Dunedin hard rock outfit Saurian brings us their latest single Devil Among Men. And again they bring a titanic sound that one knows would ruin your hair-do if you were too close to the subs when they kicked into it.

A song about knowing who to trust in these times when what seems fair may be foul (sorry mister Tolkien‘s estate, please don’t sue me for I am but a pauper), and placing one’s trust in the wrong people. The guys have cleverly incorporated AI into this release, for the single art and the promo vid on the You Tubes, as part of the statement, in that there’s so much of it prevalent today that we really need to be wary as to what’s real and what ain’t.

I’m real. Although in certain circumstances in my chequered life I have been described as unreal – generally with an R18 adjective to reinforce the point being made. I’m real, and this song is led by a beefy guitar solo that I think Tony Iommi would invoke the green eyed monster over. So suitable for the Sabbath doom-metal family, but this is heavy yet not muddy. It’s crisp and 2024. Really, really heavy still though.

The vocal takes the song down a different route for me. For term of reference think of how Cornell would come over if he were in Offspring. We have a grungy, post-punk vocal, very gritty and threatening. The vocal brings the song from that previously alluded-to doom metal thing, into the dystopian days we find ourselves in and compelled to make our music about. The mix is rich and fat, drums sound full and total synchronicity with the deep, dark bass. Textbook sixer, all the way to the boundary.

I’ll not give much away about the vid, just that it’s designed to augment the message rather than provide a storyline to follow. You’ll be able to see it on release day, which is Friday 15th March. It’s clearly one that would work in any form of live show the band gets booked at. Big or small. That’s a good trick to master, by the way.

This is a band that would go down so well in Europe. Spain, Portugal, then off to Germany, Poland, the three Baltic states and Finland. Very much their scene. This should be a staple here on the Rock, and anyone else’s heavy rock/metal show. It’s very well balanced between raw and polished in the way it’s been produced. The musicianship is on fire as ever. It’s got a sneer and a snarl, and the vocal delivers a great melody. It’s clenched fist in the air and join in time for an audience when they hear it.

Again: Friday 15th March is release date for Saurian‘s new single Devil Among Men. Not for your gran.