L-R: Jayde Penner (guitar), Bevin Booth (drums), Jaylen Elias (bass), Devin Babcock (guitar), Chris Brown (vocals)
Photo Credit – Heidi Robertson
Canadian metal outfit Devolver has dropped a new playthrough video for “Merciless Storm,” a standout track from their latest album “Non Compos Mentis,” released August 22nd. The video showcases the band’s precision, intensity, and collaborative firepower, offering fans a raw look at the musicianship behind one of the album’s most punishing cuts, along with a comedic side to them.
The band explains further:
“Merciless Storm” began as a tongue-in-cheek experiment in heaviness, but quickly transformed into a full-fledged monster. With slam riffs, groovy solos, and a breakdown written on the spot in the studio, the track embodies the album’s ethos: unrelenting force and the emotional wreckage left in the wake of disaster. Jayde and Jaylen mustered up the courage to hot dog suit their way through the playthrough, delivering a performance that’s both relentless and razor-sharp. True to Devolver’s spirit, the band doesn’t take themselves too seriously and just aims to have fun with their videos. Devin’s solo, featuring a wild “horsey squeal,” cements the song as one of the band’s most technically daring.”
Watch the “Merciless Storm” playthrough video now and experience the storm for yourself via its premiere on TheCirclePit YouTube channel at https://youtu.be/RleEVAAsdl4
Formed in 2015 by guitarist Devin Babcock as a creative outlet for material outside his main project, Devolver has evolved into a five-piece force of nature. Their sound, described as “Gothenburg melodic death and 2000s metalcore,” has matured into a focused, aggressive, and massive sonic identity, thanks in part to the razor-sharp production of acclaimed producer Mark Lewis (Whitechapel, Trivium, DevilDriver, Black Dahlia Murder).
Non Compos Mentis marks a major evolution for Devolver. Unlike their debut, which was written solely by Babcock, this album is the product of full-band collaboration. The result is a cohesive, emotionally resonant record that blends melody and brutality with surgical precision. From the haunting true-crime-inspired title track to the high-octane energy of “Merciless Storm,” the album is designed to be experienced front to back without pause.
The band also teamed up with legendary artist Travis Smith (Opeth, Avenged Sevenfold, Soilwork) for the album artwork, which depicts the chilling story of the 1805 murder of Amos Babcock’s sister in a religious frenzy, an ancestor of Devin Babcock. The art depicts Amos bloodied in the snow, surrounded by the ghostly eyes of his nine children.
Recommended for fans of In Flames, Dark Tranquillity, Killswitch Engage, and As I Lay Dying, “Non Compos Mentis” is a bold leap forward, each track a chapter in a larger emotional and sonic narrative.
“Non Compos Mentis” is available at the following links:
Album order (released Aug 22nd) – https://devolvermusic.
Spotify for Playlist Add – https://open.spotify.com/
Music Video – Merciless Storm – https://youtu.be/o_6jcqK2qFQ
Lyric Video – Suffocating Syndrome – https://youtu.be/mmRskxYe1q4
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Track Listing:
1. Deathtouch – 3:55
2. New Blood – 3:14
3. Jewels of the Maw – 3:30
4. Wraiths – 3:20
5. At Any Cost – 3:40
6. Non Compos Mentis – 3:53
7. Merciless Storm – 3:56
8. Suffocating Syndrome – 3:36
9. Dehumanize – 3:47
Album Length: 32:55
Album Credits:
– All songs performed by: Devolver
– All songs written by: Devolver
– Produced, Mixed, Mastered by: Mark Lewis
– Album Artwork by: Travis Smith
– SOCAN members
Band Lineup:
Chris Brown – Vocals
Devin Babcock – Guitar (lead)
Jayde Penner – Guitar (rhythm)
Bevin Booth – Drums
Jaylen Elias – Bass
More info: https://linktr.ee/devolverab
“The goal of Devolver through Non Compos Mentis has been to take the listener on a thoroughly pleasing journey from the first note to the final crushing moment. That’s been achieved, and so much more – as these Canadians understand how to compose songs and execute them in a highly convincing fashion that has this scribe grinning ear to ear – bringing the exciting sounds of the late 90s/early 2000s to a newer generation who desire more of this style. 9/10” – Dead Rhetoric
“For a group from a small northern city, every move has required deliberate effort—whether it was recruiting the right collaborators, waiting until circumstances lined up, or carrying material through years of delay. Non Compos Mentis is the document of that persistence: an album shaped by distance, disruption, and devotion to the sound that first made them want to pick up instruments.” – IDIOTEQ
“DEVOLVER is definitely ahead of the last releases of their great role models. On the one hand, because the Canadians work straight and without any frills, and on the other hand, because the melodies are all right without reducing the heaviness. When it comes to melodic death, there’s no way around this album this year. The only downside: 32 minutes is pretty short, even for such energy output!” – PowerMetal.de
“There is a sense of nostalgia listening to the guitarmonies throughout the album, calling back to the golden days of early 2000’s metalcore. Whether you’re a fan of death metal or metalcore, you’ll definitely find elements that you’ll appreciate on this album. Personally, my favourites are “Deathtouch” and “Suffocate Syndrome”” – False Chord
“Now we have Devolver with Non Compos Mentis. The sophomore album from this Canadian band is the perfect blend of melodeath and metalcore. Much like chocolate and peanut butter, this takes the best aspects of both genres, makes enough changes to feel authentic, and creates a sound that hits just as much in 2025 as it would have back in 2005. The production is brutal, but still audible and filled with layers. The songwriting shows off the capabilities of everyone in the band, but it doesn’t reveal all of its tricks. Overall, this is for anyone who enjoys everything from ’90s era In Flames to 2000 Soilwork to later 2000’s Lamb of God to the modern-day capabilities of what Melodeath and Metal Core are all about. This is a great trip back in time, but also a look forward to what can be done. This is excellent stuff.” – Heavy Debriefing
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