Kill Devil Hill marks the return of Heaven and Hell / Black Sabbath / Dio drummer Vinnie Appice and sees him teaming up with Pantera / Down bassist Rex Brown in what equates to an incredibly powerful rhythm section. Rounding out the quartet is guitarist Mark Zavon, who has previously toured as a member of Ratt, and newcomer Dewey Bragg on vocals. Bragg proves to be something of a revelation with his voice perfectly suiting the hypnotic grooves and thumping riffs that are very much at the forefront of the Kill Devil Hill sound, underpinned by gut wrenching bass work from Brown and Appice's monstrous drumming.
The explosive "War Machine" ensures a positive start and is a declaration of what Kill Devil Hill are all about; old school metal with a contemporary twist. The doom metal melodrama of "We're All Gonna Die" and "Time & Time Again" could have sat comfortably on The Devil You Know with Zavon unleashing some dynamic solos amidst the maelstrom that is swirling all around him. Some gentle acoustic strumming leads into the soothing ballad "Mysterious Ways", a song that highlights the bands softer side and serves as a brief respite and a chance to catch your breath. This is followed by the hypnotic "Up In Flames", a six minute epic that is a brooding grunge inspired dirge where Bragg and Zavon once again excel. Closing out the album is "Revenge", an angst driven call to arms that finds Appice bashing away wildly across a modern metal anthem.
With question marks around the participation of Bill Ward in the upcoming Sabbath reunion it may well be that Appice gets the opportunity to fill the drum stool once again. And if the call doesn't come then on the strength of this debut album Kill Devil Hill have laid the groundwork for what could prove to be a rewarding new phase of his distinguished career. A great start.
Track Listing
1.War machine 3:09
2. Hangman 3:40
3. Voodoo doll 3:53
4. Gates of hell 4:53
5. Rise From The Shadows 4:03
6. We`re All gonna die 4:26
7. Time & time Again 3:50
8. Old Man 3:06
9. Mysterious Ways 2:25
10. Up In Flames 6:04
11. Revenge 4:54
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