FFM-Rock review of "Fate is Your Muse"

[translated from German]

Release: 09/04/2013
(Ripple Music)

Homepage: https://www.facebook.com/deviltopay

DEVIL TO PAY haven’t been on my map up until now. With the opening “Prepare To Die” and “Ten Lizardmen & One Pocketknive” the fourpiece from Indianapolis offers a cool and catchy brew of Stonerrock, classic Hardrock and Heavy Metal-Riffs and thickblooded Southern Blues. Besides the usual dragging stuff, it’s the faster out-of-place material on this record that stands out, like “Wearin You Down” convincing with a brisk and firm beat. The singing of the frontman reminds me of a mixture between Spike (e.g. Spiritual Beggars) and Josh Homme (Q.O.T.S.A.), that got ripped off a vocal loan from James Hetfield. Kyuss an The Quill melting to the beat of Queens of the Stone Age and Black Sabbath, sometimes I can hear early Orange Goblin. And at some point ZZ Top’s Bluesboogie is joining the party. Awesome!

Devil To Pay are taking the next iron out of the fire with the down-to-earth stomping Groover “Yes Master”, but the ride is not over yet, “The Train Won’t Stop” and “Savonarola” are guarantees for more Rock’n’Roll infernos. What makes “Fate is Your Muse” that sympathetic is the sudden change of rhythm and the fact that the songs don’t repeat each other, no matter which speed – awesome rolling groove - is set. “Black Black Heart” is a bit proggy and bulky, which adds to and perfectly underlines the diversity of this unusual record. “The Naked Truth” and “Mass Psychosis” convice with their unchanging constancy. “Tie One On” is holding that level, while “Beyond the Ether” marks the end and it’s this song that reminds me vaguely of Glenn Danzig as far as song structure goes. This record doesn’t reveal anything new, but nonetheless contains a varied playful enjoyable, heartful - intensive with passion and soul – abstract venture along the border of Stonerblues-Hardrock.

To sum it up: Stonerblues Hardrock for fans of the genre, that makes you take notice!