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Artist: The Devil Wears Prada
Album: With Roots Above And Branches Below
Label: Ferret
Release Date: 5/5/2009
Reviewed By: Chris W
Tracklisting:
01. Sassafras
02. I Hate Buffering
03. Assistant to the Regional Manager
04. Dez Moines
05. Big Wiggly Style
06. Danger: Wildman
07. Ben Has a Kid
08. Wapakalypse
09. Gimme Half
10. Louder Than Thunder
11. Lord Xenu
Back in 2005 I ordered a self released album by a little band called The Devil Wears Prada and immediately fell in love with it. Some people I showed it too thought they wouldn’t go anywhere, others said they would eventually get signed. Jump forward to May 5, 2009 and we find that same band releasing their 3rd major label release. And I have 3 words to describe it: Brutal, Dark, and Epic.
With Roots Above And Branches Below is for me their best work to date. By far this is their most aggressive work yet. The album opens with “Sassafras” which opens with some white noise and a drumstick count in before launching into an unrelenting gallop and breakdown. These guys definitely have a recognizable style. They know how to build up a track and get you into the song. Whether it be from a bone crushing breakdown or the way they create atmospheric echoing sections with their guitars. One of the most noticeable changes on this album from their previous works is the keyboards. Sure on past albums they have occasionally taken the lead, but on this album James Baney became much more aggressive in making his presence known. No longer are there just strings and some synth playing in the background, now there are the sounds of an orchestra playing melodies, supplying the backing, and most excellent synth lines grabbing your attention around its throat. Another big difference I found was Mike Hranica’s vocals, they sound clearer and more intense than on previous releases. This could be due to the way they were recorded I’m not sure but it makes the album all the better. “Big Wiggly Style” opens with a few hits on the cymbal and a dramatic orchestra, its opening alone makes it stick out in my mind. And “Danger:Wildman” feels like the band decided to write the most mosh heavy song they could, and believe me I cannot wait to see it live. The one track that stands out the most is “Louder Than Thunder” which explores new ground for the guys. The song features absolutely no screaming, its a soft and emotional song backed by pianos, strings, electronic drums, and some excellent use of silence. Jeremy DePoyster sings the song very well and it has become one of my favorite tracks by the band.
Stand out tracks: “Sassafrass”, “Big Wiggly Style”, “Danger:Wildman”, “Wapakalypse”, “Louder Than Thunder”
Overall: 3 words: Brutal, Dark, Epic. This is their best to date, and with the way they improve on every release one can only imagine what will come next. These guys aren’t taking the scene by storm for nothing, they’ve got a chemistry not usually found in young groups.
[Myspace] [Label] [Purevolume]
Buy: (available in 3 formats: CD/DVD, CD, and 12″ vinyl [Band's Merchstore] [Smartpunk] [Interpunk] [iTunes]
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| 03/14/2010 06:01 pm | News
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Best album of the year
I have to admit that as much as I don’t like these guys I enjoyed that Dez Moines song and I’m curious to hear what Louder Than Thunder sounds like. Interesting name for a song that’s supposedly not loud. If the rest of the songs were more like Dez Moines with the more toned down screaming and not the other horrid stuff they usually do I’d be interested.
Also just a heads up Chris, a few of the links are messed up like the Myspace ones that redirect to a weird IVM page.
I have read a lot of reviews with people not liking this album at all. This review though I completely agree with and it is my favorite TDWP album to date.
links are fixed. Theres a way to hear louder than thunder on their myspace sometimes it works sometimes it doesn’t. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yh42dDvqLXM
Good review, I agree.
Terrible band and album…
And here come the haters, haha. Want to explain your view Thrill Seeker?
well, obviously, it didnt thrill him!
I thought it was good, and pretty heavy for a prada album. I wouldn’t say it is anywhere close to Album of the Year though, I can already name at least 5 that will or already have surpassed it.
Not everyone will be pleased. I’ve learned that the hard way. Didn’t read the review, because I saw the score/summary, and already, I agree. Easily my favorite release by them. They really stepped it up this time around and wrote a solid album. By no means groundbreaking, but who cares? It’s good for what it is, and that’s what matters. If a band isn’t trying to go for a certain style/sound, why hold them to that standard?
