Chains Are Broken could refer to
the Devil Makes Three themselves, as the longtime trio have decided to make touring drummer Stefan Amidon an official member and bring him into the studio to record their first collection of original material since 2013's I'm a Stranger Here. It's a big move eclipsed by the hiring of
Ted Hutt, a producer who helmed records by
Dropkick Murphys,
the Gaslight Anthem, and
the Mighty Mighty Bosstones -- rockers whose music is a far cry from the rough-and-tumble that's
the Devil Makes Three's specialty. They haven't abandoned their signatures -- they still sing songs of redemption and ruin, as adept with galloping rave-ups as they are with heartache -- but
Hutt helps
the Devil add color to their noir, a transition that also helps the group usher in some new styles. "Paint My Face" opens with ringing guitars straight out of the '60s; "Castles" and "Bad Idea" are filled with chunky rock & roll riffs, each one sounding like a natural extension of
the Devil Makes Three's sly Americana. These styles may suit the band, yet the big, robust production of Chains Are Broken can still startle upon the first listen or two. Once the shock of the bigger, bolder sound fades, Chains Are Broken reveals itself as a perhaps inevitable maturation for
the Devil Makes Three, one that broadens their horizons while retaining their vigor, humor, and heart. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine