Devil Is Fine

Last updated
Devil Is Fine
Devil is fine.jpg
Studio album by
Zeal & Ardor
ReleasedApril 15, 2016 (2016-04-15) (Original) [1] [2]
February 24, 2017 (2017-02-24) (re-release) [3]
Genre
Length24:37
Label Self-released (original)
MVKA, Reflections Records (2017)
Producer Manuel Gagneux
Zeal & Ardor chronology
Devil Is Fine
(2016)		 Stranger Fruit
(2018)
Singles from Devil Is Fine
  1. "Devil Is Fine"
    Released: November 17, 2016 [6]
  2. "Come On Down"
    Released: January 16, 2017 [7]

Devil Is Fine is the debut studio album by Swiss avant-garde metal musician Manuel Gagneux, under his alias Zeal & Ardor. Initially released independently in April 2016, it was re-released by MVKA records on March 27, 2017. The album received critical acclaim, and was included on many publications' year-end best of lists.

Contents

Background

Gagneux started Zeal & Ardor in response to two messages left to him on 4chan by two different users. One of these users suggested that he fuse "black metal", while another suggested "nigger music"; in response, he started Zeal & Ardor, which features elements of both black metal and African-American spirituals. [8] [4] Gagneux later stated the band came from the question of "what if American slaves had embraced Satan instead of Jesus?". [9] The album is a follow-up to Zeal & Ardor's 2014 self-released demo album Zeal and Ardor.

Devil Is Fine was first released on Bandcamp in 2016 and re-released by MVKA on February 24, 2017. [10] [11] Gagneux wrote and recorded the album himself. [12] Gagneux was also inspired by Gestalt theoretical psychotherapy. [13] Gagneux used a loud and clipping sound level to get a Lo-Fi retro quality to the recording. [14]

Gagneux recorded the album on his laptop, using "a simple microphone". [15] He plays all the instruments, and programmed the drums. [15] "I only used bad equipment, but that was also an advantage" he said of the lo-fi recording methods. [15]

A limited edition vinyl box set was released, featuring the album, stickers, a T-shirt, a pendant, pins and a poster, packaged in a wooden box. [16] [17] Limited white vinyl editions were also available. Both releases were handled through Reflections Records.

The song "Devil Is Fine" was used in a trailer for the second season of WGN's Underground, [18] as well as in the first gameplay trailer for Tom Clancy's The Division 2. [19]

Album art

The album art, designed by Gagneux and Noé Herrmann, features a photograph of Robert Smalls, a slave who freed himself and 17 other slaves during the American Civil War by commandeering a Confederate transport ship. [20] Superimposed over the image of Smalls is The Sigil of Lucifer, sometimes referred to as the Seal of Satan. [21]

Gagneux described his reason behind the cover in a 2018 interview,

There's the embracing of the self and the ego, and being at peace with the fact that you have needs and wants, and the pursuit of those to a degree where you get as close to fulfilling yourself without stepping on other people's toes... That's why I chose Robert Smalls for the cover of the first album. He was very determined about what he wanted – freed himself, freed others, stole a ship, became a politician. It's pretty extreme. [22]

Song information

Manuel Gagneux composed and performed the album in its entirety. 4L8A3177 web (36795041802).jpg
Manuel Gagneux composed and performed the album in its entirety.

"Devil Is Fine" features the lyrics "little one gotta heed my warning, devil is fine" and features the sound of clanking chains. [5] The vocals are similar to the Delta blues style. [23] "In Ashes" is described as "(blending) righteous hollering with blastbeats". [4] "Come On Down" features tremolo guitar playing, and is described as having folk and gospel influences merged with black metal. [4] [5] "Children's Summon" features a refrain referencing the previous track, [24] and lyrics about "going home to the flames". [4]

"Blood in the River" features layered vocals and a lo-fi sound to emulate slaves singing. [5] It features lyrics including "A good god is a dark one, a good god is the one that brings the fire." [5] "What is a Killer Like You Gonna Do Here?" is described as having a "jazzy, vamping beat." [4] It features lyrics that "both threatens and questions violence" and a slap bass sound. [24]

The three "Sacrilegium" tracks on the album serve as interludes. "Sacrilegium I" is an electronic and drum and bass influenced track, [5] "Sacrilegium II" and "Sacrilegium III" feature the sound of a music box and xylophone alongside synthesizers. [5] [24] [23]