Prpbably one of my all-time favorite albums. Favorite TDWP album for sure.
best album of the year. by far. now i cant wait for the ABR’s Constellations.
03. “Assistant to the Regional Manager”
I gotta have this one just because of that song title :D
Haha fusse, I know. Love the shoutout to The Office there. :lol:
I wonder what the lyrics are though.
well, i’ve trusted chris’ musical judgement before. i’ve never liked this band at all, but i’ll have to check it out. who knows what may happen :P i must admit, though–their song titles all but turn me off. i know it’s a nice relief to have some humor in such a serious genre, but i would feel like every scene mall kid in the world telling someone that i’m listening to a song called sassafras.
I’ll answer for Thrill Seeker, though I bet his argument runs along the lines of “it’s not original” – well, ABR isn’t all that original either.
Any knowledgeable metal fan won’t like this album the least bit. Modern metalcore is perverting real metal. Do you hear those generic, uninventive, recycled, rehashed, PLAIN BORING chug chug’s? Those are overdone – stop using them. You can replace the chug-chug’s with wild riffing or something, just stop using chug-chug’s. Also, stop using effects/autotune on the vocals. Those are horrid. Just don’t fall for this modern metalcore gimmick. A couple years down the road, people will be laughing at these guys in the same manner we’re laughing at Creed. Besides, metalcore is stepping into what nu-metal was just a few years ago. Boring, rehashed trash music that everyone likes.
That said, at least they’re Christ-centered. Love the lyrics, love the screams, everything else sucks.
and I love Killswitch Engage so there!!!!!!!!!! likeomgnoway!!!!!!!
eh.
decent album, but definitely not making any top 5 or top 10 lists.
as cities burn, u2, mewithoutyou, august burns red, and for today have/are making releases this year.
however, dez moines is very catchy, the intro to big wiggly style is pretty cool, and louder than thunder is a good song. everything else is just kinda mundane. nothing enough to capture my attention.
6/10
@devin spenny
For Today is even more derivative than TDWP haha.
I’ve been a tdwp fan since I first heard them. They’ve been more of a guilty pleasure for me, because I generally don’t listen to bands like this… especially with style of clean vocals. Regardless, I’ve always liked them. I enjoy this cd, but I’m not sure yet if I like it as much as the others. One thing I noticed is how much more prominent the clean vocals are. As feminine as they sound, I’ve always liked Jeremy’s clean vocals… I feel like it adds quite a bit to the metalcore chaos that tdwp generally has going. However, I believe that they took it a bit overboard on this release. Before they used the clean vocals sparingly and in good taste… on this release there is some super pop chorus vocals on every song. Jeremy’s vocals sound even more polished and pop/feminine than before. I like the vocals, i’m not really bashing his vocals by calling them feminine, but let’s face it, they’re super feminine. I like the vocals, but i think they went too far with featuring them on every single song numerous times.
Also, is it just me or does this album not carry the tdwp personality? the first two albums had this like… tdwp personality… like quirky metalcore. I feel like this album is lacking that, and it’s way more polished.
I’m having trouble getting used to hranica’s new scream. The lows are the same, which I love… but his highs are a lot different now.
All this aside, I’m definitely enjoying this release.
its not that the highs are different. you’re just hearing it more clearly than in the past. it comes with the higher production budget of Ferret vs. Rise.
I thought it might be the production… but part of me actually likes how it sounded on previous albums better. When I’ve seen them live, it always sounded like the first two albums.
I haven’t seen them live for almost a year now, do his vocals live match the new sound or the old?
Either way, slight irritations aside… this is a good album. I’ve been listening to it a couple times each day
Nice review Chris! This is my favorite TDWP album so far. I don’t think it will be my AOTY, but I think it will rank in my Top 10 albums of 2009.
i’ve been chewing on this release the past few days trying to get my thoughts together on it. the first thing i noticed on it was those difference in screams. the highs are just nerve-racking [his voice is becoming sort of fried i suppose, because he used to sound alot better even live, except for last time i saw them with UO they weren't very good..]. and the other vocals are way overdone it seems. i agree with Nater on all that. Jeremy’s vocals are just the same each and every time. same notes he hits for every chorus or whatever. the band does do some new epic things though, and i enjoy the album as a whole. it’s not the best prada release, and it’s not worth any album of the year stuff though.
