#devy metal

When Devin Brown, frontman and presumed namesake of Devy Metal asked me about joining our practice space, I was stoked, because I was already a fan. They turned in a killer set at the Autonomics record release at Doug Fir on September 2nd, and if you weren't there you MADE A MISTAKE. Devy Metal plays an expansive, soulful sort of indie rock/pop, moving from delicate, dreamy passages to monster rock-out sessions that feel rarer than they maybe actually are in Portland music. Their guitars are echoey and clean in their “resting” state, but they don’t really rest that often, responding to Devin’s vocal calls with double-lead flourishes, psychedelic chemtrails, and shred-a-licious fireworks. “Greenleaf”, which starts like a bomb about to explode (and does) showcases pretty much all of this exciting guitar meteorology, as well as the band’s exploratory songwriting, which is not confined to the standard verse-chorus-verse-bridge-chorus format, taking sudden right turns in tempo and dynamics. Combined with the band’s fantastic harmonies and hooks strewn between the vocal melodies and guitar riffs, these tendencies positively jam pack each Devy Metal song to the point that it’s practically an EP unto itself. Maybe that’s one reason they only have three songs on their Bandcamp at present. Each one is such a meal that you’re better off just listen to each 5 times over instead of listening to 15 songs. And I would recommend you do this, because new little pleasures pop up that you didn’t hear before. Devin sings most of the lead vocals, with a nasal, heartfelt twang, while another member, Patrick, occasionally pops in with his contrasting baritone. If “Greenleaf” is the track to hear the monumental guitar range of this band, then “Baptism” showcases the Devy Metal’s capabilities with vocal arrangements especially well, aping the classic “Brill Building” pop style. You can barely believe the same band was just shredding like a volcano. “Tonehead”, their most recent release, combines both side of the band nicely, marrying a new wave drive with their soul moves, and little fuzzy lead lines that remind me of the Smith Westerns. The part where they suddenly stop and Devin sings, “You got it you got it you got…. all figured out” and then the band kicks back in…. and then the last time it’s extended and there’s beautiful angel harmonies and when it kicks in it’s a total guitar freakout fest… I don’t have journo-bullshit to say about it it’s just really good haha, check this band out please! This is quality stuff.

(via https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YhcoLO8vZZU)

AND WE'RE LUCKY

Year : 2010