After four years building a loyal Central Texas following and opening for diverse big name acts such as Los Lonely Boys, Bob Schneider, Del Castillo, and Reverend Horton Heat, the long awaited debut album from Devil's Hollow proves to be a soulful demonstration of what fans have known for years—these guys serve up some serious southern blues-rock. An impressive musical achievement, Devil's Hollow has managed to translate their dynamic stage presence and spontaneous jamming into a solid album that retains the band’s distinct style.

The culmination of their growing momentum in the last year, Devil’s Hollow at long last kicked off 2010 in a recording studio. Under the production of Alex Lyon in Austin’s The Bubble, the group laid down ten original tracks written by lead guitarist/vocalist Justin Murray, backed by keyboardist Matt Cain (Nadis Warriors), second lead guitarist Nick Doe, and a rhythm section featuring W.J. Robinson on drums and Jimmy Hartman on bass. The album also features Mike Zeoli of Del Castillo and on percussion and young guitar phenom Adam Johnson on slide guitar.

For this New Braunfels-bred quintet, the road to this significant milestone has been a journey of faith and of overcoming grim personal battles. “These guys have seen it all…drug addiction, alcohol abuse, and the vast temptations and distractions of a band on the road”, recounts the band’s manager, Tres Hefter. “They are gritty and real, and I think that comes through on this album”.

Pulling from their collective past and present, the Devil's Hollow debut is an exploration of good vs. evil and the individual struggles we each face daily. Beginning with track one, “The Charm”, Murray’s lyrics address life’s choices and the deep longings and cruel temptations that often blur the lines between right and wrong. From defiant scorn in “Treated Bad”, to passionate pleas for forgiveness and love in the downright sexy “Time Will Tell”, the album is consistently shifting and straddling opposites. Perhaps, the anthemic “Demons Down” best sums up the album’s message of life’s duality; it presents the harsh realities of waging an imperfect battle against inner demons while never surrendering hope and the possibility of redemption.

This undeniably talented band is unpretentious, raw, and with their self-titled debut album they offer no excuses or kitschy feel-good ditties for the masses. Devil's Hollow proves itself as a true roots rock band and with the impressive musicianship and thematic scope of this gutsy album they are sure to leave a lasting impression.