Devil’s Queen are back — and they mean it

The Highland rock veterans return with a new lineup, a longer set, and a headline show that’s been six years in the making

For a while, it looked like that chapter had closed. Devil’s Queen had been one of the most reliable draws on the Highland rock circuit through the mid-to-late 2010s — riff-led, direct, built entirely for the room — before stepping away from the stage around 2019. The silence stretched long enough that people stopped expecting a return.

Then came Ozzcore 2025.

“The reaction to playing Devil’s Queen songs again definitely gave us the desire to bring the band back,” says bassist Will Crawford. “It turned out to be the right move.”

It wasn’t a full relaunch, but it was enough to show there was still something there and still an audience for it. Now that return becomes more concrete — a headline show at The Tooth & Claw on Friday 15 May alongside Thousand Mile Stare, the band’s first full statement of intent since 2019.

Same core, new energy

What’s returned isn’t quite the same band people remember, though Will is careful about how he frames it. “With every lineup change to DQ it feels more like an evolution opposed to a reset — with each new member bringing something different and refreshing to the band as well as the sound.”

The backbone of the band has been in place for years. Drummer Frankie Haymer, bassist Will Crawford, and guitarist Murdo McArther never really stopped playing together — moving from Devil’s Queen into GTF and back again over the course of nearly a decade. When GTF ran its course, returning to Devil’s Queen felt natural rather than forced.

Completing the current lineup are guitarist Ken Millen and vocalist Mata Druim. Ken has been part of the fold since the GTF days. “He has been a huge part of shaping our sound and writing new material,” says Will. Mata brings something different again. “He adds the continuity of keeping those big powerful vocals that are synonymous with our sound, while adding a huge stage presence and a unique singing and writing style that adds something extra.”

For Mata, joining Devil’s Queen marks a real shift. “I have gone from being a thrash/death metal vocalist in the days of Seed of Sorrow to doing classic heavy metal vocals from Stolen Order,” he says. “For Devil’s Queen I think we have the catalogue of songs that could branch into other communities in the Highlands and therefore open up opportunities that perhaps weren’t possible before.”

Building the set

The May show pulls from multiple eras — older Devil’s Queen tracks, GTF material, and new songs. “Some of the GTF material was written when we were still Devil’s Queen,” Will explains, “and GTF was an evolution of that sound, so it felt natural to take some of the material with us.” The newer songs have been shaped largely by Ken and Mata. “That’s where they have stepped in with writing — adding flavour to what is considered a DQ sound.”

Fans can also expect a longer set than usual — combining classic GTF and Devil’s Queen tracks alongside new material the band are keen to get in front of a live crowd. With local shows set to be sparse after this one, it’s shaping up to be a proper occasion.

The scene they’re stepping back into has changed considerably since 2013. “When we first started there were maybe three or four rock and metal bands in the Inverness area,” Will reflects. “Now that alone is the number of bands Frankie plays in.” He’s quick to credit The Tooth & Claw for much of that growth. “There is a thriving music scene that I hope we can contribute to in a meaningful way.”

Mata sees it the same way. “Regardless of sub-genre the bands in our scene are very supportive of each other and we have a strong community now which we can be incredibly proud of — not just the bands, but all the fans, the heavy metal community, photographers, venues like The Tooth & Claw, promoters, and people like yourselves at IGigs.”

What comes next

This is not a one-off. Mata is clear that the momentum is already building beyond May. “We are already lining up a lot of shows around the north of Scotland for the coming summer. We also have a lot of new material to get through to further evolve the sound.”

The ambition goes further than the Highlands too. “We would definitely like to showcase our music around the country and further afield,” he says. “The momentum and synergy is so important in continuing the fluidity and potential for this band.”

Will keeps it straightforward: “I wouldn’t hope DQ could reach or surpass similar goals to which we achieved first time round” — which, given what they built first time around, says plenty about where they’re pointing.

Devil’s Queen headline The Tooth & Claw, Inverness on Friday 15 May alongside Thousand Mile Stare. Doors open in the evening and the band will be playing a longer set than usual — classic Devil’s Queen, GTF material, and new tracks all on the table. With local shows thin on the ground after this, get your tickets now.