There’s a definite Stooges influence on Jesus and the Devil. They’re a band steeped in 70s and 80s rock, influenced by Iggy, Gang of Four and The Velvet Underground. As a result, there’s a punk undertone that isn’t tacky (Sex Pistols) or non-existent (pretty much any band from the 21st Century). This 13-track album flicks between moments of greatness and others which tend to drone on a bit, but the end result is still a decent album. Chris Oakes’ vocals switch from a lazy drawl to a snarl, even Cobain-esque during the “you’re so fucking beautiful” refrain during ‘Beautiful’.
Coming from a Chicago scene that’s spawned bands like Smoking Popes, Alkaline Trio and a whole host of modern day pop-punk bands, JatD can quite rightly hold their own. ‘Punk Rock Song’ and ‘Hostage’ are nice blasts of rock and roll, and while the band don’t write choruses for the sake of it, there are more than enough catchy moments to keep people interested who wouldn’t usually listen to this type of music. Not one to change the world, but a pretty good release nonetheless.