The Devil's Blood - III: Tabula Rasa or Death and the Seven Pillars

By Natalie Zina Walschots. Based in Eindhoven, in the Netherlands, psychedelic doom/occult rock outfit the Devil's Blood announced at the beginning to 2013 that they were dissolving, but plans for a final record had already been set in motion.

By Natalie Zina Walschots. Originally published here by Exclaim.


Based in Eindhoven, in the Netherlands, psychedelic doom/occult rock outfit the Devil's Blood announced at the beginning to 2013 that they were dissolving, but plans for a final record had already been set in motion. That swan song is III: Tabula Rasa or Death and the Seven Pillars, which the band openly admit was assembled from pre-production and demoed material, cleaned up as much as possible prior to release.

Photos by Francis Bijl.

Despite the less-than-ideal recording conditions, the material is strong, with urgent, swelling bass lines and fluid guitar work. There's an oppressive, almost chalky smokiness to the tone, but it serves the material, making it sound even more ominous. Farida Lemouchi's vocal performance is, as always, a highlight, her tone deep and caramel rich, her style emotive and intense. III: Tabula Rasa would be an exceptional occult rock release under most circumstances, but considering that it's a farewell, there's an added sense of poignancy and loss, demonstrating keenly exactly why the Devil's Blood will be missed.

The Devil's Blood - Come, Reap

The Devil's Blood 2008 debut Come, Reap is now available on the Ván Records Bandcamp, together with the rest of their discography. This is occult psychedelic rock, at times reminiscent of Jefferson Airplane. Read the reviews from Invisible Oranges:

despite its electricity, its analog sound is seductively soft. Lucifer is more potent not standing behind a wall of flames, but crooking a finger and uttering the titular invitation.

and AllMusic:

from the insistent drums and infectious circular melody of the title track, through to the languidly hypnotic balladry of the closing epic, "Voodoo Dust"

I agree 666%; "Voodoo Dust" is a fantastic song, and my favorite from Come, Reap. Click the player below and give it (and the rest of the album) a listen.