NEWS RELEASE
Montreal, QC – August 22, 2025
Out Now! Canada’s DEVOLVER Unveils New Album “Non Compos Mentis”
Produced by Mark Lewis (Whitechapel, Trivium, DevilDriver, Black Dahlia Murder)
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L-R: Jayde Penner (guitar), Bevin Booth (drums), Jaylen Elias (bass), Devin Babcock (guitar), Chris Brown (vocals)
Grande Prairie, Canada’s rising metal outfit Devolver, returns with a vengeance, announcing the release of their sophomore album, “Non Compos Mentis”, out August 22nd, 2025. Produced by genre heavyweight Mark Lewis, whose credits include Whitechapel, Trivium, and DevilDriver, the album marks a seismic evolution in Devolver’s sound, melding Gothenburg-style melodic death metal with the raw intensity of early 2000s metalcore.
Formed in 2015 by guitarist Devin Babcock as a creative outlet for material that didn’t fit his previous band, Devolver has grown into a five-piece force of nature. With members also active in the local project Dog Poison, the band’s roots run deep in the underground scene.
“Non Compos Mentis” is more than an album; it’s a visceral listening experience. The album features a refined tracklist culled from over 20 demos, each song built collaboratively from riffs and skeletons crafted by guitarists Devin Babcock and Jayde Penner, resulting in a relentless, emotionally charged journey that’s both technically precise and soulfully raw.
The album’s haunting title track, “Non Compos Mentis”, draws from a chilling true story: the 1805 murder of Amos Babcock’s sister in a religious frenzy, an ancestor of Devin Babcock. The artwork was created by legendary metal illustrator Travis Smith (Opeth, Avenged Sevenfold, Soilwork), depicting Amos bloodied in the snow, surrounded by the ghostly eyes of his nine children. It’s a visual as disturbing as the story it tells, and a testament to the band’s commitment to storytelling through music and art.
The band comments on the album’s release:
“We think Non Compos Mentis will be embraced by fans of our first album; it’s a huge evolution of our sound. Our first album was a passion project for Devin, but this record is what the five of us sound like collaborating as a unit. The razor-sharp production from Mark Lewis helped us push this thing over the edge, into something we think people will grab onto. We want to give people the feeling we felt when we first heard our favourite bands, and the albums that made us fall in love with music.”
With each track on the album as a chapter in a larger emotional and sonic narrative, Devolver‘s “Non Compos Mentis” represents a bold leap forward and is recommended for fans of Swedish melodic death metal and classic metalcore. Think the melodic brutality of In Flames and Dark Tranquillity, fused with the punch of Killswitch Engage and As I Lay Dying.
“Non Compos Mentis” is available at the following links:
Album order (out Aug 22nd) – https://devolvermusic.bandcamp.com/
Spotify for Playlist Add – https://open.spotify.com/album/3eeLxBrxx55QvIm3EnahLm
Music Video – Merciless Storm – https://youtu.be/o_6jcqK2qFQ
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Track Listing:
1. Deathtouch – 3:55
2. New Blood – 3:14
3. Jewels of the Maw – 3:30
4. Wraiths – 3:20
5. At Any Cost – 3:40
6. Non Compos Mentis – 3:53
7. Merciless Storm – 3:56
8. Suffocating Syndrome – 3:36
9. Dehumanize – 3:47
Album Length: 32:55
Album Credits:
– All songs performed by: Devolver
– All songs written by: Devolver
– Produced, Mixed, Mastered by: Mark Lewis
– Album Artwork by: Travis Smith
– SOCAN members
Band Lineup:
Chris Brown – Vocals
Devin Babcock – Guitar (lead)
Jayde Penner – Guitar (rhythm)
Bevin Booth – Drums
Jaylen Elias – Bass
More info: https://linktr.ee/devolverab
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“The goal of Devolver through Non Compos Mentis has been to take the listener on a thoroughly pleasing journey from the first note to the final crushing moment. That’s been achieved, and so much more – as these Canadians understand how to compose songs and execute them in a highly convincing fashion that has this scribe grinning ear to ear – bringing the exciting sounds of the late 90s/early 2000s to a newer generation who desire more of this style. 9/10” – Dead Rhetoric
“Devolver uses melodies, intensity, and a variety of vocalists to hook you, reeling you from song to song making this such a welcoming and comfortable listen. I don’t mean they’re “easy listening,” there heavy as f***, I mean there’s always something different, you’ll never get bored while diving into this debut.” – Vulture Hound
“If After The Burial and The Ghost Inside had a lovechild, it would be Devolver. These guys blew me away with how professional, well written, and how well structured they’ve presented themselves with their SelfTitled record. Each song has its own personality, while still maintaining a signature sound. The breakdowns are simple, yet effective in each song. There is dynamic tension and then well-needed release throughout the record, and it’s downright masterful. This album is captivating, and I recommend anyone that is a fan of metal to check this out.” – Bucketlist Music Reviews
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