* Howard Jones: the former Killswitch Engage and Blood Has Been Shed frontman, who garnered two gold records and a grammy nomination during his decade-long tenure with the Massachusetts band.
* Francesco Artusato: celebrated solo artist and guitarist with The Francesco Artusato Project and All Shall Perish.
* John Sankey: drummer for the Australian band Devolved, who has also worked with Fear Factory and Divine Heresy.
The sum total of the three has come together as Devil You Know yielding a sound as singular as it is unforgettable.
Devil You Know was born out of Artusato and Sankey’s creative quest to stretch beyond their extreme metal backgrounds. The two had written over a dozen songs before even attempting to lock down a singer. “We were unsure if Howard would be interested,” says Sankey.” Yet, when Killswitch Engage’s former frontman received the material, a creative ideal began to solidify.
Finally connecting in Los Angeles during the last months of 2012, a highly distinctive sound began to become apparent. “It turned from bare-bones musical ideas into something that surpassed any of our expectations” says Jones. “It went from something we thought was going to be a fun, heavy project into something very real.” It was during a recording session at the start of 2013 with producer and former Machine Head guitarist Logan Mader (Gojira, Five Finger Death Punch) that Devil You Know’s ideas began to alchemize into something none of the bands members would ever expect. “It became a departure from what I’m known for,” says Artusato. “I wasn’t focusing on technical guitar parts (even though I still love that aspect of writing) but simply on writing what felt best for each individual song.”
“World class vocalists like Howard Jones are the rarest commodity in metal music these days,” says Nuclear Blast Entertainment’s Monte Conner, whose recent NBE signings include European superstars Within Temptation as well as the hotly contested inking of Machine Head. “Howard has a tonality and richness to his voice that very few singers have. The band’s initial demos got me very excited but sometimes you strike gold. Devil You Know just made an incredible record that is going to surpass all expectations. The vocals are everything fans have come to expect from Howard but at the same time there is a depth, dimension and variety to his singing that shows incredible growth and elevates him in every way. Add to that world-class musical talents like Francesco Artusato and John Sankey both as players and songwriters. This is ground zero of something really exciting!”.
“I had worked with Monte before I left Killswitch and have long known and respected him, says Jones of the former Roadrunner Records A&R chief. “He has a vision for both music and business that is second to none and made it an easy choice when it came to signing to the label. Monte and the Nuclear Blast staff understand who we are, what we have individually accomplished and where we are going as a band.”
While the finishing touches are being put on Devil You Know’s debut album, the writing and recording process: “Was surprisingly easy,” states Artusato. “When we get together it just works.” The band is also quick to sum up the studio vibe with producer Mader as: “Intensely creative,” says Sankey. “Logan definitely helped us realize and define the Devil You Know sound.” Jones agrees: “He went from producer to unsung member to friend.”
“It’s a different style of music for me,” says Jones of Devil You Know. “It’s heavy as anything any of us are known for but I get to do some different things people won’t expect. I’ve been singing almost all my life. Being around good songwriters and musicians in my former bands really helped mold me into who I am now.”
Devil You Know’s Nuclear Blast Entertainment debut is currently slated for an early 2014 release with international touring plans and a full touring lineup to be announced shortly.
Current members:
Howard Jones- Vocals (since 2012)
Francesco Artusato- guitar (since 2012)
John Sankey- Drums (since 2012)
Ryan Wombacher- Bass, back vocals (since 2013)
Former members:
Roy Lev-Ari – guitar (2013–2015)
Discohraphy:
The Beauty of Destruction (2014)
They Bleed Red (2015)
Shut It Down
Devil You Know Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But turning back the hands of time is useless
This war is never ending it's all we know
We've wasted more than just our heart and souls
Staring down the barrel of a gun
Visions and flashes and reflections of the monster I've become
Then I realize
Something more calling upon me
To leave this life of death
Shut it down
Long before the light is failing
Now I'm (holding on)
I'm (reaching for)
I'm (something more)
Shut it down
This fight has made me weary now I must rise
Or everything that I've created dies
This fight it seems eternal but now I know
That through it all I'll never be alone
Separation from everything I've stood for
Became the tomb that embraced and buried me
But I hear a voice
Something more calling upon me
To leave this life of death
Shut it down
Long before the light is failing
Now I'm (holding on)
I'm (reaching for)
I'm (something more)
Shut it down
Contemplation of self-destruction erasing the weight that I bear
Leaving a trail of existence that now remains cold to the touch and despair
Rise and face my demons
I will suffer no more
Something more calling upon me
To leave this life of death
Shut it down
Long before the light is failing
Now I'm (holding on)
I'm (reaching for)
I'm (something more)
Shut it down
Shut it down
Shut it down
Shut it down
Shut it down
Shut it down
Shut it down
The lyrics of "Shut it down" by Devil You Know are about a war that should have ended a long time ago, but seems to be never-ending. The singer sings about wasting more than just their heart and souls on this war. They are now staring down the barrel of a gun and questioning the monster they have become. Despite this, the singer realizes that there is something more calling upon them to leave this life of death behind and shut it down. The fight has made the singer weary, but they know that they must rise or everything they have created will die. The singer reflects on the separation from everything they have stood for and how it has become a tomb that has buried them. Ultimately, the singer decides to face their demons and suffer no more.
