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Band: The Devil & The Universe
Album title: Imprint Daath
Release date: 21 September 2013
Label: [aufnahme + wiedergabe]
Tracklisting:
01. NOD
02. Kruzifix
03. Procession
04. The Pilgrims Regress
05. Parvati's Lament
06. Iblis
07. Gamaliel
08. Sitra Ahra
09. Nemoralis
If Ashley Dayour couldn't express his most sinister will to create diabolic and at the same time spiritual music with his main band - gothic rockers Whispers In The Shadow - he certainly succeeded to do it with his project named The Devil & The Universe. Joined by his friend David Pfister the two in a short period since formation and wisely chosen bands name, by two cards selected from the 78-piece tarot card-set as utilised by the most famous occultist of the 20th century Aleister Crowley, were behind the first step, released two EPs and now this stunning debut album entitled Imprint Daath. The Devil & The Universe is not only based on music, but as well on magick, certain imagery, meditation, it's a ritual,... So, if you are willing to enter their musical world you must prepare your spirit to some kind of unworldy, yet mystical journey.
The music done by The Devil & The Universe is not that simple to be labeled, certainly it has a lot to do with dark ambient, but at the same time time you can find varius elements from industrial music, 80s horror soundtracks, sometimes minimal wave, oriental sounds, 70s primitive ambient/new age stuff... but the most appropriate descripton would be ghost wave. Once you settle your mind and turn on Imprint Daath you get swallowed by huge diabolic and gloomy atmosperes, many times intertwined with strong percussions, sometimes tribal beats and rhytms, ghastly keyboards and other strange sounds that penetrate the mind and draw spectacular images. The musical output of The Devil & The Universe is mostly based on instrumental soundscapes, still there are occasional spoken words, like female speech saying: "Flesh is a trap and Magick sets us free", in rather upbeat, almost danceable opener, yet scary "NOD", or in dark industrial/new wave track "The Pilgrims Regress", you can hear some mighty chants in the backgroud of my favourite track, obscure "Sitra Ahra", male/female spoken words in "Iblis", and so on, but each time vocals are used just to give a certain message or like an instrument per se to deepen the ambiance.
I couldn't be wrong by saying that Ashley and David were hugely inspired by oriental or Middle East culture and music, as you can hear a lot of those seductive sounds in "Parvati's Lament", but also in "Iblis" and "NOD". Despite everything the main soundscapes could be described as dark ambient music, just listen how evil is "Gamaliel" or perverse is "Nemoralis", how gloomy are keys in "Kruzefix" or how seductive and tender is dark meditative "Procession". The most outstanding track is "Sitra Ahra", thought provoking epic soundscape, with amazing percussions, devilish synths, blazing noisy guitars that could give shivers even to fans of black metal, amazing from all aspects.
I believe that you've got a picture what's about in Imprint Daath, it's a diabolical meditative journey that could appeal to your darkest desires that art as it's music can produce. I believe that there was no coincidence that it was released on autumnal equinox day, there is black magic, it's a work of a occult powers that serve to someones mind and why not give your spirit a walk into this eerie world of The Devil & The Universe.
Review written by: T.V.
Rating: 9/10
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