The Devil’s Blood
May 02, 2012
Atlanta GA
The Masquerade (Heaven)
The Devil’s Blood’s music is pure, encapsulated magic that is awe inspiring, breathtaking, and face melting all at the same time. Combining elements of everything from Black Sabbath and Iron Maiden to Blue Oyster Cult and the folk voices of Melanie and Buffy St. Marie, The Devil’s Blood manages to combine their influences in a smoldering cauldron only to whip up a sound that is unlike anything I have ever heard. While I love bands that are preserving that classic sound of metal and at times replicating the sounds of old, I love to hear The Devil’s Blood combining those influences and forging a sound that is unique and unlike anything else out there.
When I found out that The Devil’s Blood would be performing here in Atlanta as part of the 
Decibel Magazine tour, I jumped at the opportunity to catch this show. Prior to their performance, incense was placed around the stage and lit in preparation of their ritualistic offering of sorts. That’s actually not too far off from the truth as a live performance truly is a ritual. It is a ritual in which a performer steps out onto the stage to offer their talents, their insights, their opinions, and their beliefs to a room of gatherers. As the house lights drew to a dim blue, the band took the stage covered from head to toe in blood and as the first chords of “The Thousandfold Epicentre” rang out the ritual had begun.
Moving straight into “Voodoo Dust” from the Come Reap EP, the band took me on this somewhat meditative journey that I can barely put to words. I literally just closed my eyes and let myself take in all the music and it was without a doubt a surreal experience. While just as visually stunning as they are musically, to call The Devil’s Blood merely “theatrical rock” would be the understatement of the century. The Devil’s Blood is way more than theatrical rock. The Devil’s Blood doesn’t just perform. Their music was actually taking me places that very few bands have ever taken me. The presence of lead vocalist Farida Lemouch is subtle yet commanding with a voice that is passionate and soulful. Her physical presence is passionate, sensual, and focused as she stands still using her hands and arms to get her point across and articulate the story she is telling. The Devil’s Blood also boasts not one, not two, but three guitarists who create a wall of ethereal, psychedelic, and at times ambient sound while the rhythm section lays the foundation of it all.
Closing out their set with “Christ or Cocaine” immediately brought a roar from the audience with its pummeling grove and soaring vocals. The heads were banging, the horns were flying and the band must have known that they were reigning supreme. The Devil’s Blood really brought the house down and they showed that you don’t really need insane props, flashy backdrops or any other kind of stage clutter to put on a jaw dropping performance. The Devil’s Blood used subtlety, talent, and passion to bring the house down and turn a lot of heads. I’m not sure how many people were fans of The Devil’s Blood when they got there but I can guarantee that they had a hell of a lot more fans when they left the stage.
For more on the The Devil’s Blood, go to http://thedevilsblood.com
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