Setting aside any contentious debates about the band’s faith and style, The Devil Wears Prada, a six-piece outfit hailing from Ohio, demonstrates their ability to craft a compelling album with their third studio release, titled ‘With Roots Above and Branches Below.’ This album serves as both a declaration of their intent to delve deeper into a heavier sound and a testament to their steady rise within the metalcore scene.
In contrast to their earlier efforts, which were often criticized for being mundane, formulaic, and somewhat diluted within the metalcore genre, ‘With Roots Above and Branches Below’ surprises with its strength and maturity.
The album kicks off with a powerful punch as the opening track, ‘Sassafras,’ exudes sheer brutality. While breakdowns have become somewhat cliché in modern metalcore, the audacity to unleash one within the first fifteen seconds of an album is noteworthy. The Devil Wears Prada not only executes this move but does it with precision and impact.
Lead vocalist Mike Hranica subjects his vocal cords to a strenuous workout on tracks like ‘I Hate Buffering’ and ‘Ben Has a Kid.’ These songs expertly combine relentless double kick drumming with the melodic hooks provided by rhythm guitarist Jeremy DePoyster.
As is often the case with metalcore acts, The Devil Wears Prada tends to polarize listeners. Are they emo kids dabbling in Bleeding Through-esque riffs, or are they indicative of the next generation of metal enthusiasts? Regardless, TDWP creates music that is sonically captivating.
The album showcases both fast-paced and intense tracks like ‘Wapakalypse,’ blending hardcore guitar lines with clean, catchy choruses, as well as slower tempo compositions like ‘Louder than Thunder.’ Notably, there’s a clever nod to ‘The Office’ in the track title ‘Assistant to the Regional Manager.’
Speaking broadly about the prevalence of Christian metal, it’s somewhat ironic that these bands are delivering some of the most noteworthy highlights in contemporary heavy music, as observed in acts like As I Lay Dying and August Burns Red. In the words of a South Park reference, “if irony were made of strawberries, we’d all be drinking a lot of smoothies right now.”
When vocalist Mike Hranica passionately exclaims, “our message will grow,” one might wonder if his words carry a prophetic and poignant weight. ‘With Roots Above and Branches Below’ represents a step in the right direction—undeniably enjoyable, though not groundbreaking. Yet, in all fairness, few can lay legitimate claim to such groundbreaking status in heavy music, except perhaps bands like Between the Buried and Me or Mastodon.
Tracklist:
Sassafras
I Hate Buffering
Assistant to the Regional Manager
Dez Moines
Big Wiggy Style
Danger: Wildman
Ben Has a Kid
Wapakalypse
Gimme Half
Louder Than Thunder
Lord Xenu
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