLIN

  12:28 PM on Feb 22, 2010 // reply »
  
  OMG, Bonte. How 'bout we eat some ecstasy and spoon?
• 2 comments

  

  Joey

  6:42 AM on Feb 23, 2010 // reply »
  
  Stewart Voegtlin, don't cry when satan knocks on yr door being all pissed off because of this review.
• 2 comments

  

  Windowlicker

  2:35 PM on Feb 23, 2010 // reply »
  
  I hear Heart and Thin Lizzy in their demos, if only because of the tri-geetar harmonies and the Throat's singing. Which I like a whole fuck-ton of a lot. It reminds me of shit my late Pops might have dug back in his days when i was still swimming with a tail.
  
  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.

 

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