The Devil Wears Prada

About The Devil Wears Prada

The Devil Wears Prada came out of Dayton, Ohio in 2005, named after a book none of them probably read. They started as teenagers making the kind of metalcore that was everywhere in the mid-2000s, all breakdowns and screamed vocals with just enough melody to keep things interesting. What set them apart early was their willingness to get weird with it, throwing in electronic elements and song structures that didn't always follow the verse-chorus-breakdown formula everyone else was married to.

Their debut "Dear Love: A Beautiful Discord" arrived in 2006 and did well enough to get them noticed, but it was 2009's "With Roots Above and Branches Below" that really landed. The album hit number 11 on the Billboard 200, which was impressive for a band still figuring things out. Songs like "Danger: Wildman" and "Dez Moines" became setlist staples. They were touring constantly, part of that Warped Tour ecosystem where bands lived in vans and slowly built followings one sweaty venue at a time.

Then came the "Zombie" EP in 2010, and this is where things got interesting. Five songs about the apocalypse, heavier than anything they'd done before, with Mike Hranica's vocals pushed into full death metal territory. It was a left turn that could have alienated people but instead became their calling card. They still play those songs at pretty much every show.

"Dead Throne" in 2011 and "8:18" in 2013 kept them in the conversation, refining their sound without sanding off the edges. By the time "The Act" dropped in 2019, they'd evolved into something harder to categorize. That album pulled back on the breakdowns, leaned into atmosphere and dynamics, and split their fanbase right down the middle. Some people thought it was their most mature work. Others wanted them to stay heavy.

They've always been open about their Christian faith, which puts them in an odd position. They play secular festivals and tours but come from that religious hardcore tradition. They don't preach from the stage, but the themes are there if you're looking for them. It's made them a bridge band in some ways, acceptable to both church kids and kids who'd never step foot in one.

"Color Decay" came out in 2022 and found them back in heavier territory, probably a response to how "The Act" landed. The lineup has stayed remarkably stable over the years, which is rare in this genre. Hranica is still doing his throat-shredding thing two decades in.

They're in that middle tier of metalcore bands now, the ones who'll always draw a crowd but probably won't break into arenas. They tour consistently, put out records every few years, and their fans are devoted enough to keep the whole thing running. Not a bad place to be.

Crowds lose their minds in a controlled way. Kids in the pit actually move with purpose rather than flailing. The band plays tight, the stage presence is businesslike rather than theatrical, but the energy reads as confident. Expect walls of sound and a room that genuinely feels heavy.

Known for Assistant to the Regional Manager, Escape, Mammoth, Makeup, Sailor

See The Devil Wears Prada Live