It’s been a while since Zombie came out all the way back in 2010. Long gone are the days of the Joey Sturgis-core era that the original EP was such an integral part of, with The Devil Wears Prada following suit and shedding their scenecore skin for something more substantial shortly thereafter. That’s not to say Zombie doesn’t still hold up – it absolutely does, an astounding amount for a release from that era, actually. Given how long it’s been, though, and just how many iterations of TDWP’s sound haven taken place since then, the announcement of its sequel took many – myself included – by surprise.
It wasn’t long before the internet was ablaze with excitement and theories, followed by talk of ZII being their “heaviest material to date”. It was hard not to get caught up in the slipstream of excitement. We’ve all heard this talk from bands before, though. “This album has our heaviest material to date” seems to be more a signifier of the opposite actually being true, and while TDWP are known for their creative integrity above all else, the onus was on them to break that cycle.
So, how does ZII hold up? Are The Devil Wears Prada making up for lost time, or are they simply living in the past, tracing back roots in hopes of making a connection?
ZII states its intent right out of the gate. Make no mistake, “Nightfall” is heavy – a cold open if there ever was one. With vocalist Hranica chanting “Nightfall” in his signature growling timbre, TDWP’s intention to pulverise its audience is laid bare. It’s a real tone setter, too. It seems The Devil Wears Prada weren’t bullshitting, because – and let me get this out of the way immediately: ZII absolutely is the very heaviest music this band has penned to date. Chunky riffs, blast beats and low growls aplenty, “Nightfall” is the perfect introduction to an EP and fiercely aggressive as ZII. That’s not to say that in every case heaviness directly correlates to quality, but make no mistake, neither “Nightfall”, nor ZII as a whole falter in either department.
Second track “Forlorn” continues the trend, starting out of the gate with fun, technical and insanely heavy riff. The track maintains this pace, too, leaning into a more groove-centric take on the track’s opening riff in its second verse. “Forlorn” is an incredibly dense track, weaving in and out of techy instrumentation and the track’s masterfully emotive chorus and final breakdown(s). This one is sure to be a fan favourite, bringing a raw percussive energy quite unlike anything we’ve heard from The Devil Wears Prada since “To the Key of Evergreen”.
Third track and lead single “Termination” was admittedly a bit of a fake out. Given that “Termination” is arguably the least outright heavy track here, having this as the first taste of what was so quickly touted as ‘the heaviest TDWP release’ was likely a calculatedly sly move. That’s not to say this thing isn’t heavy as all shit at times. In fact, its main riff jumping between standard and triplet timing is one of the sickest and most mesmerizingly heavy moments on this entire thing. But as a whole package, “Termination” is definitely houses the least overt brutality of any track here. That said, this track is still an absolute rager. Creative riffs, gorgeous synth work and insane drumming chops of Giuseppe Capolupo are strewn across this thing for all to see, and the track serves as an apt sonic transitional point between the EP’s unrelenting first half, and its more melodically inclined closers.
Penultimate track “Nora” briefly brings down the tempo in a meaningful way. Leaning more on the melodic chops that the group are known for, as well as experimenting with some eerie and creative synth work, “Nora” serves to break up the constant barrage of ferocity extremely well. Much like with “Termination”, that’s not to say this track isn’t heavy as balls, though. Frantic riffing, piercing screamed vocals, and a fierce breakdown are all cornerstones of this track. But the more melodic and experimental portions of this track (feeling more reminiscent of Transit Blues than Zombie) help break up the tension, while still maintaining the high-octane energy that the opening tracks more overtly honed in on.
Closing track “Contagion” is major highlight. Serving as both the most melodic, and arguably still the heaviest offering across the entire EP, this thing feels huge. An appropriately grandiose closer for an EP that is sure to be a huge shock to the system for countless TDWP fans. The track’s wonderfully infectious chorus, carried not only by clean vocalist and guitarist Jeremy DePoyster’s insane vocal performance, but also the masterfully paced and suspenseful instrumental work are all something to behold. The closing minute of this track, going from a mesmerising trade-off between the Hranica and DePoyster, bookended by the return of one of the heaviest moments on EP with its breakdown, is a more perfect send-off than I could’ve hoped for. I can safely say that “Contagion” is one of the best tracks in The Devil Wears Prada’s career, and one that will surely become a mainstay in the group’s live set.
I’ll admit – this EP may be a bit of a grower for some. The expectations attached to ZII’s very name will likely set it up for failure with some initially. Those expecting a straight up Sturgis-core affair will absolutely not get that. But what ZII lacks in overt throwbacks to the group’s heyday, it more than makes up for with its very own brand of brutality. It’s clear listening to ZII that The Devil Wears Prada have spent the last decade honing their writing skills, whittling them down to the finest point possible, and expanding their sound in meaningful ways. It feels like it’s all led to this point, with ZII representing an explosive catharsis of the group at not only their very best, but also their very heaviest. These are five of the group’s most solid tracks to date, coming together to form an incredibly concise and punishing package. ZII is available May 21st on Solid State Records, and you can pre-order the EP here.
9.5/10