After taking some time off after hitting it hard since their inception in the early 2000’s, DevilDriver return with a brand new album in 2016 with “Trust No None”. Complete with a new lineup, Dez fafara and company have put out one of their most stellar efforts yet.
Santa Barbara California heavy stalwarts DevilDriver have returned with studio album number 7 and right off the blocks where previous albums have left you wanting more, this album delivers on so many uncharted territories on so many new levels. At first listen this album strikes you as a “grower” but persevere, it unfolds itself with every spin. Lead Devil “Dez” has stated in several interviews that vocally he wanted to take his time with the writing process even to go as far as to have a vocal booth installed in his house and the pay off has been HUGE with every line striking with total surgical stealth.
His lyrical content seems to be centered around so many topics but the stand out theme is the loss of important relationships and betrayal. That’s just my take on it, you may take away something entirely different. “Above It All” is a prime example of vented pent up anger and venom as you’ve come to expect in previous outings and the guitar work and tone is second to none, “Feeling Ungodly” opens with a screaming solo that draws you in and holds your attention. New member Austin D’ Amond deserves a special mention here replacing long term tub thumper John Boecklin, they were some seriously large shoes to fill and Austin has made a seemingly stellar entry into the band.
Now it has been stated in these very pages in a recent interview with Dez that he can’t draw comparisons to previous albums. I slightly disagree with this as to my ears, excluding the 2003 debut album, I hear elements of every album from that point onwards. But….. of course much more refined and even sharper if that is even humanly possible. For the fans of the band, hold onto your collective hats, you’re about to go for one hell of a ride! For someone starting out I most likely wouldn’t advise starting here, my advice is simply head back to 2005’s second album “The Fury Of Our Makers Hand” and decide from there. Now stop reading this go and turn it up LOUD and let hell reign supreme!
TRACKLIST
Testimony of Truth
Bad Deeds
“My Night Sky
This Deception
Above It All
Daybreak
Trust No One
Feeling Ungodly
Retribution
For What It’s Worth
House Divided (bonus track)
Evil On Swift Wings (bonus track)
