Korn‘s Jonathan Davis was so excited by ORGY that he created his own record label …
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Metalcore Behemoth
Attempting to contrast the metalcore behemoth that is The Devil Wears Prada, against their former, youthful selves is an effort fraught with futility. Gone are the vaguely humourous song titles, crab-core synth-lines and backing vocals auto-tuned beyond all comprehension. The notion of discord isn’t just part of an album title now, but wholly part of their sonic device and each track on their sixth album, Transit Blues, infects the listener like the Plagues the band once alluded to.
Continuing the darker progression hinted at on 2013’s 8:18, The Devil Wears Prada have seemingly embraced the notion of seductive dissonance and returned with the most ambitious and well-rounded record of their career. The opening salvo of Praise Poison and Daughter show that recent member changes have failed to reduce the band’s ferocity, with razor-sharp guitar lines, crushing rhythm sections and clean choruses that sit more seamlessly within the mix, comfortably woven amongst the chaos. Look no further than future live-set staple Worldwide for evidence that these Ohio gents can pen a truly infectious, post-hardcore anthem.
With Transit Blues feeling like a natural extension of the band’s accomplishments, The Devil Wears Prada are no longer content pandering to one particular scene or genre, but determined to forge their own path of aggressive experimentation.
Lock & Load finds vocalist Mike Hranica screaming out in desperation at senseless gun violence, while single To the Key of Evergreen finds the band embracing the conceptual themes of EP’s like Zombie and last year’s Space, for a tale of lost love. Each track has a rich, live atmosphere, with each instrument surfacing for moments of glory, like the industrial squelches in Submersion or the bludgeoning Detroit Tapes. With Transit Blues feeling like a natural extension of the band’s accomplishments, The Devil Wears Prada are no longer content pandering to one particular scene or genre, but determined to forge their own path of aggressive experimentation.
Stick This Next To: Underoath, Zao, August Burns Red
Standout Tracks: Detroit Tapes, Praise Poison, Worldwide
Transit Blues is available October 7th through Rise Records.
