Wild Devils
3 DAYS IN MEMPHIS
MISSING FINK
Although they have only been in action since the beginning of the year, Scotland’s Wild Devils seem to have a clear career path in focus and with only a few gigs behind them they unleash this tightly-packed 12" EP on the Augusta, Georgia, label Missing Fink.
All original material, 3 Days In Memphis is an assured debut and, considering that their vocalist Karla Rose MacLachlan only came onboard during the summer, their individual style appears to have been established fairly rapidly.
Ignition kicks things o and the template of solid rockabilly with a twisted edge is established here immediately. It’s an aggressive song with a bold swagger and clearly illustrates that the band are confident enough to take things easy and avoid the temptation to announce their arrival with a high-speed workout. The title track follows close behind and it does increase the pace further while showcasing Karla Rose’s distinctive vocal style, which manages to sound both lonesome and rebellious at the same time.
I Don’t Want No Jack n’ Coke goes for the jugular with a real snarl and manages to sound like The Cramps doing Neal Hefti’s Batman Theme while still remaining original. Things slow down with the creepy graveyard stomp of Man’s A Werewolf and sleazy grind of Look At Yourself but even these more languidly paced tracks still contain traces of rockin’ menace. The total running time is just tickling 16 minutes but there’s still space for the bluesy (and slightly naughty sounding) Hey, Honey before things draw to a close and leave you wishing for just that little bit more.
This is rockabilly for sure, but the Wild Devils don’t seem to be looking to pass themselves o as revivalists. The bold and slightly darker sound of the whole EP sounds contemporary and unashamedly hard-edged. The hints of psychobilly, blues and country that lurk within the group’s sound all blend together well and this does indeed create a potent introduction to a band that should be heading in the right direction at a dangerously speedy pace. Let’s hope there is still plenty more of this type of material in the tank for when their first full album comes around.
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