Line by Line Meaning
This war should have ended so long ago
The conflict they are in should have ended a long time ago.
But turning back the hands of time is useless
It's too late to go back and end the war earlier.
This war is never ending it's all we know
The war has become a never-ending cycle and is their way of life.
We've wasted more than just our heart and souls
The war has taken a heavy toll on them, leaving them feeling empty and hopeless.
Staring down the barrel of a gun
The singer is facing danger with little hope for survival.
Visions and flashes and reflections of the monster I've become
The singer reflects on how the war has changed them into something they don't recognize.
Then I realize
The singer has had an epiphany.
Something more calling upon me
The singer feels a deeper purpose calling to them.
To leave this life of death
The singer wants to leave the danger and death of the war behind.
Shut it down
The singer wants to end the war and all its destructive consequences.
Long before the light is failing
The singer wants to stop the war before it's too late and everyone is consumed by darkness.
Now I'm (holding on)
The singer is determined to fight for their cause.
I'm (reaching for)
The singer is striving for something beyond the war and its destruction.
I'm (something more)
The singer believes they are capable of more than just being a soldier.
This fight has made me weary now I must rise
The war has exhausted the singer, but they must keep fighting.
Or everything that I've created dies
If the singer gives up, their entire legacy and everything they've fought for will be lost.
This fight it seems eternal but now I know
The war feels like it will never end, but the singer has newfound hope.
That through it all I'll never be alone
The singer has support and will always have someone by their side.
Separation from everything I've stood for
The war has caused the singer to question their beliefs and values.
Became the tomb that embraced and buried me
The war has become a trap for the singer and has consumed them entirely.
But I hear a voice
The singer hears a voice of hope that inspires them to keep fighting.
Contemplation of self-destruction erasing the weight that I bear
The singer has had thoughts of self-destruction as a way to escape the burden of the war.
Leaving a trail of existence that now remains cold to the touch and despair
The war has left a trail of destruction and sadness.
Rise and face my demons
The singer is ready to confront the challenges and fears of the war.
I will suffer no more
The singer is determined to end their own suffering and that of others.
Shut it down
The singer emphatically calls for an end to the war.
Shut it down
The singer repeats their call for an end to the war.
Shut it down
The singer repeats their call for an end to the war.
Shut it down
The singer repeats their call for an end to the war.
Shut it down
The singer repeats their call for an end to the war.
Shut it down
The singer repeats their call for an end to the war.
Shut it down
The singer repeats their call for an end to the war.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: FRANCESCO ARTUSATO, HOWARD JONES, JOHN SANKEY, LOGAN MADER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Johnathon Gehle
A band of superstars comes together when the metal scene needed it most. Chills from this. Just amazing. Welcome back, HJ, WE MISSED YOU MATE!
Alan Wise
i consider Howard and Jesse's singing styles to be different but both very awesome
Nuclear Blast Records
Haha, so much yes!
Charles Oglesby
The more I listen, the more I fall in love with it!
FadedWarlock
Glad to see Howard is back making awesome music
Sir Lance
You must be deaf to complain about this song, it's super heavy, groovy, and catchy as hell, one of the best songs I've heard for a long time!!!!!!! We are all fans of Howard with Killswitch Engage but I'm stoked this isn't some lame KSE wanna-be-rip-off band, DYK are the real deal with their own sound, can't wait for more!!!!
Jeffrey Price
This is a bad ass demo. Cant wait for the album
GRiMHOLD
Great song. Can't wait till FEB 15 when you guys do the live show.
I hope someone is gonna be recording it. Because that's what everyone's expecting.
I hope some of the other songs are slightly more melodious.
That is why he fit so well with KSE more than Jesse.
The choruses really showed his clean vocal range and yet still had allot of screams within the verses.
Also this type of heavy music doesn't really get far within the mainstream sissified ears of the masses.
I really want them to be a success all across the board.
Slayter Smith
This rules, Howard at his best and those double kick drums are crushing!!!!
Zavion Prince
I freaking jump with joy when I saw that Howard was back to making music! This is amazing! Can't wait for the album!