Two decades into their career, Ohio metalcore outfit The Devil Wears Prada are still intent on exploring their sonic boundaries. Despite - as most bands do - having a core, recognisable brand of music, The Devil Wears Prada remain unrestrained by the confines of expectation, preferring to allow their creativity to dictate the direction of their music rather than expectation.
This has never been as evident as with The Devil Wears Prada's upcoming ninth album, Flowers. The new album marks the start of an incredibly epic cycle and phase for the band, representing perhaps their most significant creative leap forward yet.
HEAVY sat down with vocalist Mike Hranica for some clarity.
"This one has been years and years in the works," he began, "even since the record was finished being mixed feels like years ago, but that's an exaggeration (laughs). We're excited for folks to hear it."
We ask Mike to tell us more about the epic new cycle of the band alluded to in the press release.
"In terms of looking at the cycle, what we just did with Color Decay coming out of the pandemic was certainly unprecedented compared to the seven other full-lengths we released every year or so," he measured. "We really looked forward to this cycle. We feel like we're in stride in terms of the band and marking 20 years in and full steam ahead."
Talk turns to the musicality present on Flowers.
"There's a lot of pop sensibilities," he offered. "When you look at the genre and the label of metalcore, you think of the heavy with the singing. When I think about what this record is, I think it leans a little bit rocky - at least from the exterior - but there are certainly songs that by all means fit the metalcore description. I think it's very chorus-oriented and working with the pop sensibilities to the choruses and the theatrics having more of a place than ever."
In the full interview, Mike dives deeper into the musical side of Flowers, details how it marks the start of an epic new cycle for the band, runs us through the dual single release and accompanying short film and how they lay the sonic platform for what is to come.
He discusses the opening track That Same Place and the thought process behind it, the meaning behind the title, whether Flowers is an overall representation of hope or despair, their continued musical evolution and how it stands The Devil Wears Prada amongst their peers, their upcoming tour of Australia with Bullet For My Valentine and more.
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