Devildriver
Strike And Kill
Napalm Records
For well over two decades now Devildriver have been hitting it hard with their groove driven brand of metal. Their music may be brutal but it’s always had the melodies to give it big grin head banging appeal. ‘Strike And Kill’ retains all the qualities that have made the band so consistently popular but offers more too. In a way the record comes full circle in how it vibes with those early albums, but this is just that bit better written, it’s more rounded and has more depth. Of course you’d expect an act with this level of experience to progress but this is more than that. ‘Summoning Shadows’ deserves a mention here as a deliciously dark slow burner. What Dez Fafara and co have done is taken the elements that set the band apart and have concentrated them. The rhythms just slap so hard, the groove is so infectious and those vocals are pure metal heaven. Fafara’s voice is naturally memorable in tone and delivery, here it is just ridiculously on point. Every song here will be a full on crowd pleaser out where it matters – live. If you’re a fan of heavy music this is an essential listen.
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Review by Gary Trueman