Sometimes, release days are so packed that we have to keep talking about them long after they’ve passed. Sometimes, they leave us with things we can’t dare to miss. I picked up Servant‘s Death Devil Magic with the hope that this would be one of those cases—where I almost missed a cool release. I mean, just look at that art! It practically screams diabolical riffs that will melt faces, right? It can’t just be me trying to justify my laziness here. Well, I hope not. But let’s cut the self-pity and get down to business.
I believe Servant can be part of the now-popular trend of Black Metal bands crossing over into more melodic territory. There’s still plenty of Blackened vibes in Death Devil Magic. It doesn’t rely solely on sheer brutality, though. Many Blackened Death bands assume they need to pummel our eardrums into oblivion to create the desired effect. The problem with this approach is that not only is it hard to pull off, but it’s also something Behemoth and Belphegor have already explored extensively. Fortunately, Servant brings a different take on the style, and it feels new.
You get devastating riffs and all the blast beats you could ask for, but the album commits to its sound deeply, and it’s not afraid to breathe. Just check out the track “Hope”, which feels like it was pulled straight out of Lawless Darkness. If anything, there’s a lot of Watain here, but instead of focusing on the occult, Servant aims to portray human internal conflict—and I’m all in for that struggle. It’s not pretentious; it’s still solid Black Metal that even your Metalhead friend who doesn’t believe in books can enjoy. Is it trying to be poetic? Yes! But it pierces you through, not with cringey words, but with raw power.
To be fair, not much about this album bothered me. It feels fresh, energetic, and doesn’t indulge in excessive wankery—and you know I’m all for the right amount of wankery. If there’s anything to say, it’s that the album is consistent. It doesn’t have extreme highs or lows; it’s stable in its horror-filled performance, and I appreciate that. The real question is: Is Death Devil Magic good or really good? That’s something I’ll need more time to think about.
Either way, I’m pleased to say Servant is offering something interesting that I didn’t expect to like—but now I see myself coming back to this album a few more times. Many Blackened Death albums feel like a chore, but Servant has managed to craft one filled with deep and mysterious ideas that still feels, somehow… friendly? Don’t kill me! I know “friendly” is the last thing you want your Black Metal album to be described as, but hey, we all need friends, right? (Yes, I know you do. Let us in, you damaged bastard!) Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have more albums to review—and interns to fire!
FIRE!
Label: AOP Records
Release date: 20 September 2024
Website: https://www.facebook.com/ServantMagick/
Country: Germany
Score: a dark and magical 4.0/5.0
Metal Eclipse Reviews 