Two decades deep, The Devil Wears Prada could easily have coasted on nostalgia but Flowers is proof they’re still pushing the limits of what metalcore can sound like. Out this coming Friday, November 14th, the band’s ninth full-length release is at times a bold new chapter. The aggression is still there, but it’s tempered by melody and introspection in ways that feel earned after twenty years of evolution.
Album opener “That Same Place” opens with a voice over intro and a soft keys that slowly swells before crashing into the familiar TDWP intensity on “Where the Flowers Never Grow”. Tracks such as “So Low” showcase the band’s ability to go from heavy to calm and right back again. Vocalist Mike Hranica’s guttural delivery cutting through Jon Gering’s synth layers. “For You,” is anthemic, heartfelt, and proof that their experimentation is paying off. “Wave” and “My Paradise” close out the album on a high. The vocals on Wave especially are some of the best on the record.
Lyrically, Flowers sits in that space between acceptance and ache. It’s grief, healing, and renewal all rolled into one. The album’s production, handled by the band alongside Tyler Smyth, Colin Brittain, and Zakk Cervini is big and polished. It can feel slightly over-curated at times, but there’s no denying its ambition. You can hear the experience in every scream and every clean hook, the chemistry of bandmates who’ve weathered life and loss together. As metalcore enjoys a global resurgence, Flowers stands as a reminder that The Devil Wears Prada helped build the foundations for it, and they’re still here, still evolving, and still meaning every word.
Flowers blooms with a 7.5 out of 10
The Devil Wears Prada supporting Ice Nine Kills:
19 Nov – MILAN, Alcatraz
20 Nov – ZURICH, Halle 622
21 Nov – PARIS, Salle Pleyel
23 Nov – VIENNA, Gasometer
24 Nov – MUNICH, Zenith
26 Nov – BRUSSELS, A & B Coiffure
27 Nov – COLOGNE, Palladium
28 Nov – PRAGUE, SaSaZu Club
30 Nov – LEIPZIG, Haus Auensee
1 Dec – WARSAW, Klub Stodoła
2 Dec – BERLIN, Verti Music Hall
5 Dec – TILBURG, Escape Room 013
6 Dec – FRANKFURT, Jahrhunderthalle Club
8 Dec – MANCHESTER, O2 Victoria Warehouse
9 Dec – GLASGOW, OVO Hydro
10 Dec – NOTTINGHAM, Motorpoint Arena
12 Dec – LONDON, OVO Arena Wembley
Reviewer – Alan Robinson @alan_robinson_photography