Devildriver have unveiled “Dead In The Water”, the latest single from their upcoming album Strike And Kill, due out July 10 through Napalm Records.
The release follows the strong response to the album’s first single, “Dig Your Own Grave”, which surpassed 400,000 streams across platforms, earned regular rotation on SiriusXM’s Liquid Metal, and quickly climbed the Metal Contraband charts.
Built around aggressive drumming, sharp guitar work, and the band’s trademark groove-metal attack, “Dead In The Water” carries a message of perseverance through difficult times. Frontman Dez Fafara described the song as one of the most personal tracks on the record.
Speaking about the new single, Fafara said: “This is one of the most positive songs I’ve ever written lyrically, coming from a very dark time straight into blinding light. 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. 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! Enjoy!”
The upcoming album features the current Devildriver lineup of Dez Fafara, guitarists Alex Lee and Gabe Mangold, drummer Davier Ortega Perez, and returning founding bassist Jon Miller. According to Fafara, the record reconnects with the heavier elements that helped establish the band’s identity.
Discussing Strike And Kill, he said: “My headspace hasn’t changed. I have not become complacent or soft in my view of the world or in my music. 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 that fuels the heavy California groove like no other. Devildriver has never sounded like any other band; we do our own thing in our own way, and I’m the most proud of that”.
“I’m so proud of these musicians, this music, and the vibe around this record,” he adds. “Devildriver sounds like no one else out there right now, we are here to strike and kill!”
Fafara previously explained the meaning behind “Dig Your Own Grave”, saying: “‘Dig Your Own Grave’ is about how one wrong decision, one wrong move can see your whole world turned upside down, effectively ‘digging’ your own grave… it’s that simple. It can also refer to how your decisions can fuck someone else. This is why there’s the line ‘Six feet ain’t deep enough for you,’ because only a deep, deep hole is fitting for what you’ve done or tried to do to others. Be careful when you choose to make decisions at midnight.”
The album opens with “Dig Your Own Grave” before moving into “Dead In The Water”, while tracks such as “Sanctified In Scars”, “Strike And Kill”, “In The Moonlight”, “Never Coming Home”, “Ride Or Die”, “Headed For The Fall”, “You’re Just A Ghost”, “Summoning Shadows”, “Shut The Silence On”, “Oath Of Iron” and “All Bets Are Off” round out the record.
In support of the release, Devildriver will launch the Strike And Kill North American Tour 2026 alongside Upon A Burning Body and Ov Sulfur. The trek begins August 14 in San Diego and runs through several major U.S. cities before wrapping up on September 5 in Anaheim, California.
