<p>- After a few years and a growing fan base in the Brisbane metal community, <span>Devonian</span> have just put out their debut EP <em>Witchcraft</em>. These four songs will certainly be familiar to anyone who has been to their shows, particularly opening track <em>Collateral Damage </em>which the band released as a single last year. This song does a great job of setting the scene, with blistering drums, thick crunches of guitar and the sweet/frightening vocals of powerhouse frontwoman <strong>Diletta Luna</strong>.</p>
<p>Over these four songs, you’ll hear a band with an obvious love of melody, but at the same time, they’re not afraid to get their hands dirty, whether engaging in some good old head-down thrash at the beginning of the title track or Diletta regularly veering from her sweet, melodic soprano to spine-tingling harsh growls.</p>
<p>With a punchy production from <strong>The Stranger</strong> guitarist <strong>Kalen Austin</strong>, all the musicians are heard crisp and clear, from the barrelling rhythm section of drummer <strong>Alan Mahood</strong> and bassist <strong>Craig Myers </strong>to the twin guitar assault of <strong>Simon Gardner</strong> and <strong>Hayden Roberts</strong>. Diletta also adds a great deal of atmosphere with well-placed vocal textures and harmonies throughout, particularly in the doomy Old Latin intonations of <em>Abyssus</em>.</p>
<p>As Diletta is Italian, it makes sense that some European sensibilities creep into these songs. This is particularly evident in <em>Crush</em>, where the chorus builds to the type of operatic chorus heard in much gothic and symphonic metal, combined with some notably bluesy guitar work.</p>
<p>However, it’s the title track <em>Witchcraft</em> which is the most impressive tune here. After that aforementioned thrash intro, it goes into slightly proggy verses, before a fierce, harsh vocalised chorus comes in slow and heavy. Yet, it all flows and the result is a simply great modern metal tune.</p>
<p>These four songs provide a great intro to this up and coming local band. Combining flair and diversity, this EP whets the appetite and makes one eager to hear what Devonian will come up with next. I, for one, look forward to what they can come up with over a full album. Tuneful, hook-laden and heavy, this is a band to watch.</p>
<p>- Matt Thrower.</p>
<iframe style="border: 0; width: 100%; height: 120px;" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=426555396/size=large/bgcol=ff…; seamless><a href="http://devonian.bandcamp.com/album/witchcraft">Witchcraft by Devonian</a></iframe>