Occult Pleasures by The Devil & The Universe

Austrian ritual wave ensemble The Devil & The Universe return with their seventh album Occult Pleasures, released via Swiss Dark Nights.

Blending dark wave, cinematic electronics and occult aesthetics, the band expands their sonic ritual with vocal performances from key figures in the dark alternative scene. This time, the focus on spiritualistic and occult practices is the common thread of the new record.

The album opens with “Primordial Temples”, a ritualistic instrumental piece that evokes the atmosphere of an ancient ceremony. Its droning textures and percussive echoes set the tone for the experience that follows.

Occult Pleasures features an array of compelling guest vocalists from across the dark music spectrum. “Beelzebub Unchained” features Aux Animaux, her spectral vocals gliding through driving beats and burning tension. The title track, “Occult Pleasures”, enlists Alex Svenson of Then Comes Silence, infusing the track with mournful grandeur and melodic intensity. Other highlights include the witchy “Something Wicked” and the sinister and guitar heavy “Hadal Ritual”, both featuring Hungarian dark electronic artist Zsüd on vocals. Video single “Shadow Projection” is featuring Çağla from Ductape where she delivers a strikingly emotional performance sung partly in Turkish.

Joining the ranks of The Devil & The Universe is Ezechiel, the band’s newest member from Prague, whose percussive force on drums and ritual instruments lends primal weight and presence.

Known for their pagan aesthetics and genre-defying fusion of darkwave, industrial, and ceremonial music, Ashley Dayour, David Pfister and Ezechiel continue to evolve both sonically and spiritually.

Sound becomes spell. Rhythm becomes rite. One album. Many voices. Infinite shadows.

Two cards selected from the 78-piece tarot card-set as utilised by the most famous occultist of the 20th century Aleister Crowley, were behind the first step. ”The Devil” and “The Universe” were the cards pulled that would prophesize a name for a musical-magical-transcendental composition and transformation project: THE DEVIL & THE UNIVERSE.

Facebook