Devil's Whorehouse - Blood & Ashes

October 31, 2009

Reviewer: Kesh

The Misfits is one of those bands that many people listen to, can identify with and possibly have an album or two. The album Walk Among Us is one I wish was in my collection, but it's on my list of albums to get once I have extra money to go back in time with my music. Sweden-based Devil's Whorehouse was on that same list, but once I saw that the album was up for grabs to be reviewed, curiosity got the best of me and I jumped on the chance to review it.

To be blunt, I don't think you'll enjoy this album unless you are either a really huge of fan of Danzig/Misfits/Samhain or of Marduk and Morgan Håkansson. Either way, this is for the so-called “cult” fans of one or both of those groups.

Now, I fall into both categories, so there is the possibility that I am biased to giving this album a less than flattering rating, but after one listen, I found myself enjoying it enough to listen to it a second time. I’m also finding myself wanting to go and dig out my Misfits and Danzig collections and listen to those while adding this one to the rotation. In short: I like this album.

For those who don’t know, Devil’s Whorehouse was originally a Samhain/Misfits cover band in 2000, but new music was shortly written afterwards, and the group began to release albums. The group then morphed into what it is today, with this, their third album being the most recent of their offerings (the first two disks, The Howling and Revelation Unorthodox, having been released in 2000 and 2004 respectively). The band’s other three members are Maelstrom (vocals), Makko (guitars), and Hrafn (drums). Håkansson switches it up and plays bass.

Now, while I like this album, and see myself throwing it into my rotation for regular listening, there are a few drawbacks to the band that many might not be able to get past.Those things are: the fact that vocalist Maelstrom’s vocals are nearly indistinguishable from Glen Danzig, and the music could very easily pass itself off as being one of Danzig solo efforts; and the fact that they have to contend with the shadow of Håkansson’s other band, Marduk.  These are two very glaringly large hurdles to contend with for a band like this one. Most critics can’t seem to be able to get over these walls, and I think it influences the fact that most other critics haven’t liked the album.

If you can get yourself past these two things, I think you will find yourself enjoying and possibly even grooving with the music. While I’m not giving this a stellar rating, I am giving it a good rating, which is well deserved by these guys because it is an album with high musicianship, quality and effort that shows through on this release, all things that combine to make it an album worth listening to.

Release Date: June 9th, 2009
Label: Blooddawn/Regain Records

TRACK LISTING

1.  Oceans Turn To Blood
2.  Wicked One
3.  Speak The Name Of The Dead
4.  The Cult Of Death
5.  Werewolf
6.  Demons Of The Flesh/
     Tight White Ropes
7.  Shadows Never Change
8.  Smell Of The Ancient Ones
9.  Face The Master
10.  Werewolf Nation
11.  Snakes Out The Mouth Of Hell

Total playing time: 37:05

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