DEVILDRIVER is one of the most infamous American heavy metal bands and has been bringing out chunky melodic classics since the early 2000s.
While it’s clear that the band have a natural song-writing ability, it’s their lack of personality and identity which has left them as a mid-card festival band which is a shame as they have a lot to offer musically. They also have an impressive career that spans two decades and albums which are critically acclaimed by notable media outlets.
Their new album, Dealing with Demons Vol. II is a solid heavy metal album and has all the musical hallmarks one might expect from DEVILDRIVER. From vicious blast beats and catchy melodies, there’s a lot to like here if you need a bit of melody in your metal.
Before we get into deeper cuts let’s take a look at the album’s singles, which are enjoyable but don’t stray far off the beaten path.
If Blood is Life is one of the grizzlier, melancholy offerings and is a glimpse into the excellent production. To keep the same level of brutality as the album’s counterpart, it’s been produced by Steve Evetts, whose responsible for moulding the sound of iconic metal bands like SEPULTURA and THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN.
The other two singles, Through the Depths, and This Relationship, Broken, also offer a similar sound with Through the Depths being a more brutal track that has sprinkles of death metal influences throughout but the brutality is balanced by groovy riffs.
The album’s opener, I Have No Pity starts the album off on a strong point with an addictive riff that leverages finger-picking techniques to add more depth to the melody.
Other highlights of DEVILDRIVER’s tenth studio album include Nothing Lasts Forever, Summoning, and Through the Depths. Nothing Lasts Forever is a particular favourite with one of the most memorable hooks that are threaded throughout the chorus and verses.
As well as clear death metal influences the band also delves into the dark depths of black metal which is particularly apparent with Blood Bath.
As usual, one of the most enjoyable aspects of the album as a whole is the vocals provided by Dez Fafara. Standout performances can be found in Summoning, which will be a firm favourite of melodic death metal fans, It’s a Hard Truth, and the album’s singles. Throughout these tracks, Fafara continues to show his ability to mix melodic vocals with venomous growls.
Ultimately, given that this is the band’s tenth full-length album, Dealing with Demons Vol. II proves that DEVILDRIVER still has a lot of gas left in the tank and can provide an album with strong, well-written tracks of consistent quality.
That said, I have always had a love-hate relationship with DEVILDRIVER because while I always enjoy their music, I wish there could be something more than the band offers. After all, musically it is no different to any other album they’ve produced.
Their signature melodic-groove sound is also highly reminiscent of other American heavy metal bands like AS I LAY DYING and KILLSWITCH ENGAGE.
For a band that’s so talented, if they want to be more than just a mid-card festival band, they need to divert from their typical style and try something new. The fact that their latest offering is the second part of a double album only solidifies my point. However, it’s still a solid album that’s worth listening to if you’re already a fan of DEVILDRIVER and or/need more groove metal in your life.
Words: Megan Taylor
Rating: 7/10
Dealing with Demons Vol. II is out now.
Find DEVILDRIVER on Facebook.
