Upon the departure of Ed Gibbs and the ushering in of new frontman Paul Green, many mused how he would fill Gibbs’ shoes – they were, after all, pretty big. For Devil Sold His Soul, founded in 2004, have become a household name in the UK. Tours with bands such as Architects and slots at festivals such as Hevy and Slam Dunk meant that these guys quickly became a firm favourite within the post-hardcore and metalcore scene.
But after three albums with Devil Sold His Soul, Ed bowed out and Paul, from The Arusha Accord, has stepped in and, put simply, they’re back. They signed a new record deal with Basick Records and have released the stunning and flawless five-track EP, ‘Belong ╪ Betray’. And fans need not worry – Paul has done a solid job with his vocals on this release.
Opening single ‘Devastator’ is a testament to Paul’s talent. Gritty, mighty riffs open this roaring track, before big and powerful vocals come in. Paul’s screams greatly compliment his cleans; his guttural vocals are visceral and raw, whilst his cleans roar and thunder.
‘Time’ is already a fan-favourite, as it was the first single released with Paul at the wheel of this ship – it still sounds just a huge and promising as it did when it was first released. ‘Unveiled’ is a heavy, intense track, laced with adrenaline and energy, while ‘╪’ is a stunning interlude, one that’s laced with notes of haunting sadness and quietness. It usually feels a bit cheeky to slot an interlude into an EP, but it fits incredibly well within this one. The EP ends on an absolute high with ‘Alive’; loud riffs and huge vocals combine to create a massive closing track.
‘Belong ╪ Betray’ is an EP filled with emotion; it’s Devil Sold His Soul’s war cry, a cry that says that they’re not dead. They’re back, bigger and better than ever. And if this release is anything to go by, they’ll soon be dominating the post-hardcore and metal scene.
JESS TAGLIANI