Album Review; Devilish Presley – ‘The Dark Triad’

DEVILISH PRESLEY
The Dark Triad’
November 10th Records
9/10

The fifth album from the ever impossible to categorise Devilish Presley. Part punk, glam, gothic, rockabilly and horror ‘The Dark Triad’ sees a small change in direction for the band, but a giant step forward. Two years in the making it’s obvious that this extra time has given them the confidence to spend as long as necessary to get everything right on the album. Consequently there’s not a filler track. There have been big changes in some of the musical arrangements, no track better exemplifies this than ‘Dance Floor Ghost’ which has a positively haunting feeling and Jacqui Vixen’s vocals brilliantly set the melody line upon which the songs hangs.

Only occasionally does the album fall back into the typical Devilish-Presley-by-numbers breakneck speed drum machine and screaming vocals especially on ‘Kiss Kiss Apocalypse’, but even on that track Jacqui’s voice is excellent showing more restraint, yes guttural singing but not the resorting to screaming that we would have seen on previous albums. And there’s only track with Johnny singing.

The band seem less restrained by the loved-or-loathed drum machine. Gone is the two speed option of very fast or slow, there’s much more variety in the tempo, but overall the album has a slightly more glam stomping feel than previous efforts, especially on the standout track ‘The Beast Must Die’ which has one of the best low-budget videos – a must view!

An extremely accomplished and confident album.  www.devilishpresley.com

Rotten Johnny