RED

Cradling the bloodied head of a nine-year-old boy struggling for life after a car accident is, not surprisingly, one of the most traumatic incidents Devilskin bassist Paul Martin has experienced. He used it as inspiration for “The Victor,” crafting lyrics such as “You’re hurt too much to understand” and “I hold your head and I won’t let go.” The intensity of the subject matter is typical of the extremes in which the New Zealand band’s third album deals, be it in vocalist Jennie Skulander’s throat-shredding in “Do You See Birds” or the confrontational lyrics of “Sweet Release,” inspired by the suicide of a young man suffering from mental health issues. Alternative rock and blistering metal come together in the anthemic “Bright Lights” and “Endo,” a song about Skulander’s battle with stage 4 endometriosis that boasts a near-apocalyptic climax. Given that the color red often represents strong emotions, it’s clearly a fitting title for this bruising collection of songs.