Critical reception and commercial performance

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Already HeardStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svg [25]
Invicta Magazine3/10 [26]
It Djents6/10 [27]
Louder Sound Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [28]
Metal Storm 9.5/10 [29]
New Noise magazineStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [30]
The Soundboard4/10 [31]
Spin 7/10 [8]
StormbringerStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svg [32]
Uncivil Revolt9/10 [23]

At release, Devil Is Fine received mostly positive reviews. Later on it received more critical acclaim, being placed on several publication's best of lists at the end of the year. Noisey ranked the album 6th on their top 100 albums of 2016 list. [33] Metal Insider ranked the album 6th on their top 10 metal albums of 2016. [34] Loudwire placed the album 6th on its ranking on the 25 best Metal Albums of 2017. [35] Metal Hammer placed the album 5th on their top 100 albums of 2017 list. [36]

Rolling Stone listed it as one of the best metal records (so far) of 2017 in a June review, stating "Arguably, nothing released this year is as strange, inscrutable or wonderful than Devil is Fine... Gagneux folds field recordings and soul samples, obsidian guitars and music box melodies, blastbeats and legitimate bass drops into a wild-eyed chimera. It is admittedly imperfect and unreasonable, with the genres sometimes spliced so haphazardly that the stitches show. It suggests, though, a dream world of infinite possibilities." [37] Unwinnable named the album their metal album of the year in 2017. [38]

In 2022, Metal Hammer described the album, stating “we’d heard nothing like it: centuries-old slave chants blasphemed by black metal tremolo, bubbling electronica, dusty blues, Gothenburg melodies, and baroque Nick Cave-iness.” [39]

Before being re-released on a label, the album sold over 1000 copies on Bandcamp by the end of 2016. [5]

The album charted #17 on the Swiss Hitparade charts. [40]

Accolades

PublicationAccoladeRankRef.
Noisey Top 100 Albums of 2016
6
Metal InsiderTop 10 Metal Albums of 2016
6
Loudwire Top 25 Metal Albums of 2017
6
Metal Hammer Top 100 Albums of 2017
5
UnwinnableBest Metal Albums of 2017
1
Metal AssaultThe Best Metal Albums of 2017
19
Treble ZineTop 66.6 Metal Albums of the Millennium
66.6
Spin 25 Best Metal Songs of 2017: "Come On Down"
20
CVLT NationAlbums of the Year 2016
10
WSOU RadioTop 15 Metal Albums of 2017
15
Kerrang! Saw Law's top 10 Albums of 2017
1
FreqsTVTop 10 Albums of 2017
5
The HaystackTop 50 Metal Albums of 2017
6
Medium Nick Heisenberg's Favorite albums of 2017
2

Track listing

All tracks are written by Manuel Gagneux

Devil Is Fine
No.TitleLength
1."Devil Is Fine"3:13
2."In Ashes"2:39
3."Sacreligium I"2:00
4."Come on Down"3:20
5."Children's Summon"3:09
6."Sacrilegium II"2:21
7."Blood in the River"3:33
8."What Is a Killer Like You Gonna Do Here?"2:15
9."Sacrilegium III"2:44
Total length:24:37

Personnel

Zeal & Ardor
Production

Chart performance

Chart (2017)Peak
position
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade) [40] 17

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anthrax (American band)</span> American thrash metal band

Anthrax is an American thrash metal band from New York City, formed in 1981 by rhythm guitarist Scott Ian and bassist Dan Lilker. The group is considered one of the leaders of the thrash metal scene from the 1980s and is part of the "Big Four" of the genre, along with Metallica, Megadeth and Slayer. They were also one of the first thrash metal bands to emerge from the East Coast. The band's current lineup consists of Scott Ian, drummer Charlie Benante, bassist Frank Bello, vocalist Joey Belladonna and lead guitarist Jonathan Donais. Anthrax's lineup has changed numerous times over their career, leaving Ian as the only constant member of the band. Ian and Benante are the only two members to appear on all of Anthrax's albums, while Bello has been a member of Anthrax since 1984, replacing Lilker.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rap metal</span> Music genre

Rap metal is a fusion genre that combines hip hop with heavy metal. It usually consists of heavy metal guitar riffs, funk metal elements, rapped vocals and sometimes turntables.

<i>Holy Diver</i> 1983 studio album by Dio

Holy Diver is the debut studio album by the American heavy metal band Dio, released in 1983. The album was acclaimed by the music press and is the band's most successful album.

