DeeVer: You Need This

Much has been made of Wil ‘Billy’ Taylor’s time with young (and way over hyped) rockers Inglorious, but with the guitarist moving on to form his own band - an outfit in which he says he’s now having a ‘great time’ - the connections pretty much begin and end there. And is it possible that the unusual band name, DeeVer, is a hidden reference to band leaders of old?

Teaming up with some of his mates - Dan Higgins (drums), Phil Appleton (Bass) and Stevie Stoker (guitar) - Taylor’s opening salvo, “Fire At Will� combines the bombast of Muse with something much more modern in terms of the rock scene. In many ways it feels like when Heaven’s Basement morphed from being a classic rock act into Kerrang! wannabes, or the misguided step Black Wolf took when they became illustr8ors. DeeVer however aren’t just scene chasing, in fact, it’s difficult to know where they’re truly aiming their ammunition.

You could imagine Manic Street Preachers jamming with Virginmarys and coming up with something like “All Come Running�, the angsty attitude manifesting in spat lyrics and thick hammer smashes of guitars. While “Alright� plays it a little more down the line with a chorus that sticks in the mind through a strafe of guitars that hits its target each and every time. From there the likes of “Back Down� shows that Taylor can still mine the classic rock sound to good effect, whereas “Only Enemy� seems happier looking to a Metallica like riff for a base before sprouting into something a little more punk inspired for its chorus - the shout along proving pretty irresistible. A few moments are a little more throwaway, “Jim� almost veering into heavy indie rock as it struggles to really find where it’s headed. Although when the aggression is ramped up, as it is on “I Am The Cavalry�, DeeVer are much more convincing.

There are some seriously jaw dropping flashes on You Need This, but all too often they are allowed to slip away into an approach that feels like it’s trying to hit certain cues and, almost, tick a few boxes along the way. It is, however, early days and if DeeVer can truly harness the fire that’s clearly within they might go on to be major players. As it is, it could go either way.

Track Listing
1. Fire At Will
2. All Come Running
3. Alright
4. Back Down
5. Waves
6. Parachute
7. Only Enemy
8. We Are
9. Jim
10. I Am The Cavalry

Added: February 4th 2019
Reviewer: Steven Reid
Score:
Related Link: DeeVer online
Hits: 914
Language: english

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