PHOTO CREDIT: Stephanie Cabral
Devilderiver Dez Fafara calls the track one of his most positive lyrical statements as the band prepares for a July album release
DevilDriver have released “Dead in the Water,” the latest single from their upcoming album Strike and Kill, due July 10 via Napalm Records.
The new track follows the previously released lead single “Dig Your Own Grave,” which, according to the press release, has surpassed 400,000 cross-platform streams, received airplay on SiriusXM’s Liquid Metal, and moved up the Metal Contraband charts within a month of release.
“Dead in the Water” continues the band’s long-running focus on groove-driven metal while bringing a message that frontman Dez Fafara describes as unusually uplifting for DevilDriver’s catalog. Built around blast beats, melodic guitar work, and a heavier modern edge, the single pairs the band’s aggressive foundation with lyrics centered on endurance and pushing through difficult circumstances.
“This is one of the most positive songs I’ve ever written lyrically, coming from a very dark time straight into blinding light,” Fafara said. “I needed to empower others to do the same as I did, and tell them to ‘stay the course,’ life turns around if given the chance to flourish.”
Fafara also pointed to the song’s connection to the band’s earlier sound, adding, “The vibe musically on this is very old school DEVILDRIVER and the entire band is cracking hard here, if you’re a long time listener you’re gonna love this one! Enjoy!”
The single arrives as DevilDriver move into the next phase following Dealing With Demons Vols. 1 & 2. According to the announcement, Dealing With Demons Vol. 1 spent 15 weeks at No. 1 at metal radio, while Vol. 2 received coverage from outlets including Metal Injection, Kerrang!, and Blabbermouth.
With Strike and Kill, DevilDriver appear to be leaning into the core elements that have defined the band’s identity: groove-heavy riffs, melodic death metal influence, darker atmospheric textures, and Fafara’s unmistakable vocal delivery. The album opens with “Dig Your Own Grave” before moving into “Dead in the Water,” where guitarists Alex Lee and Gabe Mangold bring a more melodic, layered approach to the band’s attack.
The press release describes “Sanctified In Scars” as incorporating industrial elements and blackened tremolo guitar work, while the title track, “Strike and Kill,” focuses on lessons learned through hardship. Other songs, including “In the Moonlight” and “Never Coming Home,” are said to bring more melodic guitar passages into the record’s heavier framework.
Drummer Davier Perez is also highlighted throughout the album’s description, particularly on tracks that emphasize speed, technicality, and thrash-driven intensity. Songs such as “Headed for the Fall,” “You’re just a Ghost,” “Shut the Silence On,” and “Oath of Iron” point toward a record built around both force and precision. The album closes with “All Bets are Off.”
DevilDriver will support the new album with a run of U.S. tour dates beginning August 14 in San Diego, California. The tour includes stops in Las Vegas, Phoenix, San Antonio, Austin, Houston, Dallas, Chicago, Milwaukee, Salt Lake City, Boise, Reno, Sacramento, San Jose, and Anaheim.
ShadowRaven Take
For longtime DevilDriver listeners, “Dead in the Water” appears to bridge the band’s established groove metal identity with a more resilient lyrical message. Rather than softening the band’s sound, the track uses its aggression as a vehicle for perseverance, placing Strike and Kill as a direct continuation of DevilDriver’s post-Dealing With Demons era.
Tour Dates
DevilDriver
8/14 — San Diego, CA — Observatory North Park
8/15 — Las Vegas, NV — Brooklyn Bowl
8/16 — Phoenix, AZ — Marquee
8/18 — San Antonio, TX — Aztec Theater
8/19 — Austin, TX — Come and Take It Live
8/20 — Houston, TX — House of Blues
8/22 — Dallas, TX — House of Blues
8/23 — Oklahoma City, OK — Diamond Ballroom
8/25 — Chicago, IL — Bottom Lounge
8/26 — Milwaukee, WI — The Rave
8/29 — Colorado Springs, CO — Sunshine Studios
8/30 — Salt Lake City, UT — The Depot
9/1 — Boise, ID — Treefort Music Hall
9/2 — Reno, NV — Club Underground
9/3 — Sacramento, CA — Goldfield
9/4 — San Jose, CA — The Ritz
9/5 — Anaheim, CA — House of Blues
Artist: DevilDriver
Album: Strike and Kill
Release Date: July 10
Label: Napalm Records
Track Listing
Dig Your Own Grave
Dead in the Water
Sanctified In Scars
Strike and Kill
In the Moonlight
Ride or Die
Headed for the Fall
Shut the Silence On
Never Coming Home
Summoning Shadows
You’re just a Ghost
Oath of Iron
All Bets are Off
Release Information
Strike and Kill will be available in the following formats:
1-CD Digipak
1-LP Gatefold Vinyl Solid Blue
1-LP Gatefold Vinyl Translucent Verde — Napalm Records Mailorder Exclusive
1-LP Gatefold Vinyl Splattered, including LP-sized 24-page booklet, certificate, and covercard — Napalm Records Mailorder Exclusive
1-LP Gatefold Vinyl White Label, including LP-sized 24-page booklet and certificate — Napalm Records Mailorder Exclusive
1-LP Gatefold Vinyl Solid Orange — Indie Merch Exclusive
Digital Album
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