ALBUM REVIEW: Dealing With Demons Vol. II – DevilDriver
Three decades deep, DEVILDRIVER have become one of heavy metal’s most prolific figures. Spearheaded by Dez Fafara, there have been numerous hurdles thrown at them – from a global pandemic and line-up changes to Fafara’s wife’s cancer diagnosis, but through it all, the groove metallers have brought their fury and fire to the fore time and time again.
It’s been three years since we received Vol. I of their Dealing With Demons double header and while it was a fine enough album, it had its issues in trying to take the roads less travelled. Truth is, the DEVILDRIVER we’ve all come to know and love have always been unapologetic in their in-your-face plan of attack that has been labelled as groove metal, but incorporates death metal, black metal, hardcore punk, melodeath and thrash, to name but a few. We’re pleased to say then that for Vol. II, they’ve largely returned to that winning formula.
It doesn’t take long for us to get quintessential DEVILDRIVER by way of Fafara‘s unbridled furious energy. “You’ve come out of bounds get the f*** out of here / I have no pity. I’ll hunt you down with the hounds” he roars in the chorus of opening song I Have No Pity. He cuts an intimidating, almost deranged figure and reminds us quickly why he stakes a claim as one of the great frontmen of 21st century metal.
But DEVILDRIVER is far more than Fafara alone, however many line-up changes they go through (if anyone’s interested, we’re on 13 different band members now). Long-standing guitarist Mike Spreitzer flits effortlessly between playing styles; you want a blistering solo? He’s got you covered. You want a big brutal mass of chugs? You got it. You want a swaggering, stylish hook. Look no further. We are also presented with the first recorded output for rhythm guitarist Alex Lee and drummer Davier Pérez, and the reintroduction of original bassist Jon Miller who rejoins after a decade away from the band. The sum of those parts is an assuredly aggressive animal that absolutely knows who they are. The blackened thrash stomp of Through The Depths borders on arrogance as each member cranks out utter hellfire on their respective instruments.
It would be easy to get bogged down in comparisons between Vol. I and Vol. II – they are after all two branches of the same tree. Where the former felt cautious, as if the sprouts have been clipped and carefully curated, the latter is a gnarled, knotty beast that engulfs all it encounters. Album closer This Relationship, Broken is an amalgam of everything DEVILDRIVER does so well – the brash broad strokes of extreme metal interplaying with melodic injections and a thrash sheen, notwithstanding an arena sized chorus that should have fans in the palm of their hands.
As restless as Dealing With Demons Vol. II is, its 36 minutes breeze by in what feels like only half that time. But at a certain point, it feels as though some songs pass by without consequence. Tracks like Bloodbath simply fail to get their hooks in and Summoning feels like the product of a band that’s been around for three years, not 30.
When DEVILDRIVER released Dealing With Demons Vol. I, we wondered if it warranted a second part. In truth, the answer is probably no; there’s a good chance that they could have just put out an overarching Dealing With Demons and had a stronger record for it. We’re willing to bet though that if they did, it would – or should – mostly consist of songs from Vol. II. Because when it’s good, it’s great.
Rating: 7/10
Dealing With Demons Vol. II is set for release on May 12th via Napalm Records.
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