EP Review: The Devil Wears Prada – ZII (Solid State Records)

Metalcore heavyweight crew, The Devil Wears Prada are back with a brand new EP entitled ‘ZII’. Due to be released on May 21st via Solid State Records, ZII represents the next chapter of The Devil Wears Prada.

Any new music from The Devil Wears Prada is cause for celebration, let alone a new EP that is a sequel to the excellent 2010 Zombie EP. The band stating that:

There’s no question that the Zombie EP is a fan favourite and a record that really set the pace for us as a heavier band.  A goal we had for this EP was to pay tribute to Z1 while honing in on the characteristics that we enjoy about heavy music today and the directions we want to see it heading.

First things first, ZII is an unashamedly heavy record. It is also an unashamedly TDWP record. Hopefully, you have some idea of what that means but if not; think massive metalcore hooks, ferocious breakdowns, head-banging groove and choruses that make you want to dive headfirst into the nearest circle pit.

Opening track, Nightfall hits all of those points and then some. The frenzied pace dropping into something really methodical but utterly crushing. The Devil Wears Prada at their best and their heaviest. The word is beastly and there’s still another four tracks to come.

Forlorn’s mix of serrated riffs, roaring vocals and crunchy percussion beatdowns keeps things on the heavy side. However, here we also get some classic TDWP melody and clean singing. Termination has some of that too but is less pronounced and instead we get a track that goes straight for the jugular, causing an orgy of blood to spurt out. The industrial style blast of drums and discombobulated horror effects are what makes this a track to remember.

A super-passionate display that shifts so naturally between intense metalcore, bullish melody and outright head-banging heavy metal is what awaits on Nora. The Devil Wears Prada pushing the limits of what you can openly call ‘metalcore’ without adding a ‘but’.

Which leads to the finale of Contagion and a track that is TDWP standing up and saying this is who we are in 2021. A powerful and tear-jerking introduction gives way to a flurry of guitars and drums. Chaotic and wild, the meatiness of what’s on show here is one thing to admire but that we also get a monumental chorus as well, is the cherry on top.

Fantastic stuff from a fantastic band. It’s a worthy successor to a beloved EP and it’s exciting to see where the band stands in 2021.

The Devil Wears Prada – ZII Full Track Listing:

1. Nightfall
2. Forlorn
3. Termination
4. Nora
5. Contagion

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