The Devil and the Almighty Blues – Tre


Hailing from Norway are The Devil and the Almighty Blues, a quintet who offer up a hazy fusion of Blues, Stoner and Rock n’ Roll. Their third and newest album, cunningly titled Tre (Red Sun Records), continues this heady mix – offering up a thick, beefed up take on the Blues for those who like relaxed, stoner grooves.

At twelve and a half minutes ‘Salt The Earth’ may be a bold opening track but it perfectly sums up the albums sound; a fuzzy, slow-burning groove you can easily get lost in. Another such number and at a less intimidating length just shy of seven minutes is ‘No Man’s Land’, a lo-fi rocker with a dynamic Kenneth Simonsen drumbeat and woozy blasts of guitar throughout. Even at their sprightliest, they take their time, like ZZ Top they are in no great hurry. This mix of relaxed yet toe-tapping is key to ‘One For Sorrow’, with a pulsating bass and guitar melody and some soulful backing singers for good measure.

Alas, this delicate balance is not always struck as is the case with the moody ‘Heart of the Mountain’, which rumbles on without much to grab the attention for over eight minutes. It is not bad by any means, it just canters along without much ebb and flow. A gloomy aura and the prominent bass of Kim Skaug is also the focus of ‘Time Ruins Everything’, which slowly draws the record to all too sleepy close.

Not for those who like bouncy songs full of hooks and hummable melodies, Tre is a heady, stoned up version of the blues full of thick bass lines, fuzzy riffs and relaxed, deep-set grooves. Given its unhurried nature, it is not something you pick up and play on a whim, it is a mood piece you get steadily enveloped by.

6 / 10

THOMAS THROWER