Best album of the year try Becoming The Archetype new album blows the doors off of Devils Wear Prada and a lot more better talented band
this is very true…. bta is a MUCH better band. but this album is fairly decent. Certainly not album of the year, or even top 10 when its all said and done. that honor SHOULD go to emery, when that one drops.
Travis, BTA’s album came out in 2008.
^Yes, and it is amazing. I’ll be picking the tdwp soon…
I didnt know Days of the New had a new album. Wait………Oh
mikes screams live sound like they do on this album. i saw them with ADTR in Apirl
@AlexM … that saddens me a little. I guess it must not be the production then, he must be changing them on purpose, or they’ve just worn down.
@Joel haha… i know what you mean, with all the days of the new tree album covers. I love their cover art.
@Travis… Though it came out in ‘08, you’re right… Dichotomy is absolutely delicious
This is their best CD. Period. The first two…. sucked. I mean they put their heart into them for sure but tdwp was just kids then and their musicianship has gotten so much better, especially the drummer, plagues was so predictable as he had like, 3 different fills that he defaulted to hahaha but he’s pretty incredible on the new cd.
And also, why is no one mentioning the ridiculous keys and effects on this album??? Honestly, their keys cover up all the monotony and repition that the guitarists beat into you every song. Keys player saves the day. Plus he’s the funnest one to watch live too, he’s nuts.
donezo.
just bought this tonight, and so far i have to say the songwriting is their best yet. however, i really am not a fan of the mix on this album compared to plagues. personally, i think that the bottom end of the album, particularly the kicks, are just too pronounced. on a higher-quality listening setup (which for me, is my car), the kick just drowns out much of the melodies. this is without any rediculous bass boost or anything. never had an issue with such a pronounced bottom frequency band like this with another cd, save for maybe some mainstream rap lol. i’ll be listening to the album on my headphones on a trip tomorrow, so hopefully i will be able to enjoy the full spectrum of the album.
that all being said, i still am loving every part of it. like i said, tdwp’s songwriting has really come along since “dear love…” and i look forward to hearing more from this band.
I think the reason a lot of you think the sound has changed is due to the production of the album. I’ve seen these guys at Cornerstone several times and played with them on smaller stages up here in Michigan and I have to say that their previous releases don’t do their sound justice the same way this new album does.
TDWP is very tight live (rhythmically not tight as in “cool”) Their previous albums were pretty loose and fairly Lo-Fi in terms of recording quality. I really appreciate being able to hear this band with better production. Although this recording sounds much cleaner and less raw than previous releases I think that the High quality production and recording presents a new level of rhythmic intensity to enjoy.
Also I would like to respond to John’s accusation that they use “autotune” on this album. I’m not sure you understand what autotune is. T pain=autotune. Kanye west=autotune. Secret Handshake= autotune.
TDWP does not = autotune. The smoothness in the clean vocals is the result of digital pitch correction which unfortunately is just a part of modern recording used as a means to save time in the studio. The decision to use this technology is usually in the hands of the producer and is up to his sole discretion.
If you have seen TDWP live you know that their vocalist hits those notes live without the help of software. If you dont believe me feel free to reference youtube.
i think mikes vocals are even better. i love this album. everything is a step up from Plagues
@ jordan, i agree about the autotune stuff. he still hits every note live. its all legit
A friend of mine played a song off this in the car for me and I was enjoying it. I’m not sure which one it was, maybe track 8, but it was heavy and the drums were nuts. I’m actually thinking about picking this up even though I hated their first 2 albums.
How has no one pointed out that this CD was produced by Joey Sturgis, the same guy that did their last album? The production really isn’t much better.. I mean it sounds great, but the last one sounded the same production-wise too.
When i 1st heard a song off their new album, I noticed the totally different vocal sound. I don’t like it. It’s more raspy, and it turns me off. I did, however, download this album (I have never paid for a TDWP album… EVER) and some girl on youtube sent me a copy of their 1st album, in exchange for Survive kaleidoscope, sent by me. I haven’t listened to that one through yet. I have allot to catch up on. But I can tell I’ll like TDWP’s 1t album much better. Vocals sound better for Mike, but not for Jeremy. The music is more my type anyway off the 1st album.