Rockabilly glam swing. All your favourites right here.
To quote the old Ronseal adverts, Devilish Presley do exactly what it says on the tin. This feisty duo, with a drum machine in tow, attempt to merge all the best bits of rockabilly through to glam into one neat gothic rock ball, and fairs fair, they pull off not a bad effort.
Album opener 'Prick Up Your Ears' makes the listener to do just that with its squealed vocals and up-tempo riffing that hammer on from the first chord. With an unexpected nod to Bob Dylans 'Subterranean Homesick Blues' before the end of the track, its an intriguing opener that seems to cover a lot of bases.
The songs scream cult following and no doubt the band will have their devoted minions up and down the country. Whether they will ever appeal to a wider section, who knows and its hard to figure if the duo would care too much. They seem to be enjoying themselves and what they do.
'Hammer Horror Glamour' brings to mind T-Rex's 'Buick McKane' and its sleazy boogie riff flows easily throughout the track and the tongue-in-cheek merging celluloid stars of yesteryear with heroes of the first flush rock n roll gives the track a great 1950s edge. With countless reference to cemeteries, the Goths will have their fill and will hopefully put a smile back on one or two of their faces.
'Trucks' up the squeals and in the chorus, is there any doubt what would be used to rhyme with truck and luck? You would be feeling a little letdown if they didn't use the f-word and thankfully DP don't let anyone down. Throughout the course of the record, the swearing levels aren't excessive for what you may think and there isn't really any gratuitous swearing, it all fits neatly into the moment!
Midway through the album a shocking revelation befalls the listener, 'Boy On The Fence' is an acoustic track, showcasing a bit of soul and the best bit is the way the they resist the temptation to up the ante and kick in with the heavy guitars but merely allow the song to glide by. After this, right up until the closing track, the flow returns to heavy and fast but the small break in the middle was well received.
As a whole, the tracks swing like a cross between the blues, country and glam rock. 'In League with Elvis' makes lyrical reference to the cross roads and selling your soul and these are not new phenomena's by any shape or form but its been a while since its been done so joyously or with choruses feed backed to the maximum. If you can imagine Eddie Cochrane jamming with the Stooges, you can begin to touch the feeling of this record.
As they say "Ignoring us just got a little harder...I'm gonna rub your nose in shit" suggests an act bitter with their enemies but having the tenacity to prove their worth should keep Devilish Presley busy for the next few years. If DP are 100% serious then may God have mercy on us all but otherwise, turn off the cynicism for a while and dig the riffs.