For quick categorization, every DevilDriver merch and 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 mixed opinions about what the band really sounds like are perhaps signs of their difficult origins. Right up to before the group was formed, each of its members were variously occupied. Dez Fafara was still with Coal Chamber when he toyed with the idea of forming a new band. Jon Miller, Jeff Kendrick and John Boecklin who would soon also join forces with Fafara were already a band before Boecklin met Fafara. Fafara met the final member of the group, Evan Pitts on a separate occasion. They all became official band mates 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.

Listening to each DevilDriver CD will give you mixed experiences. What possibly stands out among all their albums however is the first one which is also their self-titled release. Critics are not overly fond of this piece of work and think that it is a sort of compromise because of the group’s desire to break into the mainstream. This is despite the fact that fans have started patronizing goth clothing in honor of the group. After this rocky start, Pitts left the group and Mike Spreitzer came in.

The difficult start did not continue for the group. They were finally able to get great responses for their 2005 second album, The Fury of Our Maker’s Hand. Unlike their first work, this one was made in a far off ranch to limit distractions. This release took on the 117th slot in the Billboard 200. It was so much better than the first one that some think of it as the true first release. The work was again inspired by Fafara’s turbulent past.

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.

There’s no way to put every DevilDriver album into just one category. Creating structure however may not be so pressing for the group. After all, music should be more important than categorization.

DevilDriver – Shitlist [HQ]

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