<i>Alice in Hell</i> 1989 studio album by Annihilator

Alice in Hell is the debut studio album by Canadian thrash metal band Annihilator, released on April 17, 1989 through Roadrunner Records. This was the only Annihilator album for ten years to feature Randy Rampage on vocals, until he returned for their seventh studio album Criteria for a Black Widow (1999).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Volbeat</span> Danish rock band

Volbeat are a Danish rock band formed in Copenhagen in 2001. They play a fusion of rock and roll and heavy metal. Their current line-up consists of vocalist and rhythm guitarist Michael Poulsen, drummer Jon Larsen, and bassist Kaspar Boye Larsen. The band is signed to Dutch label Mascot Records and has released eight studio albums and one DVD. Their second album Rock the Rebel/Metal the Devil received platinum status, and their 2010 release Beyond Hell/Above Heaven was subject to widespread international critical acclaim, receiving triple platinum in Denmark and Austria, double platinum in Sweden, platinum in Canada, 5x Gold in Germany, and gold in both Finland and the United States. Volbeat's most recent studio album, Servant of the Mind, was released in 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">In This Moment</span> American rock band

In This Moment is an American rock band from Los Angeles, California, formed by singer Maria Brink and guitarist Chris Howorth in 2005. They found drummer Jeff Fabb and started the band as Dying Star. Unhappy with their musical direction, they changed their name to In This Moment and gained two band members, guitarist Blake Bunzel and bassist Josh Newell. In 2005, bassist Newell left the band and was replaced by Jesse Landry.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Avatar (band)</span> Swedish metal band

Avatar is a Swedish heavy metal band, formed in Mölndal, Gothenburg in 2001. The band has released nine studio albums, the most recent being Dance Devil Dance in 2023. The band has had some success on US rock radio, notably with their song "New Land", which peaked at number 20 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Songs chart in May 2017 and "The Dirt I'm Buried In" peaking at number 1 of the same chart in August 2023, making it the song with the longest journey to number 1 in the last 20 years.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ghost (Swedish band)</span> Swedish rock band

Ghost is a Swedish rock band known for combining costumed theatricality, heavy metal, and arena rock. Formed in Linköping in 2006, the band released their debut album, Opus Eponymous in 2010, which earned them international recognition. This was followed by Infestissumam in 2013 and in 2015 by Meliora, which reached number one in Sweden and number eight in the US. This was followed by the albums Prequelle in 2018 and Impera in 2022.

<i>The Devil Put Dinosaurs Here</i> 2013 studio album by Alice in Chains

The Devil Put Dinosaurs Here is the fifth studio album by American rock band Alice in Chains, released on May 28, 2013, through Capitol Records, the band's final album released through the label. Following a worldwide tour in support of its previous album, Black Gives Way to Blue (2009), Alice in Chains began work on a new album. The making of The Devil Put Dinosaurs Here lasted for more than a year and the release of the album was delayed numerous times. The band entered the studio in July 2011 to start work on their fifth album. During the writing and recording sessions, guitarist and vocalist Jerry Cantrell underwent shoulder surgery, which resulted in the delay of the album. The recording sessions of The Devil Put Dinosaurs Here were completed in December 2012.

<i>The North Corridor</i> 2016 studio album by Chevelle

The North Corridor is the eighth studio album by American rock band Chevelle, released on July 8, 2016.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zeal & Ardor</span> Swiss avant-garde metal band

Zeal & Ardor is a Swiss avant-garde metal band started and led by Manuel Gagneux, a Swiss-American musician who had previously created a chamber pop project called Birdmask. Formed in 2013, the band mixes sounds of African-American spirituals with black metal.

<i>Ritual</i> (In This Moment album) 2017 studio album by In This Moment

Ritual is the sixth studio album by American rock band In This Moment, released on July 21, 2017, by Atlantic Records and Roadrunner Records. This marks the band's fifth release collaborating with producer Kevin Churko.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Astronoid</span> American post-metal band

Astronoid is a post-metal band from Lowell, Massachusetts, formed in 2012. Started by vocalist Brett Boland and bassist Daniel Schwartz, the current lineup includes Boland, Schwartz, guitarist Casey Aylward, and drummer Matt St. Jean. They have released two extended plays, November (2012) and Stargazer (2013), and three studio albums, Air (2016), the eponymous Astronoid (2019) and Radiant Bloom (2022).

<i>Stranger Fruit</i> 2018 studio album by Zeal & Ardor

Stranger Fruit is the second studio album by avant-garde metal band Zeal & Ardor. It was released on 8 June 2018, through MVKA records. It is Zeal & Ardor's first release as a full band, previous releases were entirely composed by singer Manuel Gagneux, although Stranger Fruit only features drummer Marco Von Allmen from the full band alongside Gagneux.

