Devotions (Nova Scotia) - S/T (Demo 2021)

The debut demo and only release to date from this anonymous Canadian project, one of the several fascinating obscurities offered by the great Abattoir label. On what is probably the rawest and most punishing entry yet from this small but brilliant collective, Devotions present a very decrepit brand of noise rock/industrial rock heavily influenced by post-punk music, once again rather reminiscent of Posh Isolation's early era; I'm especially reminded of Viktor Ottosson's creations in Street Drinkers and Niding from a vocal standpoint, sharing similar utterly dreary quasi-drunken mutterings that sound as if they're being barely enunciated through a mouthful of bile. Three tracks that couldn't sound any more drab and dismal, meant in the best of ways, built on sparse martial drumming which provides a precarious foundation for the guitar whose overdriven tone seems to struggle to retain its shape, collapsing in on itself and mostly just being used to paint a textural backing rather than functioning as a melodic device. Only the middle track turns the distortion and noise down a notch, clearing enough space for the bass to shine through and featuring the sole instance of clean guitar chords in the whole demo, making for a beautiful and relatively calm breather, although no less somber or eerie than the rest. The analeptic pulsation of the bass also propels the last song, which builds and culminates into a piercing, stunningly gut-wrenching wall-of-sound quite close to shoegaze territories, with plaintive vocal chants joining the guitar's fervent tremolo whirlwind in a turbulent and very elevating finale. Cold and bitter like the blood-stained earth, this is some terrific auditory bleakness that will utterly crush one's spirit and leave it to languish in an open mass grave, victim to the uncaring elements. Released December 3, 2021 by Abattoir. Recorded Fall 2020. ■ Available on Bandcamp: https://abattoir-label.bandcamp.com/album/devotions ■ Follow and support the label: ● Bandcamp: https://abattoir-label.bandcamp.com/music ● Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abattoirlabel ■ More information on the release: ● Discogs: N/A ● Last.fm: N/A ● RYM: https://rateyourmusic.com/release/ep/devotions/devotions/ ► TRACKLIST: 1. 0:00 I 2. 4:16 II 3. 6:44 III (Live) I take no credit for the music or artwork. All rights belong to the respective authors.