Late last year, Manuel Gagneux released Devil Is Fine, his debut album as Zeal & Ardor. Though the project was originally conceived as a solo endeavor, its live setup necessitated a metamorphosis. Accordingly, when it came time to plot tours and live sessions, Gagneux assembled a six-person band to deliver the total sonic chaos of his vision.
Zeal & Ardor's tempestuous chemistry is on full display in the group's new live video for "Blood In The River", the standout Devil Is Fine track that Gagneux says is "partially about the Stono Rebellion, and partially about self-liberation from religion". Filmed at Off the Road Studios in Leipzig, Germany, Zeal & Ardor's performance jacks up the studio version's latent fury, transforming an already imposing barnstormer into a Category 5 hurricane. Watch it below (the performance begins at the 1:35 mark).
Gagneux and company's European tour behind Devil Is Fine continues today with a stop-off in Luxembourg. In August, they'll head for a handful of North American shows. Speaking with Revolver about what to expect from the sets, the frontman revealed that the group have prepared nine new songs, including material that, in his view, is "kinda better" than Devil Is Fine's offerings. "I couldn't stand behind a 25-minute set or playing some half-ass covers," he said. "The only fair thing is to deliver something that we feel is good."
Jun. 20 – Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg – Rockhal
Jul. 15 – Anyksciai, Lithuania – Devilstone Festival
Jul. 21 – Katowice, Poland – Metal Hammer Festival
Jul. 28 – Neuensee Bei Lichtenfels, Germany – Rock Im Wald
Aug. 10 – Avenches, Switzerland – Rock Oz'arènes
Aug. 13 – Ieper, Belgium – Ieperfest
Aug. 17 – Winterthur, Switzerland – Musikfestwochen
Aug. 19 – Los Angeles, CA – The Hi Hat
Aug. 20 – Las Vegas, NV – Psycho Las Vegas
Aug. 22 – Chicago, IL – The Beat Kitchen
Aug. 23 – Brooklyn, NY – Saint Vitus
Aug. 26 – Reading, UK – Reading Festival
Aug. 27 – Leeds, UK – Leeds Festival
Sep. 20-23 – Hamburg, Germany – Reeperbahn Festival
Oct. 28 – Munich, Germany – Manic Street Parade
Nov. 11 – Utrecht, Netherlands – Le Guess Who Festival
