Written by Erica Batchelor
The curtain slowly rises on a brief but intriguing piano tune reminiscent of the good ole days. Chiodos – a band defined by theatrics, Craig’s captivating vocals and heavy breakdowns is back in full swing with the release of Devil.
It’s been a long time coming since the separation from Craig Owens in 2009, and the last Chiodos album release being Illuminaudio in 2010. The band has been stripped back to its roots in both sound and members, with the exception of Jason Hale who was replaced by Thomas Erak (The Fall of Troy) on guitar and some vocals.
A diverse sound, Devil offers a new approach this time around. You’ll get your pop-fix on “3AM,” romantic feels on “Under Your Halo,” and unwieldy breakdowns on “Behvis Bullock.”
Devil is a perfect follow-up to Bone Palace Ballet, with added self-reflection from Craig over the last few years. As a personal fan of Chiodos since the early days of All’s Well That Ends Well, Devil recalls the elements which originally connected the band to its passionate fans. My imagination has run amuck with visions of Craig pouring his heart out into the exaggerated vocals on “Sunny Days and Hand Grenades.”
At this point in time, Chiodos has proven they can overcome any obstacles in their path and still come out on top after all of these years. They are making music for the sake of making music and enjoying every second of it.
The album dropped yesterday and the release is accompanied by a full US tour; The Devil’s Dance Tour 2014, alongside Emarosa, Hands Like Houses, Our Last Night and ’68. The excitement and energy transmitting from the album is a surefire way to reconnect with old fans as well as an opportunity to snag some new ones.
I”m a big fan of this new Chiodos record. I’ve been a fan of these guys for a long time, and it’s great to see them making such consistently great music. “I Am Awkward & Unusual” is one of my favorite tracks, and I recommend giving its video a watch: http://smarturl.it/ChiodosAwkwardVideo