Metal Crusader review of "Fate is Your Muse" Saturday, April 27, 2013 Artist: Devil to Pay Album: Fate is Your Muse Label: Ripple Music Release Date: April 9, 2013 My Rating: 4/5 I love music. I like all types from the mainstream hard rock and metal to the underground scene or community bands that don't stray too far from their hometowns. I love to seek out and listen to all sorts of new metal bands. I am a huge support of independent bands and labels that are striving to carve out their niche in what has been a very competitive space. The band I am listening to this week is DEVIL TO PAY and they are loaded with heavy rifs and deep cuts that will cover you like a heavy warm blanket. It is a very comfortable space to be in and it makes losing yourself in their music, so much easier. Devil to Pay has been around for 10 years since their debut album Thirty Pieces of Silver (2003). By their own accounts, they state (on their website) that they shouldn't even still be a band. Their latest album is called Fate is Your Muse, published in 2013 by Ripple Music and their sound is heavy and full of sludge. "Mass Psychosis" is a great tune that with a low fuzz, great beats from the drummer and the vocals are spot on. It trudges along like a tank on a battle field, but unfortunately dies after just 3 minutes of play. Definitely the type of song you could have carry on for 7-8 minutes in a live performance and it wouldn't seem long or drawn out at all. Strikingly contrasting "Mass Psychosis" is the next song called "Tie One On" which definitely has a more rock-a-billy metal kick to it - the riffs are still heavy, but the vocals and beat are more upbeat and faster than you would expect. Not an unwelcome treat, by far. The beginning of "Yes Master" is beyond spectacular as you are treated to a high end and low end guitar work. The first minute is just these two guitars playing against each other and then around the 1 minute mark the bass kicks in with some heavy fuzz and drums follow. GREAT! The band consists of: Steve Janiak (Vocals and Guitar) Matt Stokes (Bass) Rob Hough (Guitar) Chad Prifogle (Drums) Gonna be a band in my doom rotation. Posted by William Teeple at 1:15 PM