Five Albums That Changed My Life: Greg Wilburn of The Devastated

"When I was just a kid driving around in the car with my mom, she would pretty much let me listen to whatever I wanted," The Devastated frontman Greg Wilburn tells Noisecreep. "She never once censored my music. She grew up loving bands like Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd... and I think she just "got it." Kids are usually going to listen to exactly what their parents despise most, it's part of that pre-teen/teen rebellion stage."

Based in Riverside, Calif., and featuring former members of Impending Doom, The Devastated play the kind of gonad-crushing metalcore that will surely horrify parents from one end of the globe to other. The quintet will be infect record store shelves on Feb. 14 when they drop 'Devil's Messenger,' the group's debut album. Featuring a crushing mix by Daniel Castleman (As I Lay Dying) and guest vocals from Mitch Lucker of Suicide Silence, the album is being issued by the folks at Century Media.

Wilburn's obsession with music began in grade school: "Being about nine-years-old or so and really starting to find appreciation for music for the first time, it wasn't long before I discovered that the more aggressive the song, the more I enjoyed it. With the Internet being just a twinkle in some physicist's eye at that point, all I had at that age was the radio to find new music. I remember thinking bands like Nirvana and the Offspring were pretty cool, it seemed like they had attitude and I was usually happy to hear their songs come on the radio. At that point and time, such bands had by far the most aggressive songs you would ever hear on public radio. However, I still always found myself wanting and needing more."

Noisecreep figured Wilburn would be a great addition to our 'Five Albums That Changed My Life' series.

'Korn,' Korn (1994)

"This record is the reason I play music today, period. It truly was love at first listen. At 12-years-old, Korn was the answer to my prayers. It was everything I ever wanted to hear in a band. Heavy beats... Fat grooves... (I didn't even know what that meant then) and a vocalist whom I felt was speaking directly to me. I spent many young years worshiping this band, and they will always hold a special place in my heart."

'Astrocreep:2000,' White Zombie (1995)

"This record is still one of my biggest musical influences to date... and probably my favorite record of all time. I listen to this record and think to myself, 'Where the f--- did music like this go?' Everything today is more about technicality than it is the song itself. Everything is over-thought. This record will always remain a bold statement, that sometimes the simplest, most straight forward shit is really what sounds most pleasing to the ear. I miss albums that really take you on a journey from start to finish. To say that 'Astrocreep:2000' accomplished that, would be a complete understatement. Blood, Milk and Sky."

'Slipknot,' Slipknot (1999)

"I was a freshman in high school. It was the weekend, so my buddy and I took a trip over to the local record store. I went straight for the listening station (as usual) and I see this CD sitting on the shelf, it immediately catches my eye. This group of crazy looking masked men... Slipknot?... I think to myself (is that the knot used to make a noose? Brutal!) Talk about a marketer's dream. How could you not take a listen, right? I select the disc. Hit play. Listen to the intro and first 45 seconds of 'Sic.' At that point I grab the disc and walk directly up to the purchase counter. I was sold. I was a living breathing "Maggot" as they would say. Not to leave out the fact that two short months later, I got to see them at The Glasshouse in Pomona, Calif. in front of about 1,500 people. A show I will never forget. I also got to see Mudvayne open the show that night, even though their 'L.D. 50' wasn't even out yet."

'The Great Southern Trendkill,' Pantera (1996)

"No one will touch this.. EVA (in a low Anselmo-esque voice). The greatest band of all time never wrote a bad record, and this is one that speaks to me most. No one will ever say it, or play it truer. Pure empowerment."

'Satan Is Watching,' Those Poor Bastards (2008)

"Hey, Lonesome Wyatt, thank you for restoring hope in me. Thank you for showing me that music could still be as innovative, creative, and show just as much raw emotion as it ever has to me. 'Satan Is Watching' was the first Those Poor Bastards record I ever owned, and it is a rarity that you'll ever find my iPod on anything other than a Those Poor Bastards record. I'm obsessed. I own every LP/EP and demo that I'm aware of, and I wear their patch proudly on my jacket. This is that band that I don't want to share (although that's a little contradicting). You know those bands you hold so true that sometimes you don't even want your best friends listening to em'... out of fear they will develop the same passion for them as you do... and that could somehow ruin the experience for you. This is currently my favorite band."

The Devastated's 'Devil's Messenger' will be out on Feb. 14. Pick up the album directly from Century Media.

Check out The Devastated out on the F---! All Your Friends Tour with Dr. Acula, Design the Skyline, and on select days, In Dying Arms:

2/8 - Boise, ID @ The Venue

2/9 - Seattle, WA @ Studio 7

2/11 - Medford, OR @ Musichead

2/12 - Orangevale, CA @ The Boardwalk

2/13 - Simi Valley, CA @ Dream 118

2/15 - Las Vegas, NV @ Hypnotic Lounge

2/16 - Mesa, AZ @ The Underground

2/18 - Las Cruces, NM @ Event Center

2/19 - San Antonio, TX @ White Rabbit

2/20 - Fort Worth, TX @ Tomcats

2/21 - Houston, TX @ Vinyl Junkie

2/22 - Little Rock, AR @ Downtown Music

2/23 - Clarksville, TN @ The Coupe

2/25 - Atlanta, GA @ Swayzes

2/26 - Tampa, FL @ Transition Art Gallery

2/27 - Daytona Beach, FL @ Port Orange Elks

2/28 - Charleston, SC @ Jimbo's Rock Lounge

2/29 - Spartanburg, SC @ Ground Zero

3/1 - Virginia Beach, VA @ Shakes

3/2 - Richmond, VA @ Kingdoms

3/3 - Viceland, NJ @ Hangar 84

3/4 - Lemoyne, PA @ The Champ

3/5 - Fullerton, PA @ Planet Trog

3/6 - Danbury, CT @ Tuxedo Junction

3/7 - Providence, RI @ PVD Social Club

3/8 - Long Island, NY @ Broadway Bar

3/9 - Poughkeepsie, NY @ The Loft