Mugshot’s All the Devils Are Here is a record that wastes no time. From the first moments of “Die in Fear,” the band sets a crushing tone with monstrous bass, bold riffs, and grooves that hit like a sledgehammer. The writing is sharp and compact, making every drum hit and guttural vocal feel absolutely necessary. This “quick to the point” approach becomes a defining strength across the album, giving it an immediacy that hooks the listener from start to finish.

What stands out immediately is the cohesion between songs. Transitions—from “Die in Fear” into “Afore a Waking Nightmare,” or later from “Skin the Rabbit” into “I Will Be Here Forever”—are seamless. Each track bleeds into the next with precision, yet the band still manages to shift gears and keep things fresh. These moments of flow make the album feel less like a collection of individual tracks and more like a singular statement of heaviness.

Musically, Mugshot balances brute force with subtle shifts in texture. Tracks like “Shame” and “Vale of Tears” thrive on dissonant, weighty riffs, while the bass—consistently deep and commanding—anchors the arrangements. The drumming is dense and dynamic, with cymbal crashes and double bass flourishes that give songs like “Skin the Rabbit” and the title track “All the Devils Are Here” an undeniable groove. Even in moments that flirt with more familiar metalcore tropes, such as the first half of “Baptized in Concrete,” the band pushes through with inventive transitions and bone-crushing breakdowns, keeping the listener engaged.

Vocally, the performance is just as diverse. There is a duality between massive gutturals and piercing high tones, but the band also isn’t afraid to explore more visceral and unhinged vocal expressions, as heard on “I Will Be Here Forever.” On “Vale of Tears,” the snarling aggression recalls the rawness of bands like Orthodox but dialed up in heaviness. Later tracks, like “Where Your Sins Will Lie,” even dip into nu-metal-inspired grooves, showing that Mugshot isn’t afraid to cross boundaries in pursuit of raw intensity.

The album’s pacing deserves praise. Short, tightly written songs mean nothing ever feels bloated, and the inclusion of a crushing interlude like “Flesh of My Body” provides a moment of breathing room without breaking momentum. By the time “Next to Your Idols” closes the record with its Hatebreed-tinged stomp and hypnotic final riff, it feels like a complete journey—one that remains brutal yet avoids monotony.

Ultimately, All the Devils Are Here thrives because Mugshot understands the value of groove, weight, and structure. The riffs are massive, the bass is consistently thunderous, and transitions are executed with surgical precision. The album feels ritualistic at times, chaotic at others, but always deeply satisfying. Mugshot have crafted a record that’s heavy in every sense of the word—tight, groovy, and devastatingly consistent. All the Devils Are Here doesn’t just appear; it dominates.

Rating: 8.5/10