Raise your metal horns high in the air for DevilDriver’s Clouds Over California – The Studio Albums 2003- 2011. The five-album deluxe collection released on August 19th on BMG consists of their debut self- titled album released in 2003, The Fury of Our Makers Hand (2005), The Last Kind Words (2007), Pray
or Villians (2009), and Beast (2011) which were all originally released on Roadrunner Records. Singer Dez Fafara, of Coal Chamber fame, formed the band in 2002 and hit the music world with a vengeance.
DevilDriver’s first album is intense, and dark, and established them as one of the top hardcore metal bands. Produced by Ross Hogarth (Coal Chamber, Ziggy Marley) and Dan Certa (The Aphex Theory, Alien Ant Farm) the death metal themes and lyrics are a sonic attack in the best way possible. “I Could Care Less,” one of the singles, showcases the band’s groove metal roots with a raucous opening and Dez’s growls. “I Dreamed I Died” is another highlight and guaranteed to start rowdiness.
The Fury of Our Makers Hand, produced by Colin Richardson (Cannibal Corpse, Bullet for My Valentine), keeps up the ferocity and holds nothing back. “Just Run’s” high energy makes mosh pits go insane. “Hold Back The Day” hits your ears with high-speed guitars and double-kick drums.
The Last Kind Words, produced by Jason Suecof (The Black Dahlia Murder, Bury Your Dead) stays true to DevilDriver’s roots with the brutal track and one of my favorites, “These Are Fighting Words.” Another highlight is “Clouds Over California” with Dez’s ferocious vocals and heavy guitar solos.
DevilDriver consistently creates perfectly produced albums and Pray for Villians, produced by Logan Mader (Soulfly, Divine Heresy), delivers another hell-raising journey. “Back With A Vengeance” is a furious track that leads into an emotional track, “I’ve Been Sober,” which is about the journey of sobriety. “Teach Me To Whisper” is one of my favorites with its theme of controlling your anger…” teach me to whisper cause I feel like screaming.”
The last album in the collection, Beast, produced by the band and Mark Lewis (Trivium, Chimaira) lives up to the name with the roaring track “Hardened.” “You Make Me Sick” is my favorite on the album with Dez’s angry screams and shredding guitars.
DevilDriver is in a league of their own and Clouds Over California collection solidifies how impressive their body of work is.
I’m Music Magazine Writer Meesha Walden
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