THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA

I was fully prepared to hate this on hearing opening track 'Sassafras'. Metalcore, verging on math, with the usual and quite generic high/low screeching whiny fucker on vocals. Then, after another yawn, comes track three 'Assistant to the Regional Manager' and, holy shit, some symphonic elements poke their nose in and, you know what, ignore Mike Hranica (and to some extent the often-lifeless clean vocals of Jeremy DePoyster) and The Devil Wears Prada are actually quite good. Don't get me wrong, they're not my new favourite band by any stretch of the imagination, but I would take them over the majority of -core bands right now. Currently signed to Ferret Music (who I am really impressed with as a label; based on quality signings), this is their third record. So, I'd have hoped they'd have really got their shit together by now. Which, can only mean that this is the groove that the band have settled into. Ah well, it'll appeal to those kids with angular haircuts, bad dress sense, and moody looks on their faces. Yeah, Emos. James Baney needs to find a new band though, because he's awesome.

LABEL:

FORMAT:

Ferret Records

Album

WITH ROOTS ABOVE AND BRANCHES BELOW

Review by Steve Cowan

RUNNING TIME:

40:23

RELEASE DATE:

5th May 2009

TRACK LISTING

1) Sassafras
2) I Hate Buffering
3) Assistant to the Regional Manager
4) Dez Moines
5) Big Wiggly Style
6) Danger: Wildman
7) Ben Has a Kid
8) Wapakalypse
9) Gimme Half
10) Louder Than Thunder
11) Lord Xenu

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN:

USA

"Metalcore, verging on math, with the usual and quite generic high/low screeching whiny fucker on vocals."