DevilDriver

Devildriver – “Devildriver”

The end of Coal Chamber brings the beginning to Devildriver. When I first heard a song by Devildriver I was very young. It was a song on the Freddy Vs. Jason soundtrack. What Roadrunner did was create a little website where you could preview all the songs on that album. “Swinging the Dead” by Devildriver was on that album. At the time all I was used to was Nu-Metal music. I didn't really broaden my horizons into death metal until a few years later. So, I was kind of hoping for something along the lines of Coal Chamber. What I got was completely different. First of all Dez's voice got a hell of a lot deeper and his screaming improved immaculately. Not that clean bullshit from the Coal Chamber era. So, when the CD came out a few months later I eagerly bought it and finally got to listen to the entire album.

Of course, the first song I hear on the album is “Nothing's Wrong”. The very fast guitar work was something I never really heard before. I was so used to the repeated lyrics of bands like Slipknot and Korn, that when I heard this song it kind of took me as surprise. I mean, sure “Swinging the Dead” was heavy but I did not know Dez was going into a, that much heavier, direction. I admit I was very very pleased and I think this album is sort of responsible for getting me into heavier music. The other thing I noticed immediately was the fantastic drumming. Every song on here is just amazing on drums. Mr. Boecklin is one of the main reasons that this album stands out from other nu-metal releases during that so popular beginning of the 2000's. With that being said, this is still a nu-metal release.

The demise of this album is something I don't want to make a gigantic deal of. Yeah it's a nu-metal release and I take it how it is, but I would have really loved to get blown away by some fast solos, to go with that drumming to make that thrash sound complete. It also would have helped if Dez stayed away with the repeated lyrics in a lot of the songs. Some of the songs seem like they have unnecessary lyrics just to fill time. I can't say much for the guitar work. The songs have generic nu-metal riffs that are not going to blow anybody away, but how they incorporated the riffs on the album, make this album fantastic. Also, the album cover artwork is not the greatest. They could have experimented with it to make it a little more interesting.

Devildriver pretty much nailed this release on the head. Sure, it's a nu-metal release, but it's done extremely well. Everything on this album is a vast improvement from what Dez has accomplished before. I highly suggest everyone to purchase Devildriver albums in order, so you get to see how the band progresses over time. This album is just the beginning to Devildriver. They turn into one hell of a ride.

Song Recommendations: “Cry for Me Sky (Eulogy of the Scorned)”, “What Does It Take (To Be a Man)”, “Swinging the Dead”, “Meet the Wretched”.