Ok, id like to start off by syaing this is THE album I have been looking forward to in 2007. Ever since I heard ''I could care less'' I've been hooked.
Devildriver, in my opinion, stand out from the crowd when it comes to metal bands these days. They dont try to be like Metallica, Pantera, Iron Maiden or whoever, they want to be Devildriver. As most of you know, Dez Fafara, the vocalist for the band was originally in the band Coal Chamber. The change from Coal Chamber to Devildriver was the best thing he could do. Although I enjoyed Coal Chambers music, Devildriver are so much more better.
The album follow 'The Fury Of Our Makers Hand' and the self titled album. So far the band has yet to disappoint me. The previous two albums took less time for me to get into, although the new album didnt take very long at the same time. One of the things I enjoy about the new album is the presence of more guitar solos. My favourite tracks on the album are Head On To Heartache, Burning Sermon and Clouds Over California.
1. Not All Who Wander Are Lost
This is a good album opener. It has some pretty intense drumming during the beginning that flows through the whole song. Its a typical faced paced song with some brutal vocal work by Dez. There isnt anything in the song that makes it stand out, just a typical DD song. 3.5/5
2. Clouds over California
As I said earlier, this is one of my favourite tracks. The intro of the song isnt as fast as the previous track although it picks up its speed pretty sharpish. The thing i love about this song is its got that real head banging feeling that is more intense that in other DD songs. 5/5
3. Bound by the Moon
This song is maybe one of my more least favourite songs on the album. There isnt a certain reason why, if I had to say why it would probably be just because there isnt anything special about the song. There are some nice harmonized lead parts in the song but they dont last for very long. The solo in the song is pretty impressive however. 3/5
4. Horn of Betrayel
I like this song the more I listen to it. It had some pretty melodic intro with some harmonized guitar before blasting into the verse with Dez asking ''What the *** do you want from me?''. I really enjoy the breakdown in the song, its a song I can imagine creating a rather impressive mosh pit. 4/5
5. These Fighting Words
Like Cloud Over California, this song contains a slower and quieter intro but still builds pretty quick. The song towards the breakdown has song some calm acoustic/clean playing which for most DD fans will know, is a rare thing to hear. The clean guitar leads the listener to yet another impressive solo. The song closes with the clean/acoustic guitar. 3/5
6. Head on to Heartache (Let Them Rot)
Without a doubt this is my favourite song on the album. To put it cruedly its just ***ing intense. It starts off with some fast bends and releases and goes into a real head banging verse riff. This verse riff then picks up the pace for a while for the riff to expand a little. The chorus consist of the real head banging variation of the riff with Dez singing ''Head on to heart ache, beware of the promises made, head on to heartache, steadfast to an early grave let them rot''. Again, this song has yet another nice break down with Dez saying 'Let them ***ing rot'' leading into a solo. Song finishes with Dez'voice getting further and further away saying 'Let them rot'' 5/5
7. Burning Sermon
As I said at the beginning of the review, this is one of my favourite songs on the album. When I listen to this song, for some reason it really reminds me or ''I dreamed i died'' from the first album. It has one of those chorus' that makes yuo really want to sing along to ''this burning heart, is a burning sermon''. Yet another typical DD breakdown starting with Dez screaming 'This ***ing betrayal''. 4.5/5
8. Monsters of the Deep
A very chuggy intro this song. It was it for 40 seconds of the song. This song; like Bound By The Moon, is one of my more least favourite songs taken from the album, for the same reasons. Nothing really stands out in the song especially.
9. Tirades of Truth
This is the second longest song on the album, clocking 5:11. It has several riffs and has plenty of impressive guitar work. I can see this song being a great song live. Although the song is a good song, I do feel it get a little repetative towards the end. 3/5
10. When Summoned
The intro for this song has the DD brutal guitar and drumming work. Unfortunately, like the ending othe previous song, I loose intterest more in the songs towards the end of the album. Possibly after a few more listens it will grab my attention more but they dont for me personally after a few listens. 2.5/5
11. The Axe Shall Fall
Ok, take back the thing I said in the last songs review about loosing interest towards the end of the album, my attention is now back fully. This is a brutal song. Dez'vocals are so intense in this song, they sound much more heavy in this song than they do in the other ones, not to say the other songs vocals sound sloppy. I think this song is a great closer for the album. The guitar break brings the mood down with some simple drumming and clean guitar and some strange keyboards that sound almost jazzy that fades out to close the song.
Pros
More guitar solos
The drumming seems to get better and better every album
It lived up to my expectations.
Cons
A few songs that seem ever so slightly like album fillers.
The structure of the songs gets repetative ''intro - verse - chorus - verse - breakdown - chorus - end'' Although to back this up, this can be said for a lot of bands these days.
