Five guys from Baltimore—vocalist John Allen, guitarist Victor Karrera, guitarist Nick Kay, bassist Anthony Arambula, and drummer Jason Heiser, better known collectively as Charm City Devils—originated in 2007. They were one of the first bands signed onto Nikki Sixx’s former record label, Eleven Seven Music, in 2009, which released the band’s first album, Let’s Rock-N-Roll, which was the first single from that album. After its release, those five guys went on the road, jump-starting their career opening for the likes of Drowning Pool, Godsmack, and the one and only Mötley Crüe on the Cruefest 2 Tour that same summer. Like most bands opening for a big name on a major tour, Charm City Devils faced initially inattentive crowds who were more interested in the headline band, but once they performed, putting out a rocking and lively performance in the amount of time given while winning over new fans.
On that first album, John Allen started by telling the band’s hopeful new listeners, “Let’s Rock & Roll”. Three years later, they released the album Sins. Presently, Charm City Devils is continuing their own brand of rock-n-roll with their third album, to be released on September 23rd, Battles. Battles is produced by multi-Grammy-winning producer Skidd Mills, who has worked with such artists as Saving Abel, Sick Puppies, and Rev Theory, as well as working with Charm City Devils on Sins in 2012.
Two songs on the new album, “Crucify” (track 2) and “God’s Gonna Cut You Down” (track 6), have a very bluesy feel. “Crucify”, starting off with harmonica blowing, gives off a smooth, smoke-filled blues bar vibe. “God’s Gonna Cut You Down”, not only has the raw rock sound that Charm City Devils is so well known for, but also has that fist-pumping energy that makes the listener want to dance. With the album being recorded in Nashville, TN, possibly some of the musical atmosphere rubbed off on the band to help them create these two winning tracks.
The first single that Charm City Devils released from this album is the third track, “Shots”. This one is an incredibly rocking tune, and to a new listener of the band, the song can easily be mistaken as a party, ‘throwing-a-few-drinks-back’ song, but listening to the lyrics deeply and carefully reveals that it really is a song with a strong message. For those who know anyone battling addictions or demons, that is the real truth behind “Shots”. Charm City Devils has a lyric video uploaded on The End Records YouTube page for fans who wants a little insight into the song. More recently, the band released an awesome, live footage, music video for the song on September 3rd as well. The final offering off Battles is “Let it Go” where everything is completely stripped down. A very peaceful track, it is just Allen singing passionately and a light string section, clapping to a beat in the background and very minimal on the drums. It may reminds listeners of “Love Is on the Way”, by Saigon Kick from the 1990’s.
Overall, Battles has more emotion and seriousness to its tunes more than Charm City Devils’ last two releases. Songs from those two albums―like “House Fire”, “10,000 Miles”, “Pour Me”, “Spite”, “Unstoppable”, and “Start it Up”―are really raw and rocking tunes, and are not of the same caliber as Charm City Devils new material. Listeners can really hear the differences between the first two albums and Battles. It is a wonderful album of eleven powerful tracks that should win many new fans for Charm City Devils. Battles captures their battle with the naysayers and the doubters. CrypticRock gives this album 5 out of 5 stars.
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