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the Devil Himself – the Way Souls Sway (CD Review)
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the Way Souls Sway
2009
“The inner me shall sing/How I can overcome this misery/It wasn't that hard/I'm cooking up a way to sway your soul/Life goes on, and on/Peace can bare the fruit that starts it off/It doesn't make sense/the way we create and take life/Just like a god/Like a god you show no one” – from “The Way Souls Sway”
Ah…..speak of the Devil…..
Formed in 2006, the boys in local Santa Cruz outfit the Devil Himself (Dave, Dan, Jason, and Shane) have gone out of their way to set new standards for the definition of “working band”. Writing, performing, and finally recording audience-tested material in 2007, they released Pushing the Panic Button in 2007 to impressive local acclaim. Their first offering proved to be a work of great personal revelation; the song writing laying bare the twisting emotional pathos we all endure in our lives, daring to not simply stare into the abyss of personal pain, but edging closer to the edge than we ourselves may wish to go…..and then diving in headfirst. A three-song EP – See No Evil – was released in 2008, taking the blueprint laid out in Pushing the Panic Button and expanding upon it, an aural onslaught of almost pure angst, the lyrics blending with the music to create art in an explosion of love, pain, betrayal, and personal redemption. Great art can only ever come from great pain or emotion; it cannot be faked.
With the Way Souls Sway, the Devil Himself has taken it (whatever “it” may be…..) to the next level. Live, tDH rock hard, all grinding guitars (destroying the stage with a lethal dual-ax attack delivered by Dave and Dan), supported by a steady, driving backline (provided with practiced ease by Jason and Shane). But as compelling as they are live, this is not a band to be consigned to the hell of empty-headed rocking. Talented musicians as they are, the real strength of the Devil Himself lies in the details. Or, in their case, the lyrics. Including remastered versions of previously available songs (“Last Call” from Pushing the Panic Button as well as “30 Lives”, Bulletproof”, and “Them Sh*ts” from See No Evil, strong songs all), the Way Souls Sway features the band’s most introspective and raw writing yet. Lyrically, tDH has chosen to take the listener on a dark journey into their own subconscious, challenging all to open their eyes, to face their fears, and upon making it to the other end to seek the light and save them.
“Given up, you never hear me say/Shake it off and leave it to fate/My fault, I fought for her/Took it all with force and control/And I know. I cannot take this with me. But I’ll try” – from “Deserted”
Highlights to check out include the title track, “Deserted”, and “Thomas Aquinas”. “Zip It” and “Generating Lies” ebb and flow with turmoil, anger, and ultimately forgiveness, contributing to the white-knuckle growl of “Evil Eye” before closing with the painful seeking displayed in sharp detail in “Stone Baby”. Taken individually, each song is a unique – and yet somehow disturbingly familiar – perspective on life, love, death…..and everything that gives the human experience that extra little slap in the face of reality. Presented together, the songs tell more than just singular stories, creating a swirling musical object d’art that bores itself into the listener’s brain…..and then squeezes.
“You read yourself into this/No pressure/No witness/The fury of my wisdom/Comes crashing thru your eardrums/I have found the answer/These morals that I speak of/rule my world with an iron fist/No money can buy these virtues/Learned in youth and remain a gift/for all bringing balance to the soul” – from “Thomas Aquinas”
Indeed.
Dave Christensen – Lead Vocals/Guitar, Dan Burnham – Vocals/Guitar, Jason Goldberg – Drums, and Shane Hunington – Bass Guitar
http://www.reverbnation.com/thedevilhimself
http://www.myspace.com/devilhimselfmusic
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