Band:	The 69 Eyes
Album:	Devils
Style:	Gothic metal, Gothic rock
Release date:	October 22, 2004
A review by:	KwonVerge

01. Devils
02. Feel Berlin
03. Nothing On You
04. Sister Of Charity
05. Lost Boys
06. Jimmy
07. August Moon
08. Beneath The Blue
09. Christina Death
10. Hevioso
11. Only You Can Save Me

Well, whether you like it or not, The 69 Eyes are one of the best glam gothic rock (or goth n' roll, call it however you wish) bands around and no-one can deny it and when I say no-one I mean those of you who are willing to search a bit and realize who The 69 Eyes really are.

"Devils" is the latest release of these Finnish rolling "lost boys" and it's their most mature album up to date compositionally, atmospherically and emotionally since every part of their history is harmonizing so beautifully in their sound and there's nothing negative left to say since they also take their sound a few steps further. In "Devils" you will find glam rolling references as well as gothic references and a dirty street rock feeling at times, elements we had noticed in the previous releases of The 69 Eyes. This time, as they reach the golden balance between glam and gothic, they enrich their soundscapes with some orchestral oriented keyboard melodies that make their atmosphere more affected and intense, a vivid step forward for the Finnish rockers.

Gothic rock guitar riffing as it was formed back in the 80s by the hierophants of this sound, The Sisters Of Mercy, that turns to sleazy poser rock guitar riffing is the main characteristic of this album and something easily noticeable since the guitars come back to the foreground with vivid riffing and inspired flowing solos (which do not have the atmosphere-evoking role they had on "Paris Kills"). Another strong part of "Devils" is the use of keyboard melodies. They evoke an intense and serene atmosphere with a bittersweet feeling, while also making the songs sound devout and melancholic at the same time when they have an orchestral feeling.

The rhythm section lends the appropriate groove and power to the songs having both a rhythmic role and an imposing one when the song needs to roll and become groovy. Last, but not least, comes the interpretation of Jyrki who sounds very expressive with every single word he utters while singing or whispering in the way only he knows how to perform. Emotional and intense at times, imposing and vivid at others, he is the voice of The 69 Eyes, the person who makes their sound so brilliant and gives voice to the either poetic or "party mood" based lyrics that are a strong part of the quintessence of The 69 Eyes.

The whole album flows definitely as one and in a fabulous way with fabulous and inspired compositions like the goth n' roll and groovy hymns "Devils", "Lost Boys" and "Hevioso", the emotional and inspired "Feel Berlin", "Sister Of Charity", "Jimmy", "Christina Death" and "Only You Can Save Me", the Doors oriented "August Moon" and the rolling and at the same time emotional "Nothing On You" and "Beneath The Blue".

The 69 Eyes proved that with "Devils" they know how to rock n' roll the gothic way, taking their sound steps forward and at the same time releasing a very mature album for the genre, one of the best offers of the gothic rock scene for 2004.