Ever since their formation in 2024, New York outfit St. Divine have been tearing up the rulebook, earning global underground airplay and building a reputation for unfiltered sonic friction. Their debut full-length offering, ‘The Devil You Know’, released via Reel to Reel Records, effectively crystallises this momentum. It is a record that thrives on a deliberate, endearing roughness, blending the jagged edges of underground garage punk with the sweeping storytelling of dark Americana.
At the core of the project is the compelling creative partnership between Will Croxton and Judy Ann Nock. Together, they trade vocal duties and ideas, crafting an atmosphere that feels reminiscent of the moody dualities found in bands like The Kills or Nick Cave and the Sky. The opening track, 'Spit', sets an uncompromising tone for the record, channelled through a fierce refusal to conform. When they harmonise on lines like "I’ll take the odds, I’ll place my bet," the chemistry feels completely locked in, turning raw existential angst into an anthem of self-reliance.
However, the album is far from a one-note exercise in noise. It finds its true depth when it slows down to explore deeply heavy, personal territory. The title track handles profound trauma with remarkable artistic bravery. Written by Nock about the loss of her husband five years ago, the song addresses the complex weight of survivor's guilt. The chorus delivers a devastating emotional punch as they sing, "Let me, let me lie in the bed I made, …let me lie in an early grave," over a brooding, slow-burning bassline.
Nock's willingness to lean into this darkness gives the record an undeniable gravity. Reflecting on the inspiration behind the track, she explains: "My husband David suffered from the mother of all mental illnesses; schizophrenia, paranoid type. One of his symptoms was aural hallucinations and I wanted to try to understand how that might have felt for him, with many voices firing off all at once."
While the sheer emotional intensity and unvarnished production might feel overwhelming for those preferring polished radio pop, St. Divine counter the sorrow with brilliant melodic instincts. Tracks like 'Wedding Ring' and 'Waltz With Me' transition beautifully from melancholic twang to triumphant crescendos, offering catharsis rather than despair.
As the band aptly note, "This album came straight from authentic New York subculture. It conjures the energy of fast cars and dive bars, heartbreak, with a hint of hope for our tangled times." It is a fierce, brilliant introduction to a band playing by their own rules.
Track their chaotic journey across the digital wilderness by following them today on Instagram, Facebook, and Bandcamp.
