Devils Under Church – Kopfchaos (EP)

Every single track on this EP oozes emotion and honest passion. Revolving around the topic of a maze of feelings we probably all experienced already, the new release of German melodic punk rockers pictures the daily fight within our minds perfectly.

You gotta love the intensity of Devils Under Church. Every band member puts it all out there, and you can hear it. Heck, you can feel it the same way you can hear it. From intense guitar and bass layers to driving drum patterns to unreal straightforward vocals, every aspect of their music brings every ounce of aggression and uncontrollable drive to the table. The opener of the EP indicates that you’re entering unknown and possibly threatening territory. Building tension, the sound creates a dark and driving atmosphere serving as a perfect starting point. “Amoklauf” (“Rampage”) uses a genre-specific base but adds a very signature-styled blend of energetic components. Describing human helplessness once thoughts take a turn in the wrong direction, the track feels restless and partially unsteady, picturing the feeling of this specific state of mind perfectly.

With “Hassliebe”, the guys of Devils Under Church did an awesome job of blending emotion with a unique expressive kind of music. Alternating between rejection and attraction, both the lyrics and the music transmit the confusing vibe when yes or no are blurring into that grey zone we all know too well. The next tune of the album, “Bunt”, is quite a bright exception of the dark intensity. Shifting gears, the tune uses a more melodic approach, feeling a bit brighter while talking about the possibility of changing your life when necessary. Both the lyrics and the backing elements let the listener feel that we’re not alone out there. In a way, the track feels a bit like the counterpart and the beacon of hope, yet within the main “chaos” theme, the track fits perfectly since there’s not only black or white happening in our heads now, is it?

“Kontrollverlust” (“Loss of control”) contains a very intriguing melancholic element transmitted through the calm and steady backing. Harmonized guitars build an atmosphere consisting of sadness and anger, while the lyrics are transmitted as a letter, talking about loneliness, heartbroken desires, and unfulfilled wishes drowned in drugs. For me personally, this tune is my absolute favorite of the EP. This is mainly because of two reasons, one being that every single element transmits the concept of the tune perfectly, and the other being that I really can identify with the track. I am absolutely sure that even without understanding the lyrics, the track will connect to many out there, for we all went through the exact same or at least similar mental state. Closing the EP is “Labyrinth” (“Maze”). You gotta love the driven and almost hectic undertone that creates this restless vibe typical for the whole concept of the EP.

Somewhere in between full confidence and complete helplessness, the EP covers the complete range of feelings within these six tracks. And that’s what fascinates me about the works of Devils Under Church. Their not-so-secret weapon is an intense blend of not only musical but also lyrical elements. Due to this blend, the music has an almost poetic approach which is transmitted in a very up-to-date way, standing as sort of an evolutionary process of meaningful music.