I’ve always considered the California-based groove metal gods a reliable, consistent bunch that can always be counted on to produce something heavy and impossible not to bang your head/want to crush something to, and from the drum roll of opener ‘The Oath’ it’s easy to tell that Winter Kills is no exception to the rule.
The first thing that jumps out from this album is the quality of production. Production wise, everything in this album sits perfectly; nothing is over-bearing nor does anything goes un-noticed and get lost in the mix. An absolutely huge rhythm section, a bassy, metallic (almost Pantera-like at times) distortion and multi-layered vocals almost constantly makes for an album that is heavier than Essendon’s next ‘supplement’ delivery.
Of course great production is nothing without something of quality to produce to begin with and again, Devildriver have not let us down. Usually if a band doesn’t change their style they can become stagnant and it’s easy to talk them down but when that style is just so well refined and executed as Devildriver has managed, it’s hard to hold a lack of stylistic change against them. Winter Kills features all the traits of Devildriver that the fans have come to worship such as the crushingly heavy but also groove-laden drum parts, complimented by equally groovy (admittedly this is not a term I thought I would ever use this much in a metal review) riffs plus Dez Fafara’s unmistakable raw vocal tone and rage-inducing lyrics.
To pick a stand-out track, I’m going to have to be boring and choose the single ‘Ruthless’. You can tell why it’s the single. Beginning with a pulsing, simple build up it explodes into a double-kick laden heavy-as-hell series of riffs that immediately has you wanting to start a pit and swing some elbows (so be careful where you are when you listen, your elbow-swinging antics may not be appreciated).
The only real criticism to be made is that this one could have used a guest vocal appearance at some point(s). Don’t get me wrong, Dez’s vocals are fantastic, but they are also somewhat limited and by the end of the album you’re craving some tonal variety with the vocals.
All-in-all Winter Kills is by no means a huge change or ground-breaking, but that is in no way a negative. Fafara & Co. know what they do well so they’re sticking with it and doing it dam well.
If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
8/10
Reviewer: Thomas Peasley