DEVICIOUS: Code Red (MELODIC HARD ROCK): review / opinion to read on Music Waves

Last year, DeVicious, the German melodic hard rock combo, satisfied their fans with a well-done "Black Heart". It also surprised them with a varied opus, a veritable melting-pot of sometimes surprising trends. Their imagination transcended by the Covid episode, and the band comes back with "Code Red", which makes you wonder what they're going to offer to, especially now that charismatic frontman Antonio Calanna has left the crew.

His replacement is Baol Bardot Bulsara, an Argentinian who holds the microphone at TNT. While his vocal qualities are not particularly remarkable, to accuse him of all the ills from which this "Code Red" suffers would be abusive. The stylistic mix of the previous episode is forgotten here and the chosen color is that of 80's hard melody. The known risk of this movement is to lapse into the outdated and naive. If the melodic imagination fails, it's a sure-fire debacle. Unfortunately, DeVicious falls into this trap with this new opus.

Indeed, and this is the last straw for the style, there are no hits to be found here. At most, there are three tracks that make you want to come back ('Are You Ready For Love', 'Not Anymore' and 'House Of Cards') for their radio-friendly appeal. In addition, there are a few melodic promises on the pre-choruses of 'Stuck In Paradise' and 'No More Tears', but these are dashed by disappointing choruses. In the face of these meagre satisfactions, the listener faces Silly melodies, ridiculous na-na-na-na ('No More Tears'), repetitions ('Raise Your Life' sung seventeen times), nerd synths ('Penthouse Floor') and cheesy brass ('Highway To The Stars').

DeVicious screw up quite badly with this fifth album. Their ascent to the second division thanks to the big brother of this "Code Red" will have lasted a sunrise. Barring a thunderous awakening, the Germans' next attempt may well precipitate their fatal fall. - Official website

DEVICIOUS

CODE RED

AUTRE LABEL

MELODIC HARD ROCK