"Call Off The Devil" was the eponymous debut studio album by the American heavy rock band Call Off The Devil, released in 2004 on Roadrunner Records. The album was a critical and commercial success, cementing the group as a leading voice in the early 2000s alternative metal and nu metal scenes.
Call Off The Devil was formed in the small rust-belt town of Youngstown, Ohio in 2000 by vocalist Danny Callahan, guitarist Evan Marshall, bassist Nico Castillo, and drummer Shane Hawkins. Callahan had previously been the frontman of a local hardcore punk band, while Marshall and Castillo had played in various metal projects in the region. The quartet bonded over a shared love of aggressive, cathartic music and a desire to create something that blended their diverse influences.
After honing their sound through relentless local gig, Call Off The Devil began to develop a devoted underground following. Their intense live performances and Callahan's raw, emotive vocals earned them growing buzz in the Midwest music scene. This eventually led to a record deal with Roadrunner, who were eager to capitalize on the growing popularity of acts straddling the line between heavy metal, punk, and alt-rock.
Released in the summer of 2004, "Call Off The Devil" was met with widespread critical acclaim. The album's sound drew comparisons to the work of bands like Deftones, Slipknot, and System of a Down, merging elements of nu metal, hardcore punk, and industrial music into a dark, visceral listening experience.
Standout tracks like "Shattered Mirror," "Vultures Circle," and the title track showcased Callahan's tortured vocals and the band's technical prowess, with Marshall's searing guitar work and Castillo/Hawkins' pummeling rhythms. Lyrically, the album explored themes of mental illness, societal alienation, and personal trauma in a raw, confessional manner that resonated deeply with listeners.
"Call Off The Devil" was a major commercial success, debuting at #4 on the Billboard 200 chart and going on to sell over 2 million copies worldwide. The band would follow it up with several more acclaimed albums over the next decade, cementing their status as one of the leading lights of the 2000s heavy music scene.
The album's influence has continued to be felt in the decades since. Bands across the metalcore, post-hardcore, and nu-metal genres have cited Call Off The Devil as a key inspiration, particularly for the way they blended visceral aggression with emotive vulnerability. Music critics have also re-evaluated the album, with many now considering it a landmark work that anticipated the stylistic shifts and thematic depth that would come to define 21st century heavy rock.
While Call Off The Devil never quite reached the level of mainstream ubiquity achieved by some of their nu-metal peers, their 2004 debut remains a hugely impactful and enduring work. It stands as a testament to the power of honest, cathartic heavy music to connect with listeners on a deep, personal level.
