The Devil Wears Prada came out around the same time as The Wonder Years, 2005. and they both have beards, and they are both moralists, and I was turned on to them by the same rock nyc rhythm section, Helen Bach and Mary Magpie.
And both are really good and one of them, the Devil Wears Prada, has been really good to rock nyc. It is like DWP does to Christianity what TWY does to youth: they roar and metal it out and it is with more than a little excitement that I go to see the great metalcore born again band, that would be DWP in case you’re keeping score at home, at Best Buy tonight.
The setlist is about what you’d think, six off 8:18 (the latest album, guess what the album refers to, I’m sure you can do it), four off the one before it, the somewhat superior Dead Throne, three off the personal best genius Zombie EP and two off With Roots And Branches Below. SO no shockers there. It kicks off with two out of five from 8:18 and two of the others from Zombies yeah they are here to push the product but they know what their best work is and the product has been out for awhile so I guess that makes sense, but what is strange is the lack of anything off their first two albums.
1. Gloom – Opens the new album with some thunder and lighning, and where else were they gonna put it? – B+
2. Escape – ABsolute brilliance, the chorus seems to shine upwards and the two voices one sweet the other sour rage – A
3. Anatomy – Another revved up killer of Zombie. I bet the audience are losing their mind – B+
4. Assistant to the Regional Manager – The opening lick is a beauty, most melodic thing yet though I’m guessing it will be lost in the mix – B+
5. Sailor’s Prayer – Relatively average scream and steam – B
6. Care More – The kings of the slow burn intro – B+
7. Martyrs – Wow, this sounds like a lullaby being throttled in its crib – B+
8. Outnumbered – A theme song about about zombies from 21010, God knows why, oh wait, it’s a metaphor – A
9. Kansas – Really lovely guitar work instrumental – A
10. War – Thumping good song and then it goes berzerk with the “right now” shout out – A-
11. Born to Lose – Deep album cut – B
12. 8:18 – “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us” – So now you know – A
13. First Sight – I love the way the keyboards (synth?) keeps pounding its way in – B+
14. Danger: Wildman – Maybe I underestimate Roots, both of the songs here are killer – A
Encore:
15.Dead Throne – Lead song off a brilliant album – A
16. Mammoth – A colossal ending to a great set – A