California groove metallers DEVILDRIVER will release part two of their “Dealing With Demons” saga, their tenth full-length, “Dealing With Demons Vol. II”, on May 12 via Napalm Records
Once again produced and engineered by Steve Evetts with additional engineering from guitarist Mike Spreitzer, ‘Dealing With Demons Vol. II’ is inarguably heavier and relentlessly harsher than its predecessor — as proven with bludgeoning lead single “Through The Depths” and the follow-up track “If Blood Is Life“.
Today, DEVILDRIVER dropped another unrelenting track, “This Relationship, Broken“. The riff-laden album closer hits as one of the record’s most breakneck-paced anthems — with erratic drums, aggressive riffs and a charged performance from frontman Dez Fafara.
Fafara says about “This Relationship, Broken“: “‘This Relationship, Broken‘ explores the severance that happens between two longtime partners when they leave each other after years of turmoil.”
International media mainstays like Revolver, Metal Hammer, Kerrang! and Consequence lauded “Dealing With Demons I“, which debuted at No. 4 on the U.S. Current Hard Music Albums chart. BLABBERMOUTH.NET stated, “If the second half of this mammoth endeavor matches the first, this will be remembered as a pivotal moment in the DEVILDRIVER story.” Rest assured, “Dealing With Demons Vol. II” doubles down on the brutality — and then some!
Track one “I Have No Pity” instantly keeps fans guessing with its contrasting, marching rhythmic groove and Fafara‘s icy, earworm warnings. The album’s standout production immediately shines, with the track’s thick riffs, haunting leads, room-filling drums and Fafara‘s vocal prowess leading the way. Eerie, insistent “Mantra” drops a wave of melodic aggression on the listener, instantly inducing headbanging with its breakneck pace and occult lyricism.
Dynamic tracks like “Nothing Lasts Forever” and “Summoning” cascade with alternating passages of sinister riffage and memorable chants. “Bloodbath” is as brutal as its name suggests, ominously bending and pummeling with immediate aggression, as “It’s A Hard Truth” continues the onslaught, cautioning against delusion amid balanced melodic leads. Closer anthems “If Blood Is Life” and “This Relationship, Broken” are the blood-soaked cherries atop “Dealing With Demons Vol. II“, bringing together all of the elements that make DEVILDRIVER the best at their craft.
Fafara adds: “‘Dealing With Demons Vol. II‘ is — simply put — a conversation in its entirety about dealing with ‘inner’ demons. It’s a conversation in song form between ‘self and a power apart from one’s self, and trying to bury old entities.'”
DEVILDRIVER “Dealing With Demons Vol. II” track listing:
- I Have No Pity
- Mantra
- Nothing Lasts Forever
- Summoning
- Through The Depths
- Bloodbath
- It’s A Hard Truth
- If Blood Is Life
- This Relationship, Broken
