DEVILDRIVER Pray For Villains (2009)
13 July 2009
Album number four and Devildriver not only haven't worn thin yet, but keep struggling to find place among the biggest metal names of today. And while the first three Devildriver records didn't seem to have enough ammo to hit the target, 'Pray For Villains' easily comes accross as a hard puncher that can easily stand against Lamb Of God. Yes, it's that good, that aggressive and that ambitious. Main character Dez Fafara's connection with nu-metal and more precisely, with Coal Chamber, should no longer be considered relevant, thank you. 'Pray For Villains' is a tight, very well executed record (hats down to ex-Machine Head man Mr. Logan Madder, who prodiced the album) that in my opinion will keep building band's ctedibility among fans.
So, what does it sound like then? Well, it sounds like a brick hitting a human skull. This is a manifest of heaviness, aggro and uncompromising up tempo experience. These 13 songs are like glued to each other and that was done intentionaly in my opinion. Still there are specific changes in the mood, first becoming obvious with the track number 4 'Back With A Vengeance' and then going deeper and deeper with 'I've Been Sober' and 'Waiting For November'. Talking about changes, do not expect powerd ballads of any kind. These guys have obviously dedicated themselves to keep you headbanging all the time. It's just melanchilic touches here and there that help to swallow the immensely overloaded wight of 'Pray For Villains'.
Still I have to admit I have my suspicions about Devildriver's outspoken ambitions of becoming the next Pantera. First, it's too much metalcore to be taken seriously. Second, there's only one distinctive figure in this band. C' mon, nobody cares who else is in the band as long as Dez is there. Nothing bad about it, only it's not Megadeth, you know? Third, heaviness is not everything, especially these days when everybody is trying to be metal again. I'm not saying here that Dez isn't sincere, but Devildriver's music certainly lacks the hooks, the guitar mastery and the guts Pantera once had.
If you did not like these guys, chances that you start dig them are slim. If you did like them before, you will certainly stay with them. Sometimes it's all about taste, you know?
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- 1The Emptiness Machine
LINKIN PARK - 2A Fragile Thing
THE CURE - 3The Piper's Call
DAVID GILMOUR - 4Queen of What Might Have Been
EAGLE POST - 5New Waters
ODD CREW
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