DevilDriver have returned with venom. The California groove metal veterans have shared ‘Dead In The Water’, the second single from their forthcoming album Strike And Kill, which arrives on 10 July 2026 through Napalm Records.
The track lands with an official video and follows lead single ‘Dig Your Own Grave’. Where that opener swung with blunt force, ‘Dead In The Water’ leans into blast beats and blackened guitar work, with frontman Dez Fafara delivering a message of perseverance.
“This is one of the most positive songs I’ve ever written lyrically, coming from a very dark time straight into blinding light,” Fafara explains. “I needed to empower others to do the same as I did, and tell them to stay the course. Life turns around if given the chance to flourish.”
He adds that the song reaches back to the band’s roots. “The vibe musically on this is very old school DevilDriver and the entire band is cracking hard here. If you’re a long time listener you’re gonna love this one.”
Strike And Kill follows the ambitious double album Dealing With Demons Vols. 1 & 2. Across thirteen tracks the new record moves between melodic death metal, blackened atmosphere and the heavy California groove that has defined the band for two decades. Fafara promises no softening of intent. “Metal is our outlet as listeners and writers, so on this record we focused on getting it all out lyrically, and backing those lyrics with savage, relentless music.”
The current lineup features Fafara alongside drummer Davier Ortega Perez, bassist Jon Miller and guitarists Alex Lee and Gabe Mangold. The band heads across the western United States this summer with Upon A Burning Body and Ov Sulfur, opening in San Diego on 14 August and running through to Anaheim on 5 September.
We think Strike And Kill shapes up as one of the more focused entries in a long and combative catalogue, and ‘Dead In The Water’ makes a persuasive case on its own.
