Pray for Villains
DevilDriver · 2009
71 min · 18 tracks · melodic death metal
Frenzied guitar riffs intertwine with relentless percussion, creating a dark atmosphere that embodies the struggle and defiance of its themes.
Top tracks — play these first
-
→
Pray for Villains — The title track captures the album's essence with its driving rhythms and thematic exploration of inner conflict, establishing a compelling opening statement.
-
→
I’ve Been Sober — This track blends personal reflection with powerful instrumentation, showcasing the band's ability to mix vulnerability with aggression effectively.
-
→
Forgiveness Is a Six Gun — With its potent lyrical narrative and dynamic shifts, this song exemplifies the album's exploration of themes like vengeance and redemption through heavy riffs.
-
→
Waiting for November — This track features haunting melodies alongside fierce instrumentals, highlighting DevilDriver's range while maintaining the album's overall intensity.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album showcases aggressive yet melodic compositions, balancing intensity with moments of reflection.
What we noticed
- The album opens with a title track that features rapid-fire guitar riffs and aggressive drumming, setting a relentless pace for the first half.
- Several tracks incorporate melodic choruses that contrast with the harsh verses, creating dynamic shifts in intensity.
- The last three tracks slow down the tempo significantly, allowing for a more reflective atmosphere before concluding.
- Composition 25% of the score
-
7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
-
8/10
- Durability 25% of the score
-
6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
-
7/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
-
5/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- frenzied bursts of intense energy
- dark themes with relentless drive
- cathartic expressions of struggle
- short tracks for quick engagement
- dynamic shifts in pacing
Maybe skip if you
- prefer calm, soothing sounds
- want straightforward, easy listening
Where this album fits
- Career context
- Released in 2009, Pray for Villains was DevilDriver's fourth studio album, following their 2007 release The Last Kind Words. This record marked a significant moment in their evolution, showcasing a more aggressive sound while solidifying their place in the groove metal and melodic death metal scenes. By this time, the band had already established a loyal fanbase and was enjoying increased visibility in the heavy metal community.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Lamb of God· Machine Head· All That Remains
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
Disc 1
- 1 Pray for Villains 4:02
- 2 Pure Sincerity 4:38
- 3 Fate Stepped In 5:10
- 4 Back With a Vengeance 3:40
- 5 I’ve Been Sober 5:16
- 6 Resurrection Blvd. 3:58
- 7 Forgiveness Is a Six Gun 4:33
- 8 Waiting for November 5:06
- 9 It’s in the Cards 4:24
- 10 Another Night in London 3:05
- 11 Bitter Pill 4:24
- 12 Teach Me to Whisper 4:01
- 13 I See Belief 3:54
- 14 Self‐Affliction 4:48
- 15 Dust Be the Destiny 3:09
- 16 Damning the Heavens 2:19
- 17 Wasted Years 5:01
Disc 2
- 1 The Making of “Pray for Villains”
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
Sync your library
Everything you track here works immediately — no account needed. Create one when you want to sync across devices.