Devil

Personnel: Thomas Erak (vocals, guitar); Bradley Bell (vocals, keyboards); Craig Owens (vocals); Patrick McManaman (guitar); Phillip A. Peterson (harp, cello); Kevin Tu, Victoria Parker (violin); Robert Parker (trumpet); Jacob Hoffman (French horn); Derrick Frost (drums).
Audio Mixer: Josh Wilbur.
Recording information: Applehead Recording & Production, Woodstock, NY; Dreamland Studios; House Of Breaking Glass.
With the band having lost founding guitarist Jason Hale while reuniting with drummer Derrick Frost and vocalist Craig Owens, Chiodos get back to business with most of their original lineup intact on their fourth album, Devil. New lead guitarist Thomas Erak does an excellent job filling Hale's formidable shoes, effortlessly providing plenty of the searing guitar work that helps to make the band's sound a swirling maelstrom of emotional buildups and cathartic releases. Where the band's last album found them trying to keep their heads above water, Devil sees them continuing to move forward again, and although Hale's presence will certainly be missed, fans of the band will find that the return of Frost and Owens more than makes up for the loss. ~ Gregory Heaney