Released: 24/02/17
Devil Is Fine (2017) is the groundbreaking debut from Zeal & Ardor, the brainchild of Manuel Gagneux. Fusing African-American spirituals and blues with black metal, industrial, and experimental elements, the album presents a bold, unsettling vision unlike anything else in heavy music. Tracks like the title song “Devil Is Fine” and “Blood in the River” contrast haunting, chain-gang-style chants with abrasive, distorted aggression. At just over 20 minutes, the album is brief but impactful, introducing a provocative concept that imagines an alternate history where enslaved people rebel through satanic worship.