Devil's Review: Devildriver 'Beast'

As I'm writing this I finally got my advance copy of Devildriver's upcoming new release 'Beast' a whole four days before release. And by now there has been six released singles for this project. So if you've been keeping tabs you pretty much have heard half of the record by now. Let's dive into this after the jump.

'Beast' is the 5th full length album released by the band from Santa Barbara featuring vocalist Dez Fafara previously of Coal Chamber. It's been 8 years since the release of the self titled debut and from what I can hear there has been little progression. In areas there has been some regression actually. Musically Devildriver is still furious and brutal as always with the twin guitars of Jeff Kendrick and Mike Spreitzer. There are distinct riffs and clean solos on each track. Jon Miller and John Boecklin provide a punishing rhythm section with double bass drums that kick your ass constantly and the bass tone is prominent in each song.

Then comes the weak link in this band after all of these years. While the music is thrashy and riff laden and punishing, Dez Fafara spends almost every track screaming his head off with lyrics like "I don't know you but I fucking hate you". I don't have a problem with harsh vocals especially growls on a lower register but if you are going to scream your lyrics on each and every track you are a metalcore act. If Devildriver's goal was to be the heaviest metalcore act then they succeeded. The only progression I see on 'Beast' is that Dez screams more and more with each release. We get it. You're tough guys and this band is solely here to be metal as fuck. To the point where you lose identity and become boring and at times just unlistenable.

And that's perfectly fine if the target audience are people that don't care about deep lyrics and just want to bang their heads and hardcore mosh to a brocore soundtrack. 'Beast' delivers on that. If this had just been an instrumental album it would be great. There are plenty of changes and catchy riffs and solos to go around. What kills it is Dez Fafara. Dude, you can be metal as fuck and still be melodic with range. We get it, you're metal. You don't have to try and one up yourself on every release to the point where your larynx is going to splatter on the wall.

If I had to pick any standout tracks I guess it would be 'Dead to Rights' and 'Black Soul Choir'. At least something different was attempted and somewhat memorable. If you're already tired of Devildriver then this release will not change your mind. If you're a bro that wants to split some skulls then you will continue to be pleased by 'Beast'. I just want more then one trick from this pony after all this time.
My score: 5 sins out of 10

Here again is the 'Dead to Rights' video to get a sample of what's on this record due out on February 22nd via Roadrunner Records.

Devildriver Releases Dead to Rights video

I'm really starting to get tired of talking about this album. I should be reviewing it next week and then that will be that. For those of you 'fiending' for information though here is the new video for the song 'Dead to Rights' off of Beast due out on February 22nd. It's actually a pretty cool video in terms of visualization. I actually like the video better then the song. Check it out.

Devildriver Releases New Single 'ColdBlooded'

Don't bother trying to stream it on roadrunner's site. Apparently the bandwidth there sucks to the point where it's buffering like crazy. Thankfully there is Youtube. So here is the new song 'Cold Blooded'.



I have to say that when this album does come out February 22nd based on the two songs I've heard that this is going to get a pretty average rating from me. It's a Devildriver song. Tell me why I'm right or wrong in the comments.

Devil Music A-Z: Devildriver

I'll try to keep this one simple. I like Devildriver well enough. It's a mix of hardcore and thrash and about as close to hardcore as I want to get. I think I liked the first two albums the best because I did like Coal Chambers stuff and Dez's vocals were cool back then. Looks like I'm not going to make the show in Oakland on the 20th like I hoped but I look forward to doing a review on the new album 'Beast' that drops on on February 22nd. So far the year has been good on album reviews and I'm hoping this won't be a disappointment.

Yes I know I just did one of these but I'm only on the D's and I have been at this off and on for awhile. Kind of want to get this done and do a followup appendix. In the meantime enjoy my favorite track from Devildriver. It's called Guilty as Sin and can be found on their EP Head on to Heartache and as a bonus track on the special edition of The Fury of Our Maker's Hand. Enjoy.

