DEVILFIRE – Dark Manoeuvres (2017)

Where Ozzy and Judas Priest were once born and raised (Birmingham), enter DEVILFIRE with their just released debut offering, “Dark Manoeuvres“. The record is the culmination of a four-year process for front man Alex Cooper, who was drummer in Hanging Doll and has worked with Spike and Ginger among others, and it shows.
Because “Dark Manoeuvres” is a brilliantly crafted and wonderfully polished piece of work.

Straddled somewhere between Magnum’s melodic rock sensitivities and the darker, dirtier band which Europe became, Dark Manoeuvres is the product of hard touring, hard knocks and hard life lessons (as well as hard partying) and is laudable because of its honesty and the obvious endeavour and sweat which went into conception.
As co-producer Romesh Dodangoda (Motorhead, Bring Me The Horizon, Bullet For My Valentine) and obviously a man of few understated words, said “the songs on this record are just so good”… and they are very good.

Yeah, there’s a bit of Thunder, there’s a bit of The Angels too, and while Devilfire aren’t re-inventing the wheel here you can tell they know their way around the sciences of high octane riffology and big vocal choruses.
Opener “Ready For War?” has the feel of an AOR classic about it even before Cooper has opened his mouth, but by the time the Bon Jovi-esque solo has hit (and as always mention of Bon Jovi is meant as a compliment on this site) it is very obviously very special.

It’s no fluke either, “She’s Like Fire” might do things with a little more of a clenched fist, “(In And Out Of Love) All Of The Time” on the other hand is mid-paced and would have ‘hit single’ all over it, if anyone bought singles anymore.

Devilfire have a knack of making four-minute rock songs sound epic. Nowhere is this better shown than on the brilliant album highlight “Waiting For A Rockstar” which comes in with more than a hint of Led Zep about it, it also boasts a brilliant chorus that you will not shake off.

Put simply there is nothing demur about the five piece whatsoever.
Songs like “Lay It On The Line” don’t get written by bands who lack confidence, the orchestral tones and mighty hook of “Kill Your Love” don’t get made if there is any self-doubt, and the slide guitar drenched “Tear Me Apart” revels in its own misery.

Frankly, you can pick any song here and find something to commend it, “God Give Me Vengeance” is lifted above the norm by its soaring lead guitar, and the way that “Devil In Your Eyes” looks for – and finds – trouble is exquisite.
The last song, “Somehow” is a real left turn. Deliberately sparse and largely just Cooper and an acoustic it is at odds with the rest of the record, but in common with everything else here is superbly done.

Absolutely unashamed in its desire to dream big, “Dark Manoeuvres” is one that is resolute in its belief that Devilfire are heading to arenas.
The band add their own modern touch on the traditional British Hard Rock we all love – at times you’ll hear a little Magnum, a dash of Little Angels, a dab of Thunder. There’s also an early Bon Jovi undercurrent, which is tempered by a sliver of gritty bluesy riffs.
Confident and classy, “Dark Manoeuvres” is one of the best debut albums this year.

01 – Ready For War?
02 – Shes Like Fire
03 – (In And Out Of Love) All Of The Time
04 – Waiting For A Rockstar
05 – Lay It On The Line
06 – Kill Your Love
07 – Tear Me Apart
08 – God Give Me Vengeance
09 – Devil In Your Eyes
10 – (You Gotta) Revolution
11 – Shes Always On The Run
12 – A Thousand Times
13 – Somehow

Alex Cooper – Vocals
Bad Blackett – Guitar
Richard Bloomer-Davies – Guitar
Davey Bennett – Bass Guitar
Lars Wickett – Drums

BUY IT !
www.devilfire.co.uk
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