For quick categorization, every DevilDriver album would probably fit best under the heavy metal label. There are some arguments though over which sub genre the band's music really belongs to. Depending on which album you're listening to, there are mixed elements coming from groove and death metal.
The arguments over which genre the band plays is probably a reflection of the group's difficult beginnings. They became a group at a time when each member had various other affiliations. Dez Fafara who handles lead vocals was once a part of Coal Chamber but wanted to leave the group. Drummer John Boecklin, guitarist Jeff Kendrick and bassist Jon Miller were already part of Area-51 when they were still in high school. Fafara met Boecklin and then an additional would be member, guitarist Evan Pitts. DevilDriver became an official group in 2002.
Deathride was the first original name choice for the group. This however was not the best choice of name because other groups, musical or otherwise, were already using it. The group settled for DevilDriver being more original and menacing. The cross of confusion became the group's official sign, one that illustrated the philosophy of questioning everything. The symbol and the name are all elements from Fafara's own life, having had a rough past, Italian roots and having been brought up in a questioning environment.
Every DevilDriver CD release is a bit unlike its predecessor. The one piece of work that perhaps is so far apart from the group's entire body of work is their self-titled debut release. The album has been slammed by many critics. Some felt that the group tried too much to take the mainstream route. After this initial flop, Pitts left and was replaced by Mike Spreitzer.
Apparently though, the only thing difficult for the group was the start. Their second release The Fury of Our Maker's Hand which came out in 2005 was met more favorably. This was proven by the fact that the album settled on the 117th slot in the Billboard 200. The album, which was recorded in a nearly isolated location, is so good that some tend to forget that there was ever a first one before it. Like the first release, this second one touches on elements of Fafara's life.
The second album put the band on a roll and they released The Last Kind Words. They promoted their work in the Download Festival where music legends like Iron Maiden were also in attendance. In 2009, more success came for the group when Pray for Villains took number 35 in the Billboard 200. This got the band even more pumped up for work and led them to make more plans for 2010. Another album has been set for release. Although there might be shifts again in the band's musical approach, listeners can only tell for certain once the work has been released. Fafara has already said though that the fifth release will be different from the other four.
Like other works by other bands, a DevilDriver album can't exactly be put in a box. As with many creative artists, the work of this group's band members is sometimes guided not by structure but simply by a simple desire to make music.
The arguments over which genre the band plays is probably a reflection of the group's difficult beginnings. They became a group at a time when each member had various other affiliations. Dez Fafara who handles lead vocals was once a part of Coal Chamber but wanted to leave the group. Drummer John Boecklin, guitarist Jeff Kendrick and bassist Jon Miller were already part of Area-51 when they were still in high school. Fafara met Boecklin and then an additional would be member, guitarist Evan Pitts. DevilDriver became an official group in 2002.
Deathride was the first original name choice for the group. This however was not the best choice of name because other groups, musical or otherwise, were already using it. The group settled for DevilDriver being more original and menacing. The cross of confusion became the group's official sign, one that illustrated the philosophy of questioning everything. The symbol and the name are all elements from Fafara's own life, having had a rough past, Italian roots and having been brought up in a questioning environment.
Every DevilDriver CD release is a bit unlike its predecessor. The one piece of work that perhaps is so far apart from the group's entire body of work is their self-titled debut release. The album has been slammed by many critics. Some felt that the group tried too much to take the mainstream route. After this initial flop, Pitts left and was replaced by Mike Spreitzer.
Apparently though, the only thing difficult for the group was the start. Their second release The Fury of Our Maker's Hand which came out in 2005 was met more favorably. This was proven by the fact that the album settled on the 117th slot in the Billboard 200. The album, which was recorded in a nearly isolated location, is so good that some tend to forget that there was ever a first one before it. Like the first release, this second one touches on elements of Fafara's life.
The second album put the band on a roll and they released The Last Kind Words. They promoted their work in the Download Festival where music legends like Iron Maiden were also in attendance. In 2009, more success came for the group when Pray for Villains took number 35 in the Billboard 200. This got the band even more pumped up for work and led them to make more plans for 2010. Another album has been set for release. Although there might be shifts again in the band's musical approach, listeners can only tell for certain once the work has been released. Fafara has already said though that the fifth release will be different from the other four.
Like other works by other bands, a DevilDriver album can't exactly be put in a box. As with many creative artists, the work of this group's band members is sometimes guided not by structure but simply by a simple desire to make music.
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