Witnessing the rise of any band from the deepest depths of the ethereal reaches of the underground is a pleasure that will likely never lessen with time. There are tons of names that come to mind whenever any of us think of promising rising acts for any given reason whether the act in question simply does it better than most or a name in question is practically redefining what it means to be heavy. When I first stumbled upon Devil Master almost four years ago right after their fortuitous signing to Relapse, I couldn’t help but feel like there was immense potential. The following album that year is still a massive constant in my listening habits today, and the idea of a follow-up is something that I’ve hotly anticipated since I saw Devil Master perform with Inter Arma three years ago. Finally, this dark act out of Philly has returned to us in splendor that is all but fitting and power that simply cannot be denied.

The unhinged, frenetic nature of Devil Master’s sound has been a massive part of the band’s identity ever since their very beginnings with it absolutely being one of the best aspects with the release of “Satan Spits on Children of Light” in 2019, but I don’t think there has ever been any question to the concept of quartet evolving their sound given their previous album was their only full-length creation until now with only a handful of other releases outside of that. Now, however, it’s with the ten tracks that are brought forth within the violet-tinged realms of intoxication that make up “Ecstasies of Never Ending Night” that we are able to see how Devil Master handles moving their sound forward. There’s still ferocious tenacity to this creation, but it does feel that for the performance as a whole that Devil Master has pulled back just a little bit when it comes to the bestial energy that has been present up to now with it still absolutely playing a part, without doubt, but it’s in that newfound gap in which Devil Master puts more emphasis on the trippier aspects of their sound that come at the absolute most opportune moments such that it not only enhances the surrounding black metal to become something no less than infectious and jaw-dropping, but downright mesmerizing. It quickly allows “Ecstasies of Never Ending Night” to become a much more enticing creation than its predecessors in a far different way as it’s even though the riffs and twisted energy of Devil Master are as potent as ever here, there’s an undeniable lure of the mysterious night woven throughout the performance as a whole here with the end-result a record that’s as macabre, invigorating, and magical in ways that only a band like Devil Master can bring forth.

Nothing was left to chance in the crafting of such a malevolent record that draws forth victims through subtlety rather than outward aggression, and I would fight anyone who would dare insinuate that Devil Master didn’t bring forth that concept in such fashion that is anything less than absolutely exquisite. To fall into the starry bed of “Ecstasies of Never Ending Night” is to surrender your soul to the very will of Devil Master as you become a tool for their conquering of the night, and I cannot help but implore you to simply close your eyes gently and be taken.

“Ecstasies of Never Ending Night” releases on April 29th via Relapse Records!

PRE-ORDER “Ecstasies of Never Ending Night” via multiple sources here.

LISTEN to singles from “Ecstasies of Never Ending Night” on Bandcamp here.

LIKE Devil Master on Facebook here.