Devildriver Wants You to Download A Song

Yesterday was kind of funny on the Facebook front. People are fucking stupid. So Devildriver is releasing the 1st song 'Dead to Rights' off of the new album Beast and it was announced that today was the day. So Metal Hammer has already released the song as part of a compilation cd with a purchase of an issue of the magazine. Guess what people do? They post links on the Devildriver page saying " I already have it and here's the link". Derp. This understandably pisses off the band and they state to not post links to the single on the page otherwise actions will be taken. The response is to point out that Metal Hammer already released it and why so mad? It's called damage control, dumbshits. Devildriver knew that it was being released but they didn't want a bunch of people downloading it early before they said it was ok.

Anyways it's official. The single can be downloaded at this location. Expect the site to have delays and timeout since it was just released 45 minutes ago(at the time of this writing). When you download it and listen come back here and tell me what you think of it.

ESP Guitars unveil some monster Axe's for this years NAMM!

Not many of you may know this I'm a Guitar buff.. A fairly NEW guitar buff, but a fan nonetheless. Many people swear by Zakk Wylde's "Bullseye" Gibson Les Paul or Kerry King's Signature BC Rich Guitars, but for me.. I'm an ESP man... Look at their list of musicians. Thomas Youngblood of Kamelot plays ESP. Hetfield and Hammett play ESP. My girls of Aroarah plays ESP. What's not to love?



So I happened to see that ESP had let the cat out of the bag for some of the 2011 models they'll be unveiling this year at NAMM (National Association of Music Merchants). Anyways, as I was saying, here's a few new signature models from some bad-ass axe-men this year. No wait! Go grab a bib before you get too far down the post!

For those of you who may not know, there are usually 2 or more types of signature guitars per model. The "Signature" which is the most expensive one because it's basically the closest to the actual one played by said guitarist and then there's the "LTD" model which is as close to the signature model as you're going to get.. Still expensive but nowhere near as much. Ok, drool away.



James Hetfield Signature Series ESP and LTD Snakebyte





Kirk Hammett Signature Series ESP KH-2 SE and LTD KH-SE





DevilDriver Signature Series: Jeff Kendrick LTD JK-1 and Mike Spreitzer MS-1.





LTD SLAYER-2011





And though this model came out a few years ago, this is MY dream Guitar, Firewind and Ozzy Osbourne Guitar God, Gus G's Signature ESP LTD 600-EC.



Here's the website for NAMM 2011. Good luck getting to go, it's REALLY hard to get tickets.


If you want more information on ESP, click HERE! And you DO want more information on ESP! They're amazing. I have my EC-50, which is my pride and joy.







Please visit and spread the word about these Links:


Songs of the Goddess - For and about all things Pagan music.
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That Devil Music - For the best in Hard Rock and Metal.


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I don't know what to make of Devildriver's new artwork

Devildriver released the artwork today for the new album Beast due out in February 22nd. I can't tell if it's a homage to the Joker due to the purples and greens. I'm also wondering where the hell the owl is. The album title is already generic but I'm struggling with whether the artwork is. So what do you all think of it?

Anticipated Releases to kick next year off

Sirenia's new album the enigma of Life is due out January 21,2011. Here is the tracklist.
01. The End Of It All
02. Fallen Angel
03. All My Dreams
04. This Darkness
05. The Twilight In Your Eyes
06. Winter Land
07. A Seaside Serenade
08. Darkened Days To Come
09. Coming Down
10. This Lonely Lake
11. Fading Star
12. The Enigma Of Life
13. Oscura Realidad (bonus track)
14. The Enigma Of Life (acoustic version; bonus track)

I'm mostly over the gothic symphonic bands but Morten Vederland still puts together some solid compositions that I've yet to get tired of. Hopefully the current singer sticks around longer then the previous girls have.



Also on tap is the new Devildriver cd "Beast" which is due on Febuarary 22,2011. Each album has been a decrease in my enjoyment factor since Last Kind words but hopefully I'll enjoy this one. I'm also still working on a Mike Spreitzer interview so we'll see how that goes.