<i>Resist</i> (Within Temptation album) 2019 studio album by Within Temptation

Resist is the seventh studio album by Dutch symphonic metal band Within Temptation. It was scheduled to be released worldwide on 14 December 2018, but later postponed to 1 February 2019. The album contains guest appearances by singers Jacoby Shaddix, Anders Fridén and Jasper Steverlinck (Arid) and was produced by their longtime producer Daniel Gibson. It marks the longest time gap between the band's studio releases, the last one being issued in 2014. The album followed the band's pattern of incorporating new musical elements on each release, this time featuring more electronic, pop, and industrial influences. Lyrically, the band opted to focus more on political themes, a subject not explicitly approached by them on previous records.

<i>Live in London</i> (Zeal & Ardor album) 2019 live album by Zeal & Ardor

Live in London is the first live release by avant-garde metal band Zeal & Ardor. Released 22 March 2019, the performance captured was from a 2 December 2018 show at Electric Ballroom in London. The live album features three non-album tracks performed by the band as part of their setlist. Vocalist Manuel Gagneux stated of the album "Since we're really proud of our performance, we are releasing the entire show consisting of our entire catalogue of songs." Gagneux also stated the reason for the live album was to capture the live shows that were "more energetic and way more aggressive" than the recorded material.

<i>Wake of a Nation</i> 2020 EP by Zeal & Ardor

Wake of a Nation is the first extended play released avant-garde metal band Zeal & Ardor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zeal & Ardor discography</span>

This is the complete discography of Swiss black metal band Zeal & Ardor. They have released three albums, two live albums, one EP, six B-sides and 15 singles.

<i>Zeal & Ardor</i> (album) 2022 studio album by Zeal & Ardor

Zeal & Ardor is the self-titled third studio album by avant-garde metal artist Zeal & Ardor, released on 11 February 2022.

<i>Greif</i> (album) 2024 studio album by Zeal & Ardor

Greif is the fourth studio album by avant-garde metal band Zeal & Ardor, released on 23 August 2024.

