Every great trilogy deserves a great ending. Metallica had Master of Puppets, Slipknot had Vol 3: The Subliminal Verses and Nirvana had In Utero. With more than a year under their belt as a duo, The Virginmarys round out their trilogy of singles (preceded by “The Meds” and “You’re a Killer”) for the year which will form the foundations of an EP with “The Devil Keeps Coming”. Bringing groove, fire and fury in equal measure, Ally Dickaty and Danny Dolan continue their career-long intention of bucking trends not by saving the best for last but by showing each of these singles could have been released in any order and they’d all stand shoulder to shoulder with each other.
Indeed, this third single as a two-piece shows yet another flavour of the new material they’ve been working on (which is just the tip of the iceberg as their touring efforts of the last year have indicated). Whilst the lyrics may skew more introspectively than its predecessors; sonically, it’s a song which would be right at home on King of Conflict with its groove-laden shuffling riff or Divides with its massive production. Yet it sounds exactly how The Virginmarys should in 2022 – a subtle nod to the past whilst valiantly pushing forward. Simply put, it’s timeless.
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As close to traditional rock as they’ve ever dared, it still has their inimitable edge to match the two songs which came before. Ally’s guitar work sounds grittier than it has in a long time as his trademark taut yet eloquent lyrics hang on the riff, the darker blues-tinged licks keeping the song grounded. Whilst he’s never been shy of the odd scream or six injected into his vocals, Ally pitches himself higher than his usual throaty growl at points, panic punctuating the defiance in his delivery. But fear not, those familiar roars feature aplenty too.
Meanwhile, Danny’s drumming is perhaps the most restrained its ever been. His signature style of blasting his drums with the speed of an assault rifle has dropped several gears into a subtle groove Charlie Watts would have been proud of. Continuously making the most of his standard stripped-back kit, the production serves his playing style well as you can still picture him smashing the kit with every bit of energy. Whereas in the chorus and the crescendo as it ramps up, it allows the furiosity he’s known for to make a brief appearance. However, the less is more approach found here shows the versatility Danny has as a drummer and his work can be just as powerful and mesmerising at a brisk walk as it can be at a sprint.
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In “The Devil Keeps Coming”, The Virginmarys have thrown us yet another curveball. But one that’s as enjoyable as every other they’ve thrown our way. With the sharp lyrics and breakneck pace traded in for a sobering breather alongside their best production work to date, it’s another worthy addition to their arsenal.
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Another smashing review Ross.