Brand New - The Devil and God Are Raging Inside Me

Brand New have specialized in pain ever since the pop-punk emo-rage of their 2001 debut release Your Favorite Weapon. But they've outdone themselves on The Devil and God Are Raging Inside Me. If the songs on Weapon were paper cuts, the ones here are gaping chainsaw wounds, full of seismic, howling agony. The moody rumbles of 2003's Deja Entendu were pointing here, but this is something else, with Mogwai-level dynamic range and tracks that careen from introspection to fury and back again. Lyrically, lead singer Jesse Lacey's words remain excruciating and harrowing things, but that's nothing new. It's the music propping them up which gives this effort such depth and punch. "Degausser" starts so innocently, then uses a bridge augmented with a bitter children's chorus straight out of The Wall as a lead in to Lacey's bitter refrain of "I'll never say anything right." Then there's the nearly 8-minute "Limousine (MS Rebridge)," epic, and epically sad, constantly threatening to descend into pure cacophony (and eventually succeeding). Repeated listens will tune your ear to the band's still-intact pop sense (especially on "Not the Sun" and "The Archers Bows Have Broken"), which keeps the record lively and unpredictable, and away from becoming a depressing, head-in-the-oven mope. Brand New went through three years of intense recording sessions to make it happen, but it was worth the effort. --Matthew Cooke Amazon.com

Not much to say

It's one of the greatest albums to come out in the past decade, simply put. August 29, 2008

Brand New's Greatest Album

The Devil and God Are Raging Inside Me is not an ordinary album. The songs do not have hooks like conventional music, and you won't find yourself listening to the same song over and over like you will on pop albums. If you get into this intelligent and mature album, you will be listening to it for a long time. Brand New is really stunning in it's transformation from an emo band into... well, Brand New defies genres. The music is incredibly powerful and is so evocative of the somber tone they aim for. Jesse Lacey essentially uses his voice as an instrument, and the music blends with him rather than being merely a device to get across his hook.

This album is really unlike anything I've ever heard before, and the only band similar to this incredible style is As Tall As Lions, another Long Island band. Although much softer, ATAL has the same sophisticated sound that lacks conventional hooks you'd hear on MTV. If you want to listen to an album that is truly the most unique and original of rock music this decade, buy The Devil and God Are Raging Inside Me. This isn't just a refinement of Brand New's style, this is an evolution, of the band and of the rock genre. May 20, 2008

perfection

you couldnt possibly ask for a better record. i didnt much care for weapon, loved deja entendu, but this album is an absolute classic in all sense of the word. it took me a year and some to even realize they had released a new record, and immediately got it, and i never stop listening to it. sometimes they can be a lil on the depressing side but it doesn't matter this is music the way its supposed to be made; it'll send chills down your spine. February 27, 2008

Addicting

I liked their earlier stuff -and this is a little different- but just as excellent. Found myself listening to it daily, over and over, for weeks. Some songs amazing, all good. February 13, 2008

Amazing Album, Amazing Band.

This is a fantastic album. Granted, I'm an absolute Brand New junkie, but nonetheless. The lyrical quality is fantastic, intriguing, and multi-dimensional. I really love watching Brand New grow from album to album. This album is darker, more intense, and much more developed than anything else. My only advice is this: you may be a bit put off at first listen, i know i was. There are several songs where there is an incredible amount of dissonance. But once you get into the lyrics, it completely fits and is a perfect compliment to the song. I can't rave about Brand New enough. Seriously. I love them. Did i mention that they are fantastic live? But that's a whole different story.

In conclusion: Buy this album, listen to the lyrics, fall in love, see them live. January 29, 2008

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