Released by: Napalm Records
Release Date: August 23rd, 2013
Genre: Melodic Death Metal
Links: http://www.devildriver.com/
Line Up:
Dez Fafara – vocals
Mike Spreitzer – guitar
Jeff Kendrick – guitar
John Boecklin – drums
Tracklist:
01. The Oath
02. Ruthless
03. Desperate Times
04. Winter Kills
05. The Appetite
06. Gutted
07. Curses And Epitaph’s
08. Caring’s Overkill
09. Hunting Refrain
10. Tripping Over Tombstones
11. Sail
12. Shudder (deluxe-digibook bonus track)
13. Back Down To The Grave (deluxe-digibook bonus track)
DevilDriver came into my world around 2007. The album The Last Kind Words had just been released and a friend of mine mentioned it to me. I was hooked instantly. Ironically enough within a matter of a couple of weeks of discovering them I just happened to be at Ozzfest that year (the free one) and lo and behold they were a replacement band on the bill. So far they created the largest circle pit I have ever witnessed in my life, not to mention a lifelong fan. I was never much into Coal Chamber, but there was something about DevilDriver’s music that spoke to me. What appealed to me was that it was super aggressive yet you could understand the words, plus it had a groove to it that is so often missing in aggressive music. I was lucky enough to get to hang out with guitarist Mike Spreitzer and drummer John Boecklin thanks in part to Final Curse guitarist/singer Mike Plowman as Spreitzer produced Final Curse’s last album The Way of the Accursed. I have to say they are two very nice and down to Earth guys.
With their first release with Napalm Records, DevilDriver are releasing their best album to date with Winter Kills- sounding tighter, stronger, and heavy as ever, this album is a masterpiece of heavy metal awesomeness. The band has consistently put out quality music, but has stepped up the game with Winter Kills. Boecklin’s drums supply a staccato blast with hints of tribal drums, Jeff Kendrick and Spreitzer’s guitar work is even more on point than it has ever been, and the pulsating bass supplied by Chris Towning provide the backbone for the angry angst supplied by singer Dez Fafara. While so many bands try to stray away from being labeled metal, DevilDriver have no qualms about it. With tracks like “Ruthless,” “Winter Kills,” “The Appetite,” “Curses and Epitaphs,” and the epic album closer “Sail” are the finest work the guys have ever done. Personally I don’t think there is a bad track on the album.
If you aren’t already a fan of DevilDriver, and are a fan of unabashed, in your face heavy fucking metal, then you can’t go wrong with their newest release Winter Kills. If you already know who I’m talking about, then buy this fucking album and prepare to have your head bashed in and face melted off with a full force metal assault by one of the finest bands out there of this genre.
Written by Chris Martin
Ratings Chris 9/10
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