Back in 2011, I had only been doing my blog, The Great Southern Brainfart, for about two years. I was still new to the game, but it was an exciting time for me. I was getting turned on to so many new bands, which was an exciting moment for me. For someone who loves music so passionately, I was in heaven (or hell) with the plethora of music that was coming my way.
In 2012, I was asked by one of the PR people that I frequently worked with if I would be willing to cover a band called The Devil’s Blood‘s live set. They were going to be in Atlanta as part of the Decibel Tour, which featured some pretty fucking weird acts such as Behemoth, Watain, and the gothic metal band In Solitude. Of course, I just assumed that they were going to be an extreme metal band with a name like The Devil’s Blood. In the E-Mail, a link was included to listen to their most recent 2011 release, The Thousandfold Epicentre. I had no idea that I was about to listen to an album that would change my life forever as a music lover.
From the opening instrumental “Unending Singularity” to the epic (and bizarre) 15 minute closer “Feverdance,” I was astounded at what I had just heard. The album had so much depth and so many layers that each song revealed another personality of the band that continued to change and evolve within one album more than most bands do in a complete discography.
The voice of Farida Lemouchi is something I can’t even begin to describe. It’s beautiful, hypnotic, haunting, seductive, and powerful. I can’t even begin to compare her voice to anyone else but picture the voice of Jefferson Airplane’s Grace Slick with the voice of folk singer Emily and add to that a somewhat sinister, otherworldly power. Lead guitarist and brother Selim Lemouchi was the principal songwriter for The Devil’s Blood, and he pinned the title “Mouth of Satan” on Farida since she was the “voice” that channeled his beautifully sinister lyrics and music that was “given” to him by Satan. So that right there can let you know just a bit of what to expect.
Musically, The Thousandfold Epicentre is a guitar player’s dream album. Every song is riff-laden occult rock. “On the Wings of Gloria” was a dark, eerie headbanger, but it wasn’t metal. Instead, it was a groove full of subtle sounds such as plunky bass lines, twangy tremolo guitar, and a voice that mesmerized me unlike any I had heard up to this point. “Die the Death,” “Cruel Lover,” and the almost commercially accessible “Fire Burning” are songs that I feel any fan of great complex rock music could easily wrap their heads around. While the overall lyrical message may go completely past them, the music would still appeal to any lover of great hard rock music.
The highlight of this album came in the form of the 9:02 opus title track. I had no idea what to expect, starting with an orchestra string intro, but then suddenly, that opening riff kicked in. Layered acoustic and electric guitars paved the way for what would be a journey through the dark and little moments of light peeking in.
This song made me uncomfortable because I had never heard anything like it before. Eerie whispers, backing vocals in the chorus that sounded like a herd of damned souls from the bowels of hell. It freaked me the fuck out, but it made me want more. I listened to this song repeatedly, taking in the lyrics. I began to understand the passion and adoration that Selim Lemouchi had for the “Dark Lord.” There is so much faith, praise, and dedication to this deity in his lyrics, and while it may sound corny to many, I found it to be absolutely beautiful
Ten years later, The Thousandfold Epicentre still intrigues me. Selim Lemouchi had a way of projecting a beautiful portrait of what the dark side of life (and death) could be while still acknowledging that it was accompanied by a bit of pain, anger, and optimism. Poetic, inspired, and dedicated, this collection of songs’ lyrics was more convincing and engaging than even the holiest of corny, two-faced Christan bands like Stryper or Petra.
The Thousandfold Epicentre is an album with a sound, and a message that will last longer than any of you reading this will live on this plane. For as long as people are seeking, curious, and intrigued about what lies within that place that we have been forbidden to go most of our lives, The Thousandfold Epicentre will be the gateway to the other side of what it is you seek. The Thousandfold Epicentre is an album of passion and indulgence so please, indulge in this album.
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