It is in composition that The Devil’s Trade has changed most since 2020. Songs on upcoming release Vidékek vannak idebenn feature far greater instrumental density, and atmospheric interludes are now a thing of the past. There’s a lushness to these constructs which marks a distinct shift in approach, but vocalist and band founder Dávid Makó still leads the charge with his desperate, powerful singing. A prominent percussive presence instills Vidékek vannak idebenn with a tectonic heft that supports brief but impactful guitar detonations. Lyrical content exhibits profound depth and an intimate understanding of grief and loss which evokes the best works of artists like Phoebe Bridgers and Henry Derek Elis, opening wide the record’s emotional core.
I cannot overstate how great a boon the regular inclusion of drums in this material brings. Whereas The Iron Peak succeeded in part due to its lack of percussion, this offering would have suffered without them. “Flashing Through the Lack of Light” looms over me with an almost oppressive atmosphere—a notable accomplishment considering that, compared to the kind of stuff I usually cover, this is remarkably stripped down. Eventually, that build resolves in a simply gargantuan pummeling of toms and bass, pounding my soul into oblivion as Dávid’s crooning nearly cracks from shoving as much power and heartbreak through his vocal chords as humanly possible. “Liminal” performs a similar feat, with a massive riff reminiscent of Messa or Avatarium that puts many seasoned doom juggernauts to shame. Floatier numbers like the Blind the Huntsmen-esque “All Kings Must Fall” and the title track make the most out of their repetitive structuring, vocal crescendos and harmonies carrying these songs’ momentums through short-form and long-form runtimes alike with remarkable ease, somehow still retaining monolithic scope and scale with minimal instrumental accompaniment. As an additional note, I love the split between English language and native language alternations throughout this album. The Devil’s Trade strikes a distinct character through this technique, and Vidékek vannak idebenn is all the better for it.
Vidékek vannak idebenn offers no outright duds, but a couple concerns compound to conflict this reviewer. The foremost of these is repetitive song structure. As mentioned earlier, a couple of songs take full advantage of repetition to drive songs to a satisfying climax and conclusion. Most, if not all, others suffer for the same attribute. Repetition serves a vital function here, ensuring that many of Vidékek vannak idebenn’s best moments stick, but when every song orbits around one core instrumental passage or phrase, the album drags. An interesting offshoot of this issue impacts certain individual songs, such as “Clear Like the Wind.” If you listen carefully, you’ll likely note its gentler approach could be considered a refreshing breath of clean air, a palette cleanser between mountainous funereal marches. Sadly, so subtle is this nuance that songs that utilize it get lost in the shuffle during anything other than focused spins, too restrained to effectively create much-needed texture in a smooth, fluid, but ultimately uniform journey.
Some might find that this delicate subtlety works in The Devil’s Trade’s favor. But at the end of the day, I maintain that Vidékek vannak idebenn relies too heavily on repetition and fluidity to scaffold its compositions. Nonetheless, Vidékek vannak idebenn is deeply affecting, dramatic, and effortlessly heavy. Tread carefully, lest you get crushed by its gravity.
Rating: Good
DR: 9 | Format Reviewed: 320 kbps mp3
Label: Season of Mist
Website: facebook.com/TheDevilsTrade | thedevilstrade.bandcamp.com
Releases Worldwide: July 14th, 2023
