Band: Devious
Title: Vision
Label: Deity Down Records
Distribution: Sonic Rendezvous
Release date: 31/08/2009
Review: CD

The Dutch formation Devious started in 2000 and played with bands as Krisiun (big European tour in 2006), Malevolent Creation, Suffocation, Cannibal Corpse, Aborted and Obituary amongst others. The band recorded one mini- and two full length albums (resp. Devious, 2002, Acts Of Rage, 2003, and Domain, 2007) before, and this third full length was recorded and mixed / mastered earlier this year at Split Second Sound Studio with Jochem Jacobs (Cirrha Niva, The Lucifer Principle, In-Quest, Kingfisher Sky, Intwine etc.).
Vision is a new step within Devious’ history. Still the convincing Death Metal-greatness from Acts Of Rage as well as the groovy drive on Domain is rather clear and evident. But at the same time, the album seems to be more ‘complete’. The mid-tempo hymns come with an obscure and sinister atmosphere, a dense and thick sound and well-composed technical song structures. There’s more variation (going for both melody and tempo), and more than once the Thrash-roots (think about the self-called mini-album) appear. Vision comes with a nice early-nineties approach, but with the addition of own elements. And indeed, more than before the band seems to have found an own direction, and I like this direction a lot. Vision convinces, it thrills, it just fits.
Duration: 35:44 minutes.

84/100

Ivan Tibos.