INTERVIEW: Devilskin speak out about their independent roots, success and a family affaIr....

AFTER a UK set of appearances over the past few months Devilskin managed to make it to Belfast ahead of their Download appearance.

And, on stage they delivered a set that had the audience enthralled from start to finish.

But before they walked on to the Belfast stage we caught up with the New Zealand crew told us a little bit about how these Antiopean metal crew knocked Ed Sheeran off the top of the NZ charts...and how the band is very much a family affair.

LIVE REVIEW: Airbourne and Devilskin rip it up in full-on party mode

YOU pretty much know what to expect when Airbourne play - a raucous beer-fuelled party with riffs a plenty and massive choruses and fists pumping the air throughout the venue. It's their schtick, but even the hardened touring band can be challenged.

Openers Devilskin travelled all the way from Hamilton, New Zealand for this Limelight1 show on Wednesday, 7th June. There was no sign of jet lag when they took to the stage - and a palpable buzz of excitement.

We all know the score for support bands, with the majority of the audience awaiting the headliners supping the adjacent bar. Definitely not the case for Devilskin.

Combining a hard rocking edge with meticulous metal this was a rock Haka - in your face, a challenge delivered with passion and panache. Jennie may be the focus, her voice and confidence, hitting like a lemon wrapped around a brick.

However, it is the entire band that fizzlers with energy, a unit that draws attention. Tony (Nail) has a guitar growls with menace, while the father/son rhythm section of Paul and Nic lay down a monstrous powerhouse demonstration of metal.

They promise to return soon - they will be afforded a warm welcome.

For Devilskin this was a warm-up for Download, as it was for Airbourne. An opportunity to play in Belfast (and Dublin) to knock the set into shape. Not that Airbourne need much of their set and playing shaping up. They are now almost veterans.

Having been faithful to Belfast since their earliest tours in Europe the four-piece are familiar to the audience. Also, having been here so many times the songs - even the newer ones such as the title track of 'Breakin' Outta Hell', 'Rivalry' and album closer 'It's All for Rock n Roll'.

Of course Joel is a bundle of energy as always, on and off-stage tomfoolery with walkabouts, idiocy with cans etc etc. All very entertaining whether you have seen it before or not. Airbourne understand that live it is a stage show as well as guitar laden rifftastic fun.

All would be for nowt if the music wasn't strong enough. Crowd pleasers such as 'Too Much...', 'No Way But The Hard Way', 'Cheap Wine' and 'Girls In Black' raise the roof, but the encore packs a solid one-two punch in the shape of 'Live It Up' and 'Runnin' Wild'.

A tight, compact set is slightly shorter than some previous shows by the Aussie rockers with a total of 12 songs aired, this was clearly the set they anticipate forming the largest part of their Download show.

It was also the Belfast début of Harri Harrison, after David Rhoads left the band to work in the family business. Harrison looks comfortable on rhythm guitar and moves forward to the mics with Justin in synchronicity for the choruses.

This was, as always an accomplished performance from Airbourne, pleasing the beer-fuelled audience, but it was also a night to experience the latest Antipodean challenge. Did Devilskin blow Airbourne off the stage? Not quite, but damn close.

Review by Jonathan Traynor
Pictures by Darren McVeigh

NEWS: Devilskin plan for new album, video for track Pray and promise UK tour dates

Devilskin release their second album, 'Be Like The River' on 11th November , announce double headline tour with Halestorm, and promise the UK/Europe new tour in 2017.

A new video for the track 'Pray' has been released. Watch it at the bottom of this post

The latest news follows Devilskin's successful UK / European headline tour earlier this year, and their special guest slot announcement to Disturbed at the 11,000 capacity Vector Arena, in Auckland New Zealand, on 18th November.

"We are beyond excited to be releasing our new studio album Be Like The River on November 11th.
The title comes from a lyric of ours 'Be like the river and cut through the stone', the message is about reaching your goals through perseverance and unwavering determination. It has been an incredible journey so far for Devilskin and we feel this album really encapsulates and represents our evolution as a band, as songwriters and as people.”

'Be Like The River' will be available as an 11 track album and 13 track deluxe pack, plus a Gatefold LP vinyl edition.

The album was recorded at Modern World Studios, Tetbury in the United Kingdom after Devilskin’s 2016 UK/ European Tour. After the success of their first album 'We Rise' the band maintained their strong working relationships, continuing the very successful and creative association with Producer Clint Murphy, Murphy producing and mixed the album, and working alongside, Ryan Smith from Sterling Sound New York who mastered both albums.

Barny Bewick from Indium Design created the artwork for the album. Devilskin say “we are incredibly proud of these songs and it was crucial to have the right visuals for the album so we again utilised the talents of Barny to create artwork that is as stunning and evocative as the music on the album.”

Devilskin’s debut album 'We Rise' was released in 2014, going straight to the top of the charts remaining as the Number 1 Album and Number 1 Kiwi Artist Album for three weeks and achieving Gold Sales after only 2 weeks. UK and European shows followed where the band were met with critical acclaim.

Devilskin have established themselves as a household name in their native New Zealand. Formed in Hamilton in 2010 this four piece rock band are bonded by blood. Paul (bass) and Nic (drums) are father and son, Jennie (vocals) is Nics’ Aunt and Pauls’ sister in law, Nail (guitar) is Pauls evil twin.
Following the release of their second album 'Be Like The River', Devilskin are special guests to Disturbed in Auckland, and will then go on to be be joined by Halestorm on an incredible double headline tour of New Zealand and Australia. Exclaiming "We'll be releasing our new album and following it up with a fantastic show, opening up for Disturbed in Auckland, and then start 2017 with a massive gig in Christchurch out doors, next to Canterbury Cathedral, that was damaged in the earthquakes in 2010. We see the New Year in with our friends Halestorm before we head to Australia with them for some shows on the East Coast. We definitely want to get back to the UK and Europe early in the New Year and we are currently locking in dates. Watch this space!"

NEWS: NZ's Devilskin's new single and video

NEW Zealand rockers Devilskin have released their new single ‘Fade’, from the album ‘We Rise’, complete with video (see below). 

Following the empowerment and self-belief of the singles ‘Start A Revolution’ and the introspective ‘Never See The Light’, sonically softer than its predecessors, Fade is just as relevant and just as powerful.

Fade was one of the first songs they wrote together as a band and they believe “its genesis really propelled Devilskin onto bigger and better things.”

Shot on a cold wooded beach out of Auckland, Devilskin wanted the beauty of nature as a backdrop to capture all the elements of the song, “beauty, mystique, power, passion and hurt.”

Fade along with Never See The Light and  Start A Revolution are taken from their debut album We Rise. The album debuted at #1 in New Zealand and became the first album since 2010 by a domestic rock band to achieve Platinum status, while the critics have lauded its UK release.

We Rise, has now been in the NZ Albums chart for 100 weeks while the videos for We Rise, have amassed over in excess of 1.82 million views on YouTube.

The four piece Devilskin hail from Hamilton, New Zealand and comprise of Jennie Skulander on vocals, the red bearded ‘evil twins’ Nail and Paul Martin on guitars and Nic Martin on drums.  

Devilskin are currently mixing their new album and plan to return to the UK and Europe early 2017.