DevilDriver - The Last Kind Words Review
by Mark Hensch
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Every music critic eventually experiences the occasional eating of words; it is that rare moment when a supposedly accepted critical opinion is blown clear out of the water. Such is the case with DevilDriver’s 2007 barnstorming The Last Kind Words. Just like almost every other self-respecting metalhead, I find the idea of a band started by former nu-metal stalwart Dez Fafara (originally of Coal Chamber) to be amongst the most un-metal things in history. Now, having spun this album again and again, I must begrudgingly admit that DevilDriver have evolved into a serious groove metal project no longer worth disregarding without a chance.
The reason for this is that everyone has really stepped up their games. Aforementioned frontman Dez Fafara showcases an earnest and heartfelt performance straight through the album’s entirety; gone are the poor nu-metal raps, replaced with instantly recognizable caustic howls. Twin guitarists Mike Spreitzer and Jeff Kendrick, meanwhile, churn out a crushing blend of layered groove and slicing, catchy melodies. Backed by the low-end punishment of bassist Jon Miller and thundering skinsman John Boecklin, the whole band sounds invigorated and ferocious.
That isn’t to say that The Last Kind Words breaks any new ground; in fact, this is well-trod metal territory. Where DevilDriver lack in originality (grooves and blitzkrieg melodies are hardly new ground by any standard) the band makes up for it with intense passion and fantastic song writing. Virtually every song on The Last Kind Words is wicked yet memorable; the disc is chock full of aggression but gripping too. And, like it or not, few other bands in this style of music can accurately claim that about themselves.
The low end cymbal clash of “Not All Who Wander Are Lost” launches the disc at breakneck speeds, the song soon charging into a modern death metal romper-stomper of blistering speeds. Though erosive grooves are the main feature, poignant and soaring guitar showoffs also make an appearance to massively entertaining effect.
If the above hasn’t deterred any detractors yet, “Clouds Over California” will. This song absolutely rips! Skin-peeling palm-mutes duel with ominous groove hums before an amped-up melody line ushers in a mosh-worthy monster of sound. Anathemic and raw, this is an excellent half-thrash anthem.
“Bound by the Moon” sounds like Black Dahlia Murder worship, but with more speed, technicality, and integrity behind it. Whereas a band like BDM has always seemed a bit half-assed in their At The Gates plagiarism, DevilDriver at least make it sound honestly heartfelt, and on a song like this, it shows.
“Horn of Betrayal” slams its way through careening passages of ethereal melodies and belligerent palm-mutes before blowing everything open with a maelstrom of swaying groove. Even better, “Betrayal” builds seamlessly into an organic catharsis of open-ended rage before plummeting back down into a vicious circle-pit. I hate to admit it, but this makes other acts like As I Lay Dying, Black Dahlia Murder, or Unearth look like they’re resting lazily on their laurels.
“These Fighting Words,” meanwhile, could be the song that rockets DevilDriver square into honest metal legitimacy. A slowly building percussive march backs a devastatingly manic melody, only to be swept away into a rhythm section so pummeling one can’t help but admit respect. All of it is exquisite melodic death metal/groove. From the ripping guitar solos, the epic clean passages, or the brutal beatdowns, this one has something for everyone and definitely references the greats with awe and respect.
“Head On to Heartache (Let Them Rot)” is a mid-paced beatdown of caustic emotions and haymaker riffs over constantly pounding drums. The guitars flow with a natural tendency towards more rock-oriented climes, recalling the likes of Shadows Fall or Himsa perhaps. Even more intriguing is the song’s eventual descent into darkened ambience, the unsettling ending lingering like prolonged mental trauma.
“Burning Sermon,” in contrast to the above, pretty much goes straight for the jugular. Tech chugs unfold in a bone-breaking cacophony of sound; nestled in this tempest are angular chord progressions of the highest order, primitive aggression, and brief but spastic bursts of cutting melody.
“Monsters of the Deep” starts off with a low-end breakdown, the likes of which soon coalesces into deeper, more crushing versions of the same. Though it never really leaves the slower realms of BPM, “Deep” is a slick ode to the slow headbang rife with fiery bursts of catchiness ingrained way down inside the churning guitars.
“Tirades of Truth” weaves together crystalline notes with brooding distortion; from here the song gradually builds its way into a cathartic number that would make Black Dahlia bow their collective heads in shame. There are tons of interesting little nuances to this one, be it the circular ending, the cutting swathes of melody, or the straightforward beatdown riffs.
The lightning-quick “When Summoned” flays listeners with its predatory mix of half-thrash savagery and tough guy theatrics. Wicked guitar sweeps pop like gunfire amidst tidal crests of groove and hangnail riffs which hover above one’s head like the proverbial axe.
This last metaphor is ironic given the title of the ending cut. “The Axe Shall Fall” is just that, a dominating but slow cut through everything to end the album on a fist-pumping high point. Though content to bounce through up-tempo metalcore genre conventions, the song is catchy, technical, and energetic enough where it isn’t even that big of a deal. Personally speaking though, I prefer the band’s speedier moments. The introspective keyboard passage is a nice touch though.
Overall The Last Kind Words is probably not DevilDriver’s definitive breakthrough moment but it is decent enough that reasonable people should be more accepting of them. As stated earlier, this album by no means reinvents the wheel but it makes strong use of accepted heavy metal traditions without sounding too forced or trite. With this in mind, I wouldn’t call myself a fan yet but I’m no longer a hater either. Check this out and see where you fall on the spectrum.DevilDriver’s The Last Kind Words
1. Not All Who Wander Are Lost
2. Clouds Over California
3. Bound by the Moon
4. Horn of Betrayal
5. These Fighting Words
6. Head on to Heartache (Let Them Rot)
7. Burning Sermon
8. Monsters of the Deep
9. Tirades of Truth
10. When Summoned
11. The Axe Shall Fall
CD Info and Links
DevilDriver - The Last Kind Words Rating:8.0
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