The Devil Wears Prada - Plagues

Rating

single starsingle starsingle starsingle star

RIYL

Chiodos
Dance Gavin Dance
Gwen Stacy
Underoath

Release Date

08/21/2007

Label

Rise Records

Tracklist

1. Goats on a Boat
2. Number Three, Never Forget
3. HTML Rulez D00d
4. Hey John, What's Your Name Again?
5. Don't Dink and Drance
6. You Can't Spell 'Crap' Without 'C'
7. This Song Is Called
8. Reptar, King of the Ozone
9. Scorpion Deathlock
10. Nickels Is Money Too

Users Rating

single starsingle starsingle starhalf star
4 ratings

Your Rating

Create an account or log in to rate this album

Recent Ratings

Exactly 364 days after the release of their first album, Dear Love: A Beautiful Discord, The Devil Wears Prada polishes off and releases their sophomore full-length titled Plagues. With little time between each release, the band leaves no room for past fans to fall behind; however, now after ample touring, the band is more accessible to a larger crowd. In this crowd, no Chiodos fan would be left unaccounted for.

For the average Chiodos fan, eager for the highly anticipated Bone Palace Ballet, waiting isn’t easy. The Devil Wears Prada is there to ease the pain, following many attributes similar to Chiodos as well has having veneered Chiodos vocalist Craig Owens to lend his voice to “You Can’t Spell Crap Without a C”. The track rests in the middle of the album, producing the sound affluent throughout the whole album. Mike Hranica still screams as much as he used to, the same way he used to, but with more definition in his growls. Though few changes are present, the largest and most obvious belongs to Jeremy DePoyster. DePoyster sings almost as much as Hranica screams, thus loading up the album with a myriad of vocals. Halfway into “You Can’t Spell Crap Without a C”, DePoyster introduces Owens and gives him a solo part later into the song. Owen’s signature high pitch wails are embedded into the song before it breaks off back to Hranica. Chiodos and The Devil Wears Prada differ in sound, so Owen’s part gives more to the track than a third voice.

The vocals are definitely the most enamoring attribute on the album. Hranica’s deep growls and DePoyster’s higher pitch causes a large rift in sound. The two voices together are dynamic, but after the Drop Dead, Gorgeous-esque (In Vogue era) keyboards are added into the equation, tracks like “This Song Is Called” branches off in various directions, from buoyant keyboards to the hefty breakdowns. “Reptar, King of the Ozone” is a track exemplifying the two vocalists as a duo, sharing lines half way like they have in “Swords, Dragons, & Diet Coke” from Dear Love. “Reptar, King of the Ozone” has its chorus split and alternating between each vocalist, making noticeable contrasts. Though Hranica shares the bulk of vocal attention, DePoyster is the one to leave the impression. DePoyster finishes off the message on “Goats on a Boat”, sings the incredibly catchy chorus in “Hey John, What’s Your Name Again?”, and the more moral based, less abstract lines on Plagues.

It doesn’t take long to notice that The Devil Wears Prada is a Christian hardcore band, and very Christian indeed. “Thus it becometh us to fulfill all righteousness” is entangled within the artwork sitting atop Plague’s CD label. Even while taking the stage after Goatwhore, the band proclaims their Christianity to the crowd of scoffing Satanists. The same can be said for Plagues. Avoiding their zeal would be near to impossible because every lyric is exuberant with morality.

Songs on Plagues wouldn’t ever be called boring. A more suitable description would be synth induced metal. The album is much easier to get into than Dear Love, though it still takes some time to find the unique characteristics of each track without relying on the drummer’s unique use of symbol tapping in place for rests. Everyone could quibble upon The Devil Wears Prada’s metal, hardcore, metalcore, post-hardcore, or whatever you want to call it sound, or nag upon the band’s ardor for Jesus, but at the end of the day, Plagues is simply an album worthy of a spin.

--Fiona Lee

Author

Fiona Lee
Last updated: 09/29/2009 08:59PM

Comments

ctsdrums
08/22/2007
09:54AM
apparently all the good band names are taken.
Rick Gebhardt
08/22/2007
10:16AM
Age: 31
Location
Minnesota
I dug this disc. Better than their debut.

Find me EVERYWHERE:

cloudscollide
08/22/2007
10:20AM
Age: 23
Location
PA
Listened to a few songs. It was okay.

Music Blog.
Depths blog. (my band)

Bells and Whistles
08/22/2007
11:25AM
Location
Edmonton, AB
i really really enjoy this album, although those song titles make me want to punch all the members in the face. for a band that pretty much gets mocked constantly, these guys have some chops.
Spartan E7
08/22/2007
12:50PM
Age: 25
Location
Infinitely Inwards
I have had this album for a while and haven't really given it much of a chance. Judging from what i have listened to, it seems to be good for what it is. It sounds very generic at some points, but that is okay.

Ever Forthright - Ever Forthright
Fallujah - The Harvest Wombs
The New Law - The Fifty Year Storm
The Mars Volta - Noqtourniqet
Aborted - Global Flatline
Spawn of Possession - Incurso
Crippled Black Phoenix - (Mankind)The Crafty Ape

lpshinobi
08/22/2007
01:29PM
Age: 23
Location
VT
I thought A Beautiful Dischord was an excellent album. I'll have to give this one a listen sometime.

My Top Songs of '09
The Appleseed Cast//as the little things go
Caspian//sycamore
Sunwrae//Chinook Winds
Dredg//down to the seller
If These Trees Could Talk//the sun is in the north
From Monument to Masses//an ounce of prevention
Straylight Run//i'm through with the past


LpShinobi's Post-Rock and Shoegazing Recommendation, via YouTube

Lpshinobi's Post-Rock Band, New Song Posted

Gella
08/22/2007
07:40PM
Location
Des Moines, IA
ctsdrums
apparently all the good band names are taken.


These guys should tour with I Killed the Prom Queen.