Date Signed: Summer 2025
Label: MNRK Heavy
Band Members: Trey Landrum, lead vocals; Zach McConnell, guitar; Trap, drums; Bailey Jones, bass
Type of Music: Rock, Metal, Country, Southern
Management: Cody Ash
Booking: Lucas Lendenbaum, lucas@pinnacleentertainmentinc.com
Legal: Alex Ploegsma
Publicity: Amanda Cagan - ABC Public Relations, amanda@abc-pr.com
A&R: Scott Givens
Web: @devilscutmusic
It might seem like country music and heavy metal don’t complement each other, but give it a second thought and you might realize they fit like a glove. Need proof? Check out Devil’s Cut, whose debut album ROADKILL comes out April 24.
Drummer Cody Ash, formerly of nu metalcore group Sylar, made the connection early on. Needing to earn money between gigs, he learned to bartend from his friend Trey Landrum. One day, Ash suggested that the singer try blending the genres, which made perfect sense to Landrum. “I grew up on Garth [Brooks] and Tim McGraw, Metallica and Pantera,” he remembers. And just like that, Devil’s Cut was born. Ash then became their manager before getting the opportunity to play with Jelly Roll and moving to Nashville.
The rising act was headed home after a long stretch of touring when Landrum awoke to four missed calls from Ash. Scott Givens of MNRK Heavy had discovered them on YouTube and wanted to chat. A bit of online research suggested the offer was worth entertaining.
Scott, Landry, and Ash talked a few days later. They instantly clicked, and a flurry of discussions ensued with other members of the MNRK family. The decision was made to have a collective Zoom call, which wound up taking place during Landry’s bachelor party.
The band previously turned down two other offers, one from a foreign label, another from a friend whose label wasn’t quite ready. The choice to go with MNRK made sense. For one, it was obvious the label believed in their vision. “They made us feel comfortable,” discloses Landrum. “They didn’t rush anything.” All angles of the deal were covered through email before the contract was drafted.
Landrum’s advice for other artists is to refrain from jumping on the first offer that comes along. Also, never stop going after your dream. “I’ve seen people my age kind of give up,” observes the 42-year-old. “And I’m like, ‘Fuck that. I’m going until my brakes fall off.’”
