Gothabilly by Devilish Presley

As they bounce back from the void this is a compilation that spans their previous catalogue of albums, The Electric Ballroom, The Dark Triad, Flesh Ride, Memphisto, Disgraceland, and Rust Garden, with just one (possibly) new item.

A scalding, yowling ‘Snake In My Fur Cave’ with a stern beat and tingling guitar sets the tone for the artful clomping that follows. A deeper, cantankerous ‘Billy Rattlestick’ is a sinuous, glowering bastard. ‘Flesh Ride’ allows male vocals the lead and the guitar tone settles demurely. They unite on the seething, seedy ‘Levi's Dog’ then opt for a looser, almost poppier lope through ‘Teenage Tupelo’ before hitting a euphoric stomp with ‘In League With Elvis.’

‘Gonna Find What's Shakin'’ is a fairly dopey dawdle, ‘Bone Bad Daddy’ a squigglier scathing caper that doesn’t stop, which is pretty much their general approach, like it’ll take a bullet to stop them. ‘The Beast Must Die’ summons the ghostly ether of the (whisper it) Glitter Band, but with a post-glam bounce and some discreet Antish vocal touches. ‘Saturday Night Satellite’ is a redemptive relationship tribute with cool guitar and a flat out motion sensitive direction, gliding elegantly forward.

‘The Shakers’ is really funny, about having Dylan Thomas as a spirit guide, having done the Ouija when pissed. Careful what you wish for. The lovely ‘Zombie I Love (Acoustic)’ closes the album with a totally different feel, and may be a new version of the old track, which for some reason sounds Bolanesque!

MICK MERCER SEPT 2020

Devilish Presley were formed as a two-piece by Jacqui Vixen and Johnny Navarro in 2002 and were soon adopted by the UK goth scene with the albums Rust Garden (2002) - Disgraceland (2004) and Memphisto (2005) - The Dark Triad (2011) and The Electric Ballroom (2014) The band split up in 2015 but reformed in 2020.