The Thousandfold Epicentre

A move to Metal Blade Records initially drew concern from ardent disciples of what was once the best-kept secret of Eindhoven, the Netherlands. Would money and resources thin the complex sound of occult rockers The Devil’s Blood? But no; the band's sophomore album is an improved and enhanced progression. The introductory piece “Unending Singularity” sets an eerie and foreboding mood, with stark piano movements creating an unsettling sound inspired by John Carpenter's 1978 theme song for the horror film Halloween. This is followed by “On the Wings of Gloria,” a psychedelic slice of proto-metal that blends sonic accouterments of late-'60s garage rock with the dark and fetching melodies of Blue Öyster Cult. Throughout The Thousandfold Epicenter, frontwoman Farida Lemouchi balances her soulful singing with cool restraint, at times recalling the bewitching charisma of Coven’s Jinx Dawson—especially in the vintage-toned “Fire Burning,” which rocks like an outtake from 1969’s Witchcraft Destroys Minds & Reaps Souls. “Feverdance” closes; it's a pagan-themed acid-rock epic spanning more than 15 minutes.