The Devil Rides Out
Volume III
Green Media/ MGM



Perth garage stoners The Devil Rides Out take no time to warm up on this, the last part of their numbered trilogy of EPs. The first track Slow Gun springs into action with a double kick pushing a Motorhead-inspired riff, then giving way to a Queens Of The Stone Age-tinged verse. They've worked in some great hooks to sew it all together and keep the energy way up, not allowing the heaviness of the stoner riffs to make the song feel drudgy.

The next couple of tracks, Fiftyonepercent and The Shape Of A Heart, cover pretty similar ground before the Kyuss-y sounds subside for the swampy Meet Joe Blues, on which vocalist Joey K gets a bit more breathing room to show what his gruff voice is really capable of. The lapsteel makes a nice departure too - pitched along with the backing vocals it's another element to show off the nicely crafted tunes the band have worked out here. As they kick back into the heavy stuff with The World Has Fangs, the fullness of their sound comes clearer as they take their time a little more and work the dynamic of the song for all it's worth. As they bring the double kick back in and let the metal-tinged guitar and vocals ride over the Desert Sessions vibe in the final track Six (I Got Your), their influences are once again worn on their sleeve, which isn't a bad thing since their sleeve is obviously tattered and well worn enough to be credible.

Aaron Farrant