London hard rockers make another bid for stardom
“Did you hear the latest bands on the new scene?” offers up New Device singer Daniel Leigh on the infectious opening tune here, “Hollywood Radio”. “Well, they all sound the same to me….”
Yeah, it’s called getting old mate.
There might just be some frustration in the line too, given that it’s been an eight years of peaks and troughs since the London four piece formed. They released the first album on Classic Rock magazine’s short lived record label – a belter it was too – they toured the country, including one memorable night at the O2 Arena opening for Bon Jovi (MV was there as it happens) and then things all went a little quiet until they returned in 2013 with ambitions to make a big splash.
Fast forward to now and “Devils On The Run” the second in a run of linked releases they have planned over the next 12 months, and following on from “Takin’ Over London” this six tracker is rather good.
Featuring everything you’ve come to expect from them over the last few years, from the catchy, thumping opener, to the mid paced, shimmering ballad of “Back To You” – and its unashamed in its echoes of JBJ and their former touring partners.
But there are things here that they’ve just not done before either. The title track is full of dirty, swaggering bass and lines about eating the heart of the voodoo man, while “Revolution” has a harder edge than before to show the versatility that this band undoubtedly has and
Arguably the pick here, though, are “Highway” a perfect three-minute hard rock song, and “Strung Out” which is in itself a real gem. Both have glorious, soaring choruses and are timely reminders as to why many tipped these boys for the top.
There’s still time for New Device to make good on that, even in today’s crowded market, because just it’s a cliché to say that always shines through, it’s also fair to say that in this case that the Devil’s has all the best tunes.
Rating 8/10