References

  1. ↑ "Zeal & Ardor". www.facebook.com.
  2. ↑ Coughlan, Jamie (June 4, 2016). "Zeal And Ardor Interview: "I Kinda Yell Satanic Stuff In A Gospel Voice". Overblown.co.uk.
  3. ↑ "Listen to Zeal & Ardor's 'Devil Is Fine' Album: Exclusive". Billboard . Retrieved 11 June 2018.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Kelly, Kim (7 July 2016). "The Real Story Behind the Spiritual Black Metal Blues of Zeal & Ardor's 'Devil Is Fine'". Noisey. Vice. Retrieved 21 April 2017.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Zeal and Ardor - Devil is Fine [Things You Might Have Missed 2016] - Angry Metal Guy". 23 December 2016.
  6. ↑ "Devil is Fine, by Zeal and Ardor". Zeal and Ardor. Retrieved 11 June 2018.
  7. ↑ "Come on Down, by Zeal and Ardor". Zeal and Ardor. Retrieved 11 June 2018.
  8. 1 2 Joyce, Colin (29 July 2016). "SPIN Metal Report: Vektor Deliver Neo-Thrash's Masterpiece and Inter Arma Explore Outer Space". Spin. Retrieved 21 April 2017.
  9. ↑ Bennet, J. (August 31, 2017). "Slavery and Satanism: Inside Zeal & Ardor's Controversial Take on Black Metal". Revolver .
  10. ↑ Hartmann, Graham (14 January 2017). "Zeal & Ardor's Satanic Black Metal + African Slave Music Could Be the Next Big Thing". Loudwire. Retrieved 21 April 2017.
  11. ↑ Titus, Christa (17 February 2017). "Listen to Zeal & Ardor's 'Devil Is Fine' Album: Exclusive". Billboard. Retrieved 21 April 2017.
  12. ↑ Morton, Luke (2 February 2017). "Zeal & Ardor are channelling black metal and the American slave trade". Teamrock. Retrieved 21 April 2017.
  13. ↑ Friedman, Ph.D, Michael (April 18, 2017). "The Gestalt of Zeal and Ardor". Psychology Today .
  14. ↑ "Zeal & Ardor – Devil is Fine (Album Review)" . Retrieved 11 June 2018.
  15. 1 2 3 ""New York forced me to be original" - SUISAblog.ch". 28 February 2017. Archived from the original on 23 June 2018. Retrieved 15 June 2018.
  16. ↑ "Zeal And Ardor: Devil Is Fine LP (Box set)". 19 October 2016. Archived from the original on June 15, 2018.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  17. ↑ "Reflections Records on Twitter".
  18. ↑ UndergroundWGN (3 March 2017). "WGN America's Underground "The Devil is Fine"" – via YouTube.
  19. ↑ "Zeal & Ardor Song Used In Trailer For 'The Division 2' Video Game - Theprp.com". 11 June 2018.
  20. ↑ "Zeal and Ardor: Slave Songs in Black Metal – Dining with Dana". diningwithdana.net.
  21. ↑ Dedman, Remfry (February 20, 2017). "Zeal & Ardor – Devil is Fine: Album Stream". The Independent .
  22. ↑ Hann, Michael (22 May 2018). "Zeal and Ardor: meet the black metal bluesman who brands his fans". the Guardian.
  23. 1 2 3 "Album Review: Zeal & Ardor, Devil Is Fine ~ Uncivil Revolt". 7 September 2017. Archived from the original on 26 May 2021. Retrieved 11 June 2018.
  24. 1 2 3 "Zeal & Ardor - Devil is Fine". 30 January 2017.
  25. ↑ "Review: Zeal and Ardor - Devil is Fine - Already Heard". 10 February 2017. Retrieved 11 June 2018.
  26. ↑ "REVIEW: Zeal & Ardor – Devil Is Fine (Album) - Invicta Magazine". invictamag.com. Retrieved 11 June 2018.
  27. ↑ "REVIEWS: Zeal & Ardor -"Devil is Fine" - It Djents". www.itdjents.com. Archived from the original on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 11 June 2018.
  28. ↑ "Zeal & Ardor - Devil Is Fine album review". 24 February 2017. Retrieved 11 June 2018.
  29. ↑ "Zeal & Ardor - Devil Is Fine review - Metal Storm". www.metalstorm.net. Retrieved 11 June 2018.
  30. ↑ "Album Review: Zeal and Arbor - Devil is Fine - New Noise Magazine". 14 August 2017. Retrieved 11 June 2018.
  31. ↑ "ALBUM REVIEW: 'Devil Is Fine' by Zeal & Ardor". 23 February 2017. Retrieved 11 June 2018.
  32. ↑ Hoffmann, Daria (February 26, 2017). "ZEAL & ARDOR - Devil Is Fine" (in German).
  33. 1 2 "The 100 Best Albums of 2016". 7 December 2016. Retrieved 11 June 2018.
  34. 1 2 "Metal Insider editor Bram Teitelman's Top 10 of 2016Metal Insider". 15 December 2016.
  35. 1 2 "25 Best Metal Albums of 2017". Loudwire. 27 November 2017. Retrieved 11 June 2018.
  36. 1 2 "Metal Hammer's 100 best albums of 2017". 15 December 2017. Retrieved 11 June 2018.
  37. ↑ "Best Metal Records of 2016 So Far". Rolling Stone . 27 June 2016.
  38. 1 2 "The Best Metal Albums of 2017 - Unwinnable". unwinnable.com.
  39. ↑ selftitled
  40. 1 2 "Swisscharts.com – Zeal & Ardor – Devil Is Fine". Hung Medien. Retrieved June 11, 2018.
  41. ↑ "Best Albums Of 2017". 11 December 2017. Retrieved 13 June 2018.
  42. ↑ "The Top 66.6 Metal Albums of the Millennium". www.treblezine.com. 12 September 2017. Retrieved 13 June 2018.
  43. ↑ "The 25 Best Metal Songs of 2017". 11 December 2017. Retrieved 13 June 2018.
  44. ↑ "CVLT Nation's Albums of the Year for 2016 -". 22 December 2016. Retrieved 13 June 2018.
  45. ↑ "The WSOU Staff's Top Fifteen Metal Albums of 2017 - MetalSucks". 11 December 2017. Retrieved 13 June 2018.
  46. ↑ "The Kerrang! Staff's Top 10 Albums Of 2017 — Kerrang!". Kerrang!. 13 December 2017. Retrieved 13 June 2018.
  47. ↑ "Randy's Top 10 Albums for 2017 - It's About to Get a Little Prog in Here - FreqsTV". 31 December 2017. Retrieved 13 June 2018.
  48. ↑ "Top 50 Metal Albums Of 2017". Archived from the original on 13 June 2018. Retrieved 13 June 2018.
  49. ↑ Farruggia, Nick (30 December 2017). "Favorite albums of 2017".
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.