Beast

Beast represents a high-water mark for DevilDriver’s second era, marking their fifth studio outing and the final contribution from founding bassist Jon Miller. Produced by Mark Lewis at Sonic Ranch, the album was intentionally crafted to be more 'extreme' and 'pissed off' than its predecessor, Pray for Villains. The recording context was defined by vocalist Dez Fafara’s self-described 'moment of clarity' regarding negative emotions, resulting in some of the most vitriolic lyrics of his career. Sonically, the album balances the band's groove metal foundations with increased elements of thrash and melodic death metal. A notable highlight is the cover of 16 Horsepower’s 'Black Soul Choir,' which showcases the band's ability to translate folk-noir into a crushing metal format. Critics, including those at AllMusic, noted the album's unrelenting pace and technical proficiency, often citing it as one of the most aggressive entries in the Roadrunner Records catalog of that era.