Devildriver - Devildriver
2003 Roadrunner Records

Track Listing:
1.  Nothing's Wrong 
2.  I Could Care Less 
3.  Die (And Die Now) 
4.  I Dreamed I Died 
5.  Cry For Me Sky (Eulogy Of The Scorned)
6.  The Mountain
7.  Knee Deep 
8.  What Does It Take (To Be A Man)
9.  Swinging The Dead
10. Revelation Machine 
11. Meet The Wretched 
12. Devil's Son 

Line-Up:
Vocals:  Dez Fafara
Guitars:  Evan Pitts, Jeff Kendrick
Bass:  Jon Miller
Drums:  John Boecklin

Website:  www.devildriver.com

Skin Splitter's Rating:  B
Overall Album Rating:  B

Skin Splitter's Review:
After the demise of Coal Chamber, Dez needed a project.  Or Dez needed money, hence the formation of Devildriver.  Devildriver is a combination of Fear Factory and Coal Chamber with a little bit of death metal to form this wonderful hatespere.

The first thing that I noticed right out of the gate is that this album is fast paced.  And what I mean by that is that it's not a lot of notes.  Just a lot of guitars tuned to B while playing hard and fast.  Hell, if you have any musical skills in guitar whatsoever, you would not be impressed with this album.  Spend about 45 minutes listening to it, and you can pretty much play it.  However, the guitar players are playing their instruments more to keep the beat with the drums than to play notes.

The drums are AMAZINGLY triggered.  I don't care if he plays in his bare feet, it's triggered and that's all I have to say about that.  But bless them for those triggers because it adds to the speed and power of Devildriver. So, combine the speed and power derived from the "musicians" with the added strength of Dez's vocals, and you have a sound that makes you feel like running up and kicking Jesus square in the nuts. Fun band to watch live, too.

Dez really steps up the growls on this one.  I can't explain it, but as soon as he starts with those tones, I can tell you without even knowing the band or the song, that it is him.  If you are looking for a band with musical talent like Testament or Cannibal Corpse, run for your life.  But, if you like Fear Factory, Coal Chamber, and any other band that has the guitars following the double bass beats, I recommend this album.  To get a good feel listen to Nothing's Wrong, I Could Care Less, Swinging The Dead, and Cry For Me Sky (Eulogy Of The Scorned) and you have a good idea of what it's all about.
Skin Splitter's Rating:  B