Devilskin’s ‘Re‑Evolution’ their fourth long-player, dropped on July 11th, and marks ‘a bold evolution in their sound and songwriting’ according to local press. As long-time fans of New Zealand’s finest Metal export, we checked it out to see if the word from the other side of the ditch is true. Could ‘Re‑Evolution,’ as the title suggests, be their most glorious moment to date?
Produced by long-time collaborator Dave Rhodes, the album explores themes of grief, addiction, fear, and resilience. It was also approached in a new way “recording in a new studio, tightening the demo process, and pursuing a clear, ambitious vision for each track.”
Sit yourself down and pull on the cans because otherwise this one is set to destroy the living room. Opener ‘Red’ has so much power it’s daunting! (It also carries on the tradition of having a track named after their previous album on the latest) Bristling with crunching riffs, you’re immediately pummeled by the pounding bass and drums, as Jennie Skulander’s raw and real vocals grab you by the throat and fail to ease their grip.
‘Swelter’ that follows gives you no respite, it’s breakneck Thrash that shows no sign of easing off its onslaught. Two of the most powerful openers I’ve heard for a long time. It’s the kind of unrelenting start that classic albums are made of.
It’s only when we get to ‘Desiderium’ a wonderful word meaning “an ardent longing, as for something lost.” That we get to ease back in the chair. It’s a moment of clarity, wonderfully lush, mid-paced and contemplative, yet charged with raw emotion. It’s all wonderfully crystallised by the breakdown, which punches right between the eyes. A rare song that manages to be both dreamy and direct.
If that wasn’t enough (I’m grinning a happy cheese-eating grin so far) then ‘Have I Come Undone’ (which features guest spots by Nik Barker of Twelve Foot Ninja and Joe Hottinger of Halestorm), is the track that just might go stratospheric. A duet that is both ethereal and otherworldly with lyrics that burn a spot in your brain. It’s majestic, and quite brilliant. Opening up gently acoustic with Jenny and guitar, the drums come in with Nik and the song continues to grow. This is timeless rock that defies labels and a moment of real magic comes as those guitars kick in. This might be more delicate than most songs here but it seriously needs to be played loud.
The most striking thing about the album is the experimentation and the vision at play here. It’s those ‘ambitious visions’ for each track that set it apart. As an album, the track listing works wonderfully well and leads us through a terrain littered with often dark emotion. Individually each track shines its own light. There’s nothing mundane here, nothing by numbers, it’s all painted in beautiful detail.
There’s magic everywhere to be honest ‘Ghosts in the Mud’ is genre-fluid in its DNA, a chugging riff backs Jenny’s assured vocal and it really hits the spot; whilst ‘Entomophobia’ (fear of insects) adds menace and melody and timeless Metal riffs, and ‘Celestial’ is just a made to measure classic and so different from previous outings: dominated by a compelling circular guitar pattern and threaded through with Jenny’s sure-footed vocal and a spoken word part that just seals the deal. It’s the combination of ideas and elements drawn together and either delicately worked, or hammered home, that makes all the difference.
Two of my favourites come mid album in the heavy groove and thrust of ‘Once Forgotten’ and the infectious melodies of ‘Half Life of Dreams’ both of which suggest that new direction, cleaner, more supple and yet just as lithe and muscular as the Devilskin we love. They are followed by the wonderfully balanced ‘Burn Slow’ that I’m sure I’ll be hearing in my dreams this week. It’s epic and shows just what the band can do in this new frame of mind.
From sheer Metal power to chugging riffs all the way to gentle acoustic moments, and spoken‑word passages, it all works so well. It’s not just a case of throwing it all in and stirring though! This Metal cauldron is tended by a congregation of Metal Master Chefs not casual cooks. Accents like ‘Rain in the wind’ add a Nightwish like element and don’t at all seem gratuitous. It all ends up with a dish that defies expectations and busts onto the palate like a freshly discovered spice.
All great albums have to come to an end though, and we close with the stomp and soar of ‘The Island’ before closer ‘Twenty‑Eight’, comes as another oasis in this sea of masterfully crafted storms. Acoustic and comforting, it immediately connects and has all the soul and power and yearning and loss that seems to emanate from the very soul. It’s a wonderful way to close even if you know that you’re immediately going to flip the disc again and let the mayhem begin again.
This is the kind of album I always hope for but rarely hear. A record that encapsulates all that you want from a band you love and yet delivers even more than you expected it would. Five listens in and I’m convinced that this is the best Metal album I will hear this year. There’s the heaviness you love of course, and the distinctive Devilskin sound is front and centre – it isn’t lost or diminished, it’s transformed into a collection of songs that aren’t just great –they are all that they could be.
The difference here on album number four is in the vision and the execution and the predominance of clean vocals. Devilskin has always had the material and always had the energy. This time they have evolved into a new beast – this is the sound of a band breathing fire and lighting up the world in the flames (not bad for a 15 year old)… In the scheme of things I see this as Devilskin’s ‘Black album’ – the one that makes them huge, yet unlike the other band I might be referencing I reckon this one will have everyone along for the ride.
9 / 10
RE-EVOLUTION was released globally on Friday 11th July 2025. CD & Vinyl are available from Devilskin’s website, JB Hi-Fi in New Zealand, and select local record stores across New Zealand and Australia. Fans can grab some very special, very limited bundles.
