Emerging from the ashes of Coal Chamber, DevilDriver, a five piece from California has created a strong and vast fan base in little under 4 years. Lead by the familiar figure of Dez Fafara, the band is similar to the likes of Chimaira, God Forbid and Sepultura and has adopted a fast, heavy and experimental guitar sound throughout their previous two albums. Now on album number three, The Last Kind Words leads the way to another year or two of touring but has it songs to entertain the world or is it merely a feeble attempt that doesn't deserve to leave shores of California.

Opener, Not All Who Wander Are Lost has everything to be a single; it's a typical DevilDriver song with the music at 100mph in toe with lengthy screams and although its not overly adventurous, it's a safe three and half minute assault of head thrashing, devildriving metal. Running into Clouds Over California creates what really puts DevilDriver in the frontline, the opening chugging into an almighty climax to… more »

Emerging from the ashes of Coal Chamber, DevilDriver, a five piece from California has created a strong and vast fan base in little under 4 years. Lead by the familiar figure of Dez Fafara, the band is similar to the likes of Chimaira, God Forbid and Sepultura and has adopted a fast, heavy and experimental guitar sound throughout their previous two albums. Now on album number three, The Last Kind Words leads the way to another year or two of touring but has it songs to entertain the world or is it merely a feeble attempt that doesn't deserve to leave shores of California.

Opener, Not All Who Wander Are Lost has everything to be a single; it's a typical DevilDriver song with the music at 100mph in toe with lengthy screams and although its not overly adventurous, it's a safe three and half minute assault of head thrashing, devildriving metal. Running into Clouds Over California creates what really puts DevilDriver in the frontline, the opening chugging into an almighty climax to unleash pure hell with the demonic vocals of Fafara is a perfect example of how DevilDriver have created some of the biggest circle pits ever recorded in the world.

Bound By The Moon isn't overly exciting but the latter part of the song's fantastically structured solo is undeniably impressive and saves the song from insignificance. The fourth track, Horn Of Betrayal has a far more absorbing arrangement with a heavy beating intro to a double kick destruction but the most impressive part comes in the second half of the song with the amazing guitars which just invades your ears with complete complexity and the elegetic, regretful tone that comes in Fafara's vocals at the end of the song. These Fighting Words has an overwhelming sound of surpassing any barriers or obstructions that come in your way which is complemented by Dez's defiant lyrics altogether creating a brilliant blend, making it a highlight of the album.

Head Onto Heartache (Let Them Rot) is an instantly accessible track with guitars playing off another and a lyrical devastation hinting a resolute feeling of being let down throughout. Fafara, almost like a Grimreaper seems to condemn everything wrong in the world in the most direct way and he does just that in Burning Sermon. A possible stab at the church, the song's intro is completely irresistible and altogether sets you up to love the rest of the song. Monsters Of The Deep creates the inevitable madness on the sea through the grinding vocals and gloomy guitars but its distinct shift in previous breakneck songs makes a memorable one.

Tirades Of Truth, one of the longest songs on the album seems to be like a closing track with its dashing guitars approaching an overall conclusion but instead there are 2 more songs to go. Penultimate track, When Summoned, is a quick three-minute blast before the albums close, which doesn't really hit any highs and could be done without. Last track The Axe Shall Fall, has an intro and close that completely makes the song and all the stuff in between is basically holding you back from hearing them, that said its still a very valid track and does finish the album on a high note with a fantastic organ solo to create, in my mind, a sunset over a beach in California.