Kingcrimsonprog Devildriver’s third studio album The Last Kind Words, released in 2007 to a more receptive audience than their debut enjoyed, saw the band mix in large melodeath influences into their usual groove orientated sound.

The album features several of the band’s important works such as ‘Clouds Over California,’ ‘Head On To Heartache (Let Them Rot)’ and ‘Not All Who Wander Are Lost.’ Devildriver even mix some cleaner sounds into the album, for example on the close ‘The Axe Shall Fall,’ which foreshadows the direction the band would take with their next album, Pray For Villains.

The production was slick and professional, the lyrics were improved and the band were confident; finally gaining respect from everyone who eyed them with suspicion previously. The band’s reputation on the live circuit and their continual growth as musicians and songwriters help establish them as reputable and honest metal band. This is the sound of a band earning the public’s respect without compromising themselves.

If any criticism has to be laid at the album’s door, it would most likely be that the songs are a little to samey and repetitive. Devildriver created an excellent formula with this album and wrote a great bunch of songs off the back of it, but a little more variety wouldn’t have gone amiss in all fairness.

Overall though, The Last Kind Words is a good album of well produced, slick and professional metal that mixes groove, a little melodeath and Dez’s distinctive voice to create some interesting and enjoyable material. Devildriver fans should definitely give this album a listen.