A Murder of Crows

If it's true that crows are carrying the souls of dead people into the beyond, then what happens with the souls of those people when the crows didn't manage to get there? A thought to ponder every time you drive past a dead bird on the edge of the roadside? It's also the central theme of the latest release from songwriter and multi instrumentalist Devon Graves.

Now, in the UK every packet of cigarettes has to have the words 'Smoking Kills' printed in big, black letters on the front and rear. A similarly clear health warning should be printed on the sleeve of this album. A Murder of Crows is a seriously addictive musical drug.

Formed from the basis of Psychotic Waltz, I first had a taste of Deadsoul Tribe with an absorbing set at the ProgPower Europe festival latein 2002. I was immediately struck by the band's very individual, groove-laden style and Devon's amazingly intense yet restrained vocals. One minute, tender passion. The next, guitar fuelled angst. I quickly snapped up a copy of their self-titled debut and it still gets regular spins on my player.

While being based on a similar blueprint to the debut album, the quality of the workmanship here, is a whole step up in class. The songs on the debut more than held your attention. Here, they slide under your skin, deeper and deeper with each listen.

The Tribe is a complex and bold creature. When it all fits together, this album is a stunning musical beast. It works best, when Devon really spreads his song writing wings and combines the rough with the smooth. The two-part Feed which opens the album, mixes some vicious, intense riffs with sections where Devon's distinctive, almost hypnotic voice stands alone - a real emotional rollercoaster. He does it again on Some Things You Can't Return. This track makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand up every time.

Most of the material was written recently, although a couple of songs are developments of older ideas - two dating back from his Psychotic Waltz days. Devon even picks up the old flute for a couple of songs as well. Indeed, the first half of this album is brilliant. The guitars are far more prominent with the keyboards held in the background and there's a great variety in tempo, emotion, rhythm and complexity.

The only criticism I can lay down is that in the second half, the trio of Crows On The Wire, I'm Not Waving and Flies fail to maintain that variety. It's probably down to personal taste, but they also take on a few too many psychedelic bursts and repetitive riffs for my liking. Thankfully the band rises again at the end with another ambitious emotional journey through Black Smoke and Mirrors and ending in some style with the laid-back groove of Time. Both these were written in the Psychotic Waltz period and will have added appeal to fans of that band. Strangely, Time is actually billed as a 'bonus track'. It certainly has a different, more upbeat feel but it's actually one of the best tracks on the album.

If you've never heard them before, Devon has such a distinctive style that comparisons with other bands won't really do it justice. All I can really say is, as a big fan of their debut, I'm equally pleased with this. Oh, and next time you see a crow in the road, please drive carefully.

I got this one day before leaving the shores to Greece, so I had plenty of time listening to this eagerly (at least from my side) awaited release.
The first run didn’t impress me very much, but this was due to the pre holiday stress. After further listening some of those dark and sad songs overcame me. This new record is definitely darker than predecessor, and shows less variation. Some of the songs feel a bit lost, even though none of them is a bad one (e.g. Crows on the wire).
But the emotional deepness of the songwriting plus the carefully crafted structures and the well-dosed musicianship lifts this album over the masses. Devon’s magnificent vox is on the one hand very fragile and vulnerable, but on the other embraces the music with full force and suspense (e.g. Some things you can’t return). This is not genuine Metal, of course, this is heavy soulfood. Don’t expect Deadsoul Tribe to sound like Psychotic Waltz, they’re the emotional and delicate side of the latter. Scarcely placed guitar solos meet occasional flute parts, concise riffing meets terse but delicate drumming. Also the piano plays a bigger part this time (e.g. Regret).
All you lost people out there, check this one out before the next November rain …
To listen to:
Feed Part I+II, Some things you can’t return, Regret, Black smoke and mirrors, Time