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55,344 posts since 7/17/2002
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Posted on 10/31/2009 at 11:00:07 AM
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Devil to Pay - Heavily Ever AfterReview by John Pegoraro (StonerRock.com) Lax Wax Records Release date: 2009 It'd be cool to say that with their third album, Indianapolis' Devil to Pay will finally hit the big time, but I have the sinking feeling that this four-piece will still be relegated to “local legend”/”should be bigger” status. Such is life in the trenches of underground riff rock. I'm sure the band's well aware of its destiny. Still, it's not for a lack of trying. Sure, the band doesn't help maintain momentum by taking its time between recordings – three years have passed since Cash Is King and six since debut Thirty Pieces of Silver – and chewing through guitarists (new guy Rob Hough is their fourth) can't be good either, but as far as songs go, Devil to Pay has always not only consistently delivered, but they've also gotten better with each release. They may have started off as a more traditional stoner rock band, but they've grown into their own sound, finding the common ground between classic rock, classic doom, and classic metal. That's a whole heapin' of classic, and it's reflected best in songs like “Distemper,” “When All Is Said and Done,” “Troglodyte Jive,” “Snake Charmer,” and “Zealots.” With frontman Steve Janiak's John Garcia-like howl and his and Hough's combined guitars supported by a rhythmic wall-of-sound from bassist Matt Stokes and drummer Chad Prifogle, these tracks (and to a slightly lesser extent, the other eight) show the band has a knack for heavy grooves that reverberate for days. I'd go on, but coming up with flowery ways of saying, "This is kick ass" goes against the band's straightforward approach. Ergo, understand that this kicks a serious amount of ass. Sure, they could've trimmed Heavily After After down to a more economical ten numbers, but I wouldn't want to be the one choosing which song to cut (even the lesser “Mancuerda” is saved by clever, nonsensical lyrics like “swim through the mayonnaise”). At any rate, Heavily Ever After proves that these local legends should be bigger. Recommended.
URL: http://deviltopay.net/
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I`m never going to work another day in my life
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12 posts since 2/14/2004
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Posted on 9/4/2009 at 1:52:53 AM
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55,344 posts since 7/17/2002
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Posted on 10/31/2009 at 11:01:00 AM
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I`m never going to work another day in my life
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1,503 posts since 6/3/2000
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Posted on 11/9/2009 at 6:56:31 PM
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thank you sir. here's another review: http://www.planetfuzz.net/fuzz.php?action=2&reviewid=48 Reviewed by Adam Walsh Hold on tight to something, the tornadic Indianapolis, Indiana quartet Devil To Pay is back. After almost 3 years without a new batch of ear munchies. The new album “Heavily Ever After” is twisted fable of riffs that would make Iommi paranoid and Nugent want some poontang. Life hasn’t been a fairy tale for Devil To Pay’s front man Steve Janiak, a few years ago it was almost cut short by a blood clot that formed after intestinal surgery, maybe this is how he gets the “Cobain on ludes” tone to his singing voice, and the apathetic yet inspiring lyrics, as though there is some inner demon just bubbling under the surface. These cats must play guitars dipped in syrup to get that muddy tone. The tale: Heavily Ever After kicks off with the galloping rocker, “Distemper” which really shows off Chad Prifogle’s wizardry behind the kit. He’s really improved his chops on this one. The third track “Megistotherium” is another topic that has come up in previous D2P albums, Dinosaurs. The Megistotherium was a dinosaur that lived some 24 million years ago, is one of the largest terrestrial carnivorous mammals that ever existed, and has huge scissor-like teeth, able to rip apart huge prey. That should give you a good visualization of this heaving elephant of a song. The instrumental track Grimoires has an early 80’s underground metal stomp to it, which makes me think, “Am I Evil?”, merging perfectly into the head banging riff of “Thinning The Herd”. The post-Apocalyptic groove of “Dead Wrong” might be my favorite track, although it’s really hard to pick a favorite. These guys have the “it” factor, whatever the “it” factor is. I think it’s different for everyone, to me its soul, being able to feel something. Art takes various forms. Sometimes it’s a kick in the ass… Production wise it’s perfect, you’re able to distinguish between every instrument at wall rattling volume, unlike a lot of releases lately where everyone is trying to be louder than everyone else and things get buried in the mix. This one will go down in my black book as one of the greats of 2009. Definitely play this loud and if you’re close enough, see them live for the true effect, if you’re not close check out their live DVD “48 Minutes”. And always remember… no matter how bad life gets, we all live Heavily Ever After…
URL: http://www.planetfuzz.net/fuzz.php?action=2&reviewid=48
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What can be asserted without proof can be dismissed without proof.
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1,503 posts since 6/3/2000
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Posted on 2/27/2010 at 9:33:22 AM
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a review from Blabbermouth (thanks to Mr Bergman!)
http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/showreview.aspx?reviewID=1903
With all the attention being paid (and rightfully so) to Indianapolis heavy purveyors THE GATES OF SLUMBER, hopefully a little limelight will splash over onto DEVIL TO PAY, their unsung neighbors. These guys have been dropping lead anchors of slow, soulful, melodic heavy rock for a good while now, evolving from sludgy one-trick-ponies into ambitious, dynamic players and writers. On third album "Heavily Ever After" they issue forth their most mature, fully-realized, and ass-kicking disc to date.
