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Head To Head: The Devil Wears Prada
Head To Head: The Devil Wears Prads
'With Roots Above and Branches Below'
The subject? Christian metalcore heroes The Devil Wears Prada's brand spanking new album, 'With Roots Above And Branches Below'. The issue? Whether its an over-polished piece of whiny turd or one of the most promising metal releases of 2009. In what will be the first of many Head To Head reviews featuring some of Nihilista's top scribes, Groove-Metal Queen Kelly Sabrina goes one on one with resident Melodeath Nerd Merlin Alderslade to suss out whether this album is truly Prada or totally Primark. Stand back, this could get messy...
(Track 1: 'Sassafras')
Kelly: Right, I'm all go here
Merlin: 'Sassafras' is playing. You know these guys are Christian?
Kelly: For real, best we can't make out what they are saying!
Merlin: I don't mind TDWP. At times they're like a better version of Killswitch Engage, but they ruin it with ridiculously wimpy vocals
Kelly: Music like this always makes me think of those interpretative videos...I don't think the vocals spoil it at all. Mind you, I am a girl.
Merlin: So's he by the sounds of it. It's a gorgeous melody though...
Kelly: Now you point it out, it is pretty 30 Seconds To Mars.
Merlin: It's growing on me anyway
Kelly: It's tight and clean - like all my favourite women.
(Track 2: 'I Hate Buffering')
Merlin: This has the odd keyboardy moments in. Sometimes that works as it makes the music more epic and dreamy, but sometimes its all a bit...Enter Shikari.
Kelly: Yeah I just noticed that too. I like that the music sounds young though - current and up to date. I don't feel like this is a bunch of dads
Merlin: That is true. Music for the kids, by the kids.
(Track 3: 'Assistant To The Regional Manager')
Kelly: Even though sometimes the structure is clunky, I can totally forgive them just for being cool.
Merlin: They still have goofy song names.
Kelly: 'Tis the trend these days...I like this. Track 3 is the best so far for me. They get the keyboards so right here. It's almost a little Goth, dare I say it.
Merlin: Yeah it has that ambience, it's quite subtle.
Kelly: Very like In Flames this one, but fresher.
Merlin: Hey, In Flames are fresh! But I'm a fanboy so I would say that
Kelly: They were fresh the first time, but how many albums now?... same ol' same ol'.
Merlin: I disagree! Disgraceful.
(Track 4: 'Dez Moines')
Kelly: 'Dez Moines' now.
Merlin: This is great, it freshens things up with that drum 'n' bass intro.
Kelly: I really, really like this. It's got some real identity and sophistication to it. So clean!
Merlin: Defo, I think the riffs are very typical melodeath, but it's very polished
(Track 5: 'Big Wiggly Style')
Kelly: I can't wait to hear this next track - 'Big Wiggly Style'! What?!
Merlin: 'Big Wiggly Style' is not that wiggly.
Kelly: No it's not too funky. The piano is a bit...emo.
Merlin:Yeah that dropped it down a peg. It's like Elton John doing a duet with Bleeding Through
Kelly: Haha yeah I hear that. I'm not feeling this one. Oh God and the singing starts again... boy band harmonies.
(Track 6: 'Danger: Wildman')
Merlin: Wow, some proper synth coming in on this one.
Kelly: I really like it - an echoy emo moment!
Merlin: Nice ambient outro.
Kelly: Drop was a little Cradle in its instrumentation. Me like!
(Track 7: 'Ben Has A Kid')
Merlin: Shit, 'Ben Has A Kid'! I hope someone told him.
Kelly: I know he kept that quiet...I can't believe someone boned him.
Merlin: Bloody Ben. I wonder if it's Billie Jean's?
Kelly: No, she's just a girl who said that he's the one. If you're reading this Ben, you're rotten.
Merlin: Yeah Ben. Asshole. I think that the album is becoming a bit formulaic. Heavy Bit, Singing, Heavy Bit, Singing.
Kelly: I agree, but the balance is good on this one, it's nicely put together.
Merlin: Good hardcore breakdown…BRING THE MOSH
Kelly: I wanna rip my pants off and beat someone with them
*hits merl with said pants*
hook line is good, pretty, bit light though.
(Track 8: 'Wapakalypse')
Merlin: 'Wapakalypse' next. Sounds like a finishing move. This starts out heaviest of the lot...but then goes into more sappyness
Kelly: Generic wailing. I still like it though. I could drive to this...if I could drive.
Merlin: Its ok I cant either, I could drive a golf club through someone’s head to this breakdown though….nice euphoric ending, oh no this is still the middle!
(Track 9: 'Gimme Half')
Kelly: This is really, really catchy. Like chlamydia.
Merlin: It's starting to sound samey. I think that if they'd shaved maybe two or three tracks off, this could have been an excellent album, but they have about four or five song structures that they keep repeating.
Kelly: I think you've got it in one there Merl. If you cant differentiate between tracks, how can you like any of them?! I'm bummed actually as this is a band that I really want to like. I like this epic outro, makes me want to snog a girl in a hoody at night in a park in the wind on a hill.
Merlin: I think they'll attract a healthy fanbase, there'll be DM lovers, emos and general metalheads that will enjoy it
(Track 10: 'Louder Than Thunder')
Merlin: If you call a song 'Louder Than Thunder', it better be fucking good...this is not louder than anything.
Kelly: It's smooth though. Get your lighters out – the soft side of TDWP is here! I'm mad digging it.
Merlin: 'Louder Than Thunder'? This is quieter than a butterfly fart.
Kelly: I think my 'romantic girl' self was loving that
(Track 11: 'Lord Xenu')
Kelly: They are using some cool distortion effects - very electro. Mixing it up a bit is always win.
(Hidden Track?)
Kelly: ‘Puta's fever’ - yes yes yes!
Meriln: Puta's Fever?
Kelly: oh wait that’s not TDWP, its just on my i-tunes, hahahah! Its by the devil's call
Meriln: "So now Xenu has finished, and next is Monster mash"
Kelly: are you messing with me
Merlin: "This is a very big departure from the rest of the album, less emphasis on breakdowns and more on 'Graveyard Bashes'
HAHAHAHHAHA yes you pleb!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
lmao!
Kelly: ‘Easy Igor’…MASH GOOD… I know that song too well
Merlin: oh Kel
FINAL VERDICT:
Merlin: I reckon that TDWP are a solid metal/deathcore band that do have their own sound, but I do think that they're gonna need to do more if they're going to become a real force. I give the album a 7.
Kelly: They are clearly cool. Great image, people are interested, but the sound needs expanding on. 7/10 it is, defo worth a listen.
Merlin: huzzah *high five*
Kelly: *high five, misses and falls* Love you small town Merl
Stay tuned for more Head To Heads as our team of merciless reviewers get their claws out.