You Must Be Certain of the Devil is an unremittingly dark record (save the over-the-top title track). It is also the most 'song-oriented' of Diamanda's albums. "Double-Barrel Prayer" sparked controversy for its music video, which was banned by MTV and named the most offensive video of the year (1988). Opener "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot" is an insanely virtuosic a capella piece, and closer "The Lord Is My Shepherd" is also a capella, albeit of a much creepier and understated nature. The songs in between are atmospheric and unsettling, with minimal instrumentation to allow Diamanda's voice space to operate. Fantastic.
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