Those familiar with the band's typical sound may want to skip to track two, lest the full-throttle "Distemper" cause consternation — it's a barn-burner, a raging statement of intent and a fine opener to blow the doors off. DEVIL TO PAY still spend a good bit of time in low gear, though, on cuts like "When All Is Said and Done" and the tense, crushing "Troglodyte Jive". They rattle it down to almost CROWBAR levels of anguished plod, without losing any energy, always showcasing the melodic yowl of frontman Steve Janiak's voice and the band's overall sense of hooks and dynamics.
Really, there's not much separating DEVIL TO PAY from mass appeal -- anyone into SOUNDGARDEN's more metallic moments would surely dig these cavernous tones and earnest, melodic, accessible vocals. Slot that band's influence next to a little bit of groove from DOWN or mid-90's COC, add some SABBATH riff worship, and you're close to the mark. What makes them special is their effortless hooks — a song like "Morningstar" isn't your typical radio hit fare, but it's got a chorus that'll burrow into your brain and set up shop for days there. So many bands nail the earthmoving tone, but can't write a song to save their lives — DEVIL TO PAY do both, and make it look damn easy, delivering weighty, underground-approved riffs with stuff you can sing along to, as well.
From the rockier "High Horse" to ponderous epic closer "Zealots", DEVIL TO PAY bring their A-game for "Heavily Ever After". It's doom for classic rock guys... stoner rock with songs... and it's a potent, bad-ass collection of tunes that, in a just world, would be blaring out of open van windows on highways nationwide for the next twenty or thirty summers. Give 'em a shot.
- Keith Bergman
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What can be asserted without proof can be dismissed without proof.
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137 posts since 9/14/2007
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Posted on 4/29/2010 at 8:10:37 PM
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From the beginnings of what was a fairly generic sounding band in the Stoner rock scene, Indianapolis' Devil To Pay have created their own sound over the course of three mighty albums. "Heavily Ever After" is the third album from a band that should be much bigger in the scene than they currently are, i guess some bands are destined to remain underground legends and with the pathetic state of the current music industry, great bands like Devil To Pay properly can't do much about it. Sad really because Devil To Pay are masters of catchy riff-rock and their latest album is a example of how good and exciting this musical genre can be if done right and with passion. The band are amazing in their musical scope within a musical s t y l e that for the most part if fairly limited. Within the 13 classic songs on the album, you can hear sounds that remind you of everything from Fu Manchu, C.O.C, Black Sabbath, Dozer to Crowbar to Soundgarden to name just a few. The wide variety of different approaches to the mighty riff gives Devil To Pay a unique, timeless vibe that very few other bands come close to getting. Devil to Pay has always delivered the goods in the form of kick ass riffing, catchy anthemic type melody lines, tighter than a duck's ass drumming and unrelenting energy. Devil To Pay get better with each album and Heavily Ever After is simply a irresistible collection of hard rock songs that will stand the test of time. From the ass-kicking stomper that is the opening track "Distemper", you know you are in for a good time. Its a full-speed, hang on tight bruiser with catchier than hell riffing but they also know how to get a heavy slow groove happening as well. "When All Is Said and Done" and "Troglodyte Jive" are delivered with crushing intensity, you couldn't call any of this Doom but it comes close in stages. "Megistotherium" is a song that i figure is about a dinosaur( no lyric sheet comes with the album) and this tune is about as heavy as as one of those prehistoric creatures. "Morningstar" is so damn catchy that is will set up house in your brain and live there for weeks even after just one spin of the track. If mainstream radio wasn't so behind the times, tunes like this one would be on constant rotation. The instrumental track "Grimoires" sounds very much like the classic Diamond Head tune "Am I Evil", remember Metallica didn't write that song duh!! This merges perfectly into "Thinning The Herd" which is full of neck-snapping energetic riff work from Steve Janiak and Rob Hough. "Snake Charmer" and "High Horse" are both economical straight up rockers, Devil To Pay don't waste a nano second anywhere on the album. Even the worse track in my opinion which is "Mancuerda" has more charm than most bands in the genre. Not since the classic days of Fu Manchu and Kyuss has there been a band with such groove that is so automatically infectious and addictive. "Goat Leaves" has a classic drum intro from Chad Prifogle, his playing on the album is incredibly powerful, tight and precise. The sound of his kit is also excellent as is all the instruments on "Heavily Ever After", the production is clear but still powerful enough to remove wallpaper. The final two tracks are two of the best on the album, "Dead Wrong" has a darkened groove while "Zealots" is one of the best examples of Devil To Pay's rhythmic wall of solid grooving sound. The one guy i haven't mentioned yet is bassist Matt Stokes who is remarkably solid throughout every track providing a perfect backbone to the crunchy rhythms. Its been a rocky road for Devil To Pay though, guitarist and vocalist Steve Janiak almost had his life cut short by a blood clot that formed after intestinal surgery. Maybe that is one of the reasons the band plays like there is no tomorrow, they have really delivered a passionate, hard driving rock album with "Heavily Ever After". Bands like this are a dying breed, so buy this and play it loud. 9.5/10
URL: http://www.doommantia.com/
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http://www.doommantia.com/
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1,945 posts since 5/26/2004
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Posted on 5/3/2010 at 3:18:11 PM
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One listen and not impressed yet. It kept trying to impress me but let me down each time. Maybe it has to grow on me or maybe it's just not my thing. Sounds to me like they have a grunge hangover and I was no grunge fan fer sher. Chugs along fine but no lift-off for this listener.
Then again, I'm super-fussy. :D
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Sing a song for the keyboard warrior.
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