Buy the music of Anton Ewald here (Amazon UK)
Well this is jolly amazing isn't it? Just in time for Hallowe'en, Anton (Ewald) is back with a stunning new pop single that works perfectly for the spookiest season of all (but also provides gothic-pop majesty any time of year). Devil is a slice of dark, brooding yet electrifying pop so good that by the time the song is over, you will be collapsing in a state of lip-biting satisfaction. Co-written by Anton himself (with Simon Johansson), the song tells a tale as old of time - that of forbidden love that is made all the more exciting and tantalising by the dangerous nature of pursuing it. Anton sings of "the night he slept with teacher" in the opening lines, and instantly there is a frisson of dark and alluring fantasy fulfilled in his seductive vocal performance. The music perfectly accompanies the beguiling vibe he is offering - the verses swirl with ominous beats, ebbing and flowing to match the pulsing nature of the lyrics - that hesitation, followed by emboldened steps forward that surely we all relate/admit to/crave in the most secret, desirous recesses of our minds. The fading of the music in the moments before the chorus works exceptionally well - it not only acts as a metaphor for your inhibitions being stripped away, but also serves to accentuate Anton's powerful singing as well (the lad has some great pop pipes that are deliciously expressive - he's not just singing the song; he's performing every living second of it). This all adds to the exquisite anticipation of the chorus - which drops with such huge propensity that it sends shivers down your spine. Shades of Hall and Oates' Maneater abound with a glorious "whoa" backing vocal that seamlessly blends with the ferocious beats and deliriously intoxicating synth riffs. The refrain is more compelling than a deal with the titular character but just as eternal in the way it gets under your skin and into your brain. Add to this a positively salacious video that will have you a) blushing and b) taking copious notes, and Anton has delivered something sinfully good. Cannot wait to hear more from the fella...