Zeal & Ardor - Devil Is Fine (Reflections) 2017
8
Despite both the blues and black metal being once tagged as the Devils music, it’s fair to say that the two don’t make the likeliest bedfellows, making Zeal & Ardors blend of African-American spiritualism and icy savagery both a logical evolution and something of a shock to the system. The power and authenticity of Manuel Gagneuxs chain-gang bellows will likely be a big draw for many, but its the incredible scope of the project that makes it truly stand out – music-box creepiness, neo-classical synths, melodic death metal and even a touch of Nick Cave-esque murder balladry make Devil Is Fine such an unpredictable entity that the ambition is worth the entry price alone.