Devil’s Brigade is the side project featuring Matt Freeman, Tim Armstrong and Lars Frederiksen of American punk giants Rancid and DJ Bonebrake from the influential punk outfit X. Formed and fronted by Freeman back in 2000 the project was shoved on the backburner when Rancid recommenced touring and recording, lying dormant for years, until now. Their long awaited, self-titled debut album marks the positive reactivation of Devil’s Brigade and hails the mightiest of returns. You’ll be surprised by just how much it doesn’t resemble the sound of another Rancid album or how strongly its own identity has been forged onto every song. Freeman has ditched his bass for the upright, non-electric type creating a catchy rockabilly/stomp sound that gallops effectively over everything in sight, a thumping rhythm for a leader flanked by the big guitar riffs and a drumbeat which skips from hugely commanding to a choppy subtleness without a single beat sacrificed. Punctuated by the slap/twang methods of Matt Freeman’s upright bass style, songs like ‘Darlene’ ‘Halfway To Hell’ and the faster ‘My Own Man Now’ shine brightest, and Tim Armstrong’s countrified guitar swagger is equally glorious on ‘Shakedown’ and ‘Bridge Of Gold’ ( guest vocalist Lars Frederiksen) An album of many qualities then, be it Freeman’s gravel soaked singing voice, the Johnny Cash influences or psychobilly edge, it’s a million miles away from the style they’re known for - but not anymore. Devil’s Brigade have returned with intent. Long may they remain.
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