Metal Wani’s Jessie David had a chance to chat with Dez Fafara of the Groove Metal band DevilDriver. DevilDriver are gearing up to release the second installment of “Dealing with Demons Vol. 2” on May 12. The follow-up album to “Dealing with Demons Vol. 1”
Dez said that Vol 2 is a monster of a record and heavier than Vol 1, but a perfect way to cap it off. Of course, we had to dive into the details!
When the material was written for the albums they were intended to be released back-to-back. With a pandemic putting a stop to the plan, it gave Dez time to go over the new album and really dig into it. Dez: “Vol 2, I changed the sequence 3 times, and I changed the opening track 3 different times until I stumbled on, ‘I Have No Pity’.” When you listen to both albums as intended, back-to-back they flow together as one. This was a planned machine as Dez explained, “The records are short for a reason, as they are meant to be listened to back-to-back. It’s literally meant to be one record. The track listening and sequencing was very important.”
The song, ‘I Have No Pity’ is a great opening track, and as Dez put it “The song is about you and me, anybody who steps in the sh*t more than once. It’s about once you learn your lesson, try not to learn it twice.”
DevilDriver are getting ready to get back on the road and tour again! The new album features a lot of songs that are going to be stellar live, but the one song that Dez is excited to perform live is, Both! Dez, “Both of the records in their entirety. I have no doubt that in the next 24 months that will be done.”
DevilDriver have found a sound that they would like to continue with in the future. But Dez not only is ready to hit the road but is working on an autobiography. In the interview, Dez mentioned that he is working on an autobiography with the goal of being released this year. Of course, Jessie David asked him for the title, but he wasn’t ready to share it just yet. However, he did say it’s a two-book deal. The first one will be about his youth from Coal Chamber which will show a different side of him. The second will focus on the DevilDriver years which as Dez said has “insane stories!”
Speaking of Coal Chamber, the band reunited late last year. During the pandemic, Dez caught Covid, and he was having health issues. Due to health issues, the band started talking again and decided to play some shows. When asked about new music, Dez wasn’t sure. He said the reformation happened really organically, and that is a band that made him.
Jessie finished off the interview by asking Dez, what one Essentials DevilDriver song would be. Dez said, “I would say go listen to’ Clouds over California’ or ‘End of the Line. Some of our earlier stuff.”
DevilDrivers “Dealing with Demons Vol. 2” on May 12.
