DeadSoul Tribe
A Lullaby for the Devil
Rating
Style: Progressive Metal
Release date: August 27th 2007
 

I still remember the first time I heard Devon Graves (Buddy Lackey) and Psychotic Waltz many, many moons ago, and his unique vocal style still gives me great pleasure. I can still put on a Psychotic Waltz album with a big smile on my face.

After he relocated to Europe, started DeadSoul Tribe and using his birth name, he has given me more than one heartache with some of the releases, but none bigger than his last one 'The Dead Word'. I still find that album boring and uninspired, so it was with some scepticism I put on the new album, and what a surprise...

He has taken a definite change of direction and has moved onto something completely new, but do not worry: the result is still unmistakably Devon Graves all the way! DeadSoul Tribe sounds much more aggressive and has never sounded so pissed off before, the sound has taken a big step towards darker and heavier sounds, and this new fresh approach is in my opinion a move in the right direction.

'A Lullaby for the Devil' features many new and exciting facets, exploring more extremes - but the album is still sounding coherent. Devon Graves' voice is still the one thing that sets them apart from so many other great bands, and his more aggressive style on this album just shows even more of his versatility.

Devon hasn't forgotten the flute, and that dimension of their sound is still very much at hand; the 6 minutes plus song "The Gossamer Strand" is build around the flute and brings up a lot of memories... actually they are using the flute more extensively on this album. All ten songs are great and the album sounds complete as a whole, the production could be a notch better, but that's the only small complaint I have about this very good album.

In my World a big 'Welcome back' is in order, because this album has re-established my belief in Devon Graves as a song writer and entertainer. I feel that this is a move in the right direction, and that the new and more modern sound fits their style very well...

Recommended tracks; "Goodbye City Life", "A Stairway to nowhere" and "A Lullaby for the Devil"


 
Label: InsideOut Music
Distribution: Target (Denmark)
Reviewed by: Kenn Jensen
Date: September 7th 2007
Website: www.deadsoultribe.com