DevilDriver - 'The Fury Of Our Makers Hand' (Roadrunner) Released 27/06/05

There’s a whole plethora of US Bands storming the British metal scene at the moment. Killswitch Engage, Trivium, Lamb of God to name but a few. With their new album ‘The Fury Of Our Makers Hand’, DevilDriver are attempting to step up and be counted.

Fronted by ex-Coal Chamber member Dez Fafara, DevilDriver offer a darker, more intense sounding album than Coal Chamber ever did. From the opening track ‘End of the Line’ we are inducted into a world devoid of colour or hope, a brutal drum-led riff growled over by Fafara with such intensity it summons up remembrances of both Pantera at their cruellest with a slice of Napalm Death for good measure. The drums are the most noticeable of instruments on the ablum, John Boecklin providing some truly awesome displays worthy of the mighty Dave Lombardo himself. This is one of the few albums that actually gets better toward the end. The power of the double kicking on ‘Ripped apart’ feels as if you’re taking a full clip from an AK-47 at close range, such is the intensity. Despite the 80’s title ‘Before the Hangman’s Noose’ has by far the nastiest groove heard this year. Interspersed in the heaviness are some wonderfully constructed melody’s, the two guitarists twist the lines like children putting cigarettes out on their pet cat – not nice but it grabs your attention. Unfortunately there’s way too few of these moments, and the track soon returns to an all-out thrash.

The production is truly outstanding on this record, with Colin Richardson (Machine Head, Fear Factory) producing a record with real clarity and vigour. As there are two guitar players and everything’s detuned, there’s no need for a Bass player as usual (sigh). The thing that ironically lets the album down is the vocals. Dez Fafara is undoubtedly a magnificent screamer and growler, but it quickly become tiresome as he grunts his way over another heavenly progression, never trying anything differently and singing in the same monotone. Such a shame.

Overall, DevilDriver’s ‘The Fury of our Makers Hand’ is not a great record and won’t have a huge impact on the already bugeogoning metal scene, it quite simply falls short. But it is very close to being a great record - sacking the singer would be the way forward, but I’ve got a feeling it’s his band…