Album Review: Devil You Know - They Bleed Red

These metalcore bruisers have evaded being a haphazard, star-studded collective, instead morphing into a fully-fledged band within a relatively brief period.

Arriving 18 months after their debut, this tighter, more coherent effort opens with purpose. Consume The Damned enhances the speed and aggression, The Way We Die bristles with incisive hooks that screamer/crooner Howard Jones' former outfit Killswitch Engage would approve of. Said momentum is largely maintained. Let The Pain Take Hold features hungry-again Jones pushing himself vocally. Guitarist Francesco Artusato flaunts his virtuosity while still serving the songs, and John Sankey's (Devolved) brutal blasts and busy fills help ensure there's no sophomore slump.