Release Date: Out now!
Label: Fighter Records
Mark Pruett
This old metal dude (me) was around when things in the genre were just heating up. From the beginning, metal has often been associated with evil. With the dark touch of a wicked thrall, sinister things have been weaving their influence for quite some time. Dedicated artists and fans have donned leather, spikes, and face paint while throwing the Devil Horns high and proud. It’s a way of life for all of us.
I’m also a firm believer that most good music often comes from a murky place in the soul. This is a topic for lots of discussion in another piece. Suffice to say that metal has always been about connecting people and music on the streets, in the back alleys, and (now) in the fantastic virtual communities. There’s something special about bands that emerge from the swirling mists and find their way into the hearts and minds of fans around the world.
As such, we turn our attention to the mean streets of Medellin, Colombia. While vibrant and bustling, there is a dangerous side lurking. Emerging from the underground metal scene, LOUDER has delivered their full-length debut “Devil’s Night”. Spawned in 2024, they dropped a demo in 2025 and have been working hard to get to the big time. Drawing influences from bands such as Blood Money, Razor, and Living Death. Also, bands like Baphomet’s Blood, Obssessor, and Omega have made their mark on this band.
The lineup of LOUDER is Juan Camilo Camargo on guitars/vocals, Stiven Arias on bass, and osé Manuel Cárdenas on drums. Together, they’ve come together from various other projects (Hellgröwler, Deathströker, and Nekro, respectively) to unleash this fast, gritty, and dark album unto the world.
REVIEW: LOUDER “DEVIL’S NIGHT”
“Speed Junkie” gets right down to business. It’s fast, authentic, and has little fanfare. The music brings forth fond memories of Kill ‘Em All era Metallica and even calls forth echoes of early Voivod. The vocals are delivered in a low growl that isn’t too far from our Holy Father Lemmy. The album opener is a sign of what’s next.
A drum and bass combo opens “Satan’s Bitch”, which then falls right in line to a straightforward metal jam. Again, little fanfare and a lot of getting down to business. This is track 2 of the first 4, which are largely the same formula.
“Hellish Rock ‘N’ Roll” is an ode to keeping music evil. It’s a flurry of guitars, drums, and vocals coming at the listener with unflinching speed. Keeping in step, this is 3 of the first 4 that seem to fall into the same pattern.
With “Louder Than Hell”, things get a bit interesting. A flurry of drums, a flash of guitar magic, and an anthemic feel to the lyrics. The bones of a great song are here, and I’m interested in what this band is capable of.
Breaking the pattern, “Dirty Rocker” gets funky and breaks out of the rut. The guitars and back line take on a different rhythmic feel and the band flexes by showing some range. There is some talent in the band and this song begins to uncover what they are capable of. However, there is an all-too-short solo that starts to shine and then fades out of existence.
On “Heavy Metal Nights” we start to see some production flourishes. The introduction sets the tone for song and is a nice touch. This one is an ode to the metal legions who pack into small venues and cheer for the up and coming bands trying to find their way. Of course, it’s a speedy tune that threatens to break necks and crack the foundation of the venue. The solo on this song really wants to break free and get radical, but it falls short.
“Muck and Grind” gets back to work on the formula. It’s dirty, down in the trenches, and defiantly simple. It’s back to the first four songs in its approach and it’s what this band seems to be making to be their trademark.
Finally, we get to “Devil’s Night”, the title track to the record. It opens with some tone-setting production elements that are dark omens for things to come. By far, this is the best track on the record. It’s a speed metal gem and the band is tight and sharp. The musicianship of the band shows up well here. All their influences, their insatiable desire for speed, and their talent come together to make this one arrive like a storm and leave wreckage in its wake.
CONCLUSION
For a debut effort, LOUDER has crafted a compelling entry in “Devil’s Night”. They have carefully chosen their influences, and they have fused it all together for something all their own. To my ear, the unmistakable sound of “Kill ‘Em All” era of Metallica shines through. At various times, I also hear early Voivod in the guitars. Tracing back vocal delivery, it all comes back to the hand of Lemmy reaching down from Metal Valhalla. All of these are the makings of a fantastic project.
I am fully engaged with the dark overtones in the lyrics and subject matter of the songs. The speed of the music is a relentless, unapologetic, and direct blast of evil from the nether world. The denizens of tiny venues around the world will rise and hurl their bodies across pit when this band takes the stage.
Constructively, there is a lot of room to grow here. There are quite a few songs on the record that sound almost like the same song with slight variance. It was hard for me to pick out something in the music that felt like it stood out. No bone shattering bass lines, no soaring guitar solos, no vocal screams from the pits of hell. Just pure unadulterated speed metal.
While I’m not opposed to this, I am saying there is room to make it epic. Many of the guitar solos feel like they are straining to break free and get loose. Finally, I think the song order is off. They should have kicked this record off with “Devil’s Night” and then ended with “Heavy Metal Nights”, but that creates a risk of the monotony in between. However, I’m willing to put that out there as something they need to consider in the future. “Speed Junkie” is a great opener, but it doesn’t hit as hard as the title track.
Finally, I’ll tackle the cover art. While this has no bearing on my rating, nor the music, it’s important to discuss. The art is very dark, violent, and Satanic. I don’t take issue with any of these elements. Some of the most legendary album covers have been gory, devilish, and provocative. However, this art features two things that are off putting. First, the trope of a scantily clad female victim is a low blow and is unnecessary.
Also, there is a child on the left that is a victim of a violent ending. Really? This is far over the line. I know what it was meant to do, but it is irresponsible and out of bounds for being provocative in such a way. I’ve seen plenty of art capture the same elements without resorting to these shock tactics.
The metal community is family made up of all kinds of people. Dark themes, evil presence, and malevolent forces come with the territory. There is no place for what I’m seeing here in my world of metal. However, to each their own. I’d be remiss if I didn’t say something. Perhaps we should agree to disagree.
That being said, “Devil’s Night” by LOUDER is a great debut from a band with big dreams and the talent to go big. Let’s hope their follow up and live shows continue to build the potential of their legacy.
THENOTHM SCORE: 7/10
Links
Bandcamp: https://fighter-records.bandcamp.com/album/devils-night
Label: https://www.fighter-records.com/promo/20260326_Louder.html
