You see, there are albums, and then there are albums. Some you rattle through a couple of times, then stick away indefinitely. Then there are some that you'll swear are excellent, head-and-shoulders above the rest of the pack in terms of originality or whatever....and then stick them away indefinitely. Months later you'll say "Yeah, I have that one." in a musical discussion, all the while thinking about how long it's been since you've spun that "classic". Well, this album, the latest entry into my personal top-ten picks for 2003 from Chicago's BIBLE OF THE DEVIL will never fall into either of the above categories for moi. This is an album to be played. I've listened to it at least 10x since it hit my mailbox. Yessir, gonna end up like that old cassette copies of "Wiseblood" or "Payin' The Dues", stayed in the car so long the lettering wore off. Even then, didn't bring them in....Wait a minute! Didn't I get rid of that car?

No matter. This is rawk of the highest order. Mark Hoffman's vocals remind me of Curtis Brown from the BAD WIZARD. The production is raw, and 80s-esqe. The guitar harmonies that abound throughout the disc are pure classic MAIDEN and THIN LIZZY, delicately woven over Angus-approved riffs and changes in each and every song. "Kicking Birth" may be the best rock song I have heard this entire year. In fact, I know it is. The song starts off with tribal chanting and moaning, expanding and growing into a guitar intro so massive and orchestral, it sounds like Bob Ezrin producing a MAIDEN intro. When the riffs and harmonies come in, you can't pigeonhole them. This band has a startling sense of melody and originality that is Robbo-based, but not Robbo-bound. I just can't get enough of it. I may need an intervention here.

"Sexual Dry Gulch" is almost as addictive as "Kicking Birth", with a straight-up SUPERSUCKERS street fight kind of vibe "Hit me with the sucker punch!" Hoffman screams. Track 5 starts off with a slew of harmonized hammer-ons in the style of LIZZY's "Massacre" and then proceeds to kick arse DIRTY POWER style over punky tempo changes and lots of guitar duelery (yes, I think "duelery" is a word, so there). Want to hear the perfect combination of Bon-era Icey Dicey and "Fighting" era LIZ? Try on "Thou", a bluesy, crunchy, ballbuster laced with this band's unique and ever-present songwriting prowess. Somebody come and take this CD away, because it isn't fair to all the others I have to review.

- Marchman

OFFICIAL SITE: www.bibleofthedevil.com

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