Devil You Know – The Beauty of Destruction (Album Review)

Devil-You-Know-2014

Metal music is a lot different now from when it first became popular years ago. With constant vocal alterations and structural differences, the evolution of metal has changed its perspective in the music industry. Devil You Know are a new band that will release their first record, titled The Beauty of Destruction, April 29th. Produced by former Machine Head guitarist Logan Mader, the record is an outstanding benchmark for the band, presenting the beauty of true metal music. It all began in 2012 when Fear Factory drummer John Sankey and All Shall Perish guitarist Francesco Artusato got together and conjured up a list of songs.  Adding former Killswitch Engage vocalist Howard Jones months later, the band now includes the talents of Bleeding Through bassist Ryan Wombacher and Hiss of Atrocities guitarist Roy Lev-Ari.  Devil You Know have the experience and maturity to be a powerhouse with this cast of veterans, even on a debut album. They master chaotic guitar riffs and penetrating beats while balancing out their brutal sound with a precise vocal range, pleasing old and new metal fans.

The most empowering element of The Beauty of Destruction is the rambunctious and fast paced tempo, scattered by brilliant instrumentals and transitions. The opening track remarkably introduces this style with “A New Beginning”. The power of the group chants and intense chug of guitar highlight this opener. The sick rhythm of the chorus is the most influential part of “A New Beginning”; the steady beat can make any moshing enthusiast lose their mind. “Shut It Down” contains the same persistence, with even faster riffs and more piercing screams.

The intricacy of these instrumentals are even more emphasized in “Embracing the Torture” and “A Mind Insane”. These tracks are as crazy as they sound, bombarding listeners with insane instrumentals and explosive energy. “Embracing the Torture” uses quick staccato riffs to amplify its power and captivate listeners, while “A Mind Insane” uses these similar elements in a different way to give off a haunting effect. Devil You Know ultimately proves to be stellar in the category, mastering this style and giving it a name of their own, something not all bands can do on their first record.

Another exceptional attribute of this album is the impressive variation of vocal usage. Although they stay very consistent with unclean vocals, their transition to clean vocals in some tracks isn’t tacky, but smooth and natural. In “My Own”, the steady tempo of the screams upsurge into a melodic refrain that ties the track together. This explosion of harsh vocals leads into a rhythmic and tuneful release, balancing the track well. “Seven Years Alone” has a similar impact. The instrumentals create Devil You Know’s signature chaos, but dive into a crescendo of exciting vocals that stabilize the rhythm nicely and add crucial variety to the track. This style is the staple of The Beauty of Destruction, making it believable that this band has been making music much longer than they really have.

The mature sound and tasteful structure of The Beauty of Destruction is bound to give Devil You Know a fantastic debut in the music scene. They provide a classic metal sound but manage to include personal touches that display their very clear talents. The Beauty of Destruction is certainly something that every metal fan will want to hear. CrypticRock gives this album 4.5 out of 5 stars.

Nuclear Blast
Nuclear Blast
Review written by Emmma Guido

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