This is the third album from German black metal band Servant.
Following on fast from last year’s Aetus Ascensus comes Death Devil Magick, bringing us 41 minutes of new material. Servant’s style is intact and well, delivering a richly melodic form of black metal that’s based on the 90s second wave, but shows a post-black metal influence in places.
Death Devil Magick has a sound that’s clear and professional, allowing the band’s blackened vision to shine with dark passionate intensity. The music is well-crafted and performed. The furious riffs tear out with sharp intensity, while the bright melodies add emotive colour and depth. Occasional keyboards and post-black elements enrich the songs further, bringing extra texture and detailing to the songs.
The songs combine aggression, melody, and atmosphere to produce impactful material that hits the spot. Servant’s biggest asset is their ability to handle feeling in their music. This might manifest as hateful aggression or atmospheric darkness, but is especially well-realised when it comes to emotive soundscapes that are stirring and powerful. It’s this that really sets Servant apart from the blackened hordes.
The vocals are strong on Death Devil Magick. The screams are well-performed and unusually expressive; I like that the singer doesn’t restrict himself to the standard blackened screams, but also has a more feeling-rich range that includes yelling and semi-clean vocal varieties which are capable of carrying increased emotion.
If you’re a fan of the old-school black metal style, but want it played with professional skill, melodic might, emotive depth, and with a modern veneer, then Servant are very much for you. Death Devil Magick has impressed.
Highly recommended.
Wonderbox Metal 