Zombie (EP)
Encyclopedia
Zombie EP is the first EP by American metalcore
band The Devil Wears Prada
. It was released August 24, 2010, through Ferret Music
.
due to Hranica's strong interest on the subject.
. Taking note of the EP's speedier approach, The Devil Wears Prada stated that Zombie has the "fastest music they've ever written" and even admitted that it draws a strong influence from the likes of Slayer
and Hatebreed
. It is also the first release by the band that does not feature humorous song titles.
and number 2 on the Independent Albums
. The EP was praised for its notice of the band's overall performance along with many critics enjoying its concept.
Allmusic praised the group's musicianship expressing enjoyment over the array of influenced entwined with the EP's eerie concept. Dom Wyatt of Dead Press! stated "[The EP] kind of takes me back a good five or six years in the underground metal scene where it was commonplace to use movie sound bites mid-song, albeit this time they use a feigned public service announcement at the start of track three, ‘Outnumbered’. The main track that stands-out is ‘Anatomy’, if not for the vicious breakdown but for the opening riff with the synth intertwined."
Production
Metalcore
Metalcore is a subgenre of heavy metal combining various elements of extreme metal and hardcore punk. The name is a portmanteau of the names of the two genres. The term took on its current meaning in the mid-1990s, describing bands such as Earth Crisis, Deadguy and Integrity...
band The Devil Wears Prada
The Devil Wears Prada (band)
The Devil Wears Prada is an American metalcore band from Dayton, Ohio. Formed in 2005, they are currently signed to Warner Music Group...
. It was released August 24, 2010, through Ferret Music
Ferret Music
Ferret Music is an independent record label, founded in 1996. The label is owned in part by NORA's vocalist, Carl Severson, and in part by Philadelphian artist manager Paul Conroy, and based in West Windsor Township, New Jersey...
.
Background
The planning and writing for Zombie began before the summer of 2010. In June it was confirmed that the recording of it was completed and the band then thereafter embarked on their Back to the Roots Tour. Upon its original announcement, frontman Mike Hranica described it as being a "fun" release with "brutal" songs. Its general concept concerns the story of a relentless zombie apocalypseZombie apocalypse
A zombie apocalypse is a particular scenario of apocalyptic literature that customarily has a science fiction/horror rationale. In a zombie apocalypse, a widespread rise of zombies hostile to human life engages in a general assault on civilization....
due to Hranica's strong interest on the subject.
Musical style
The band's metalcore musical style evolved considerably after the release of With Roots Above and Branches BelowWith Roots Above and Branches Below
With Roots Above and Branches Below is the third studio album by American metalcore band The Devil Wears Prada, released on May 5, 2009, through Ferret Music. Upon its release it charted the Billboard 200 at number 11, selling 31,000 in its first week...
. Taking note of the EP's speedier approach, The Devil Wears Prada stated that Zombie has the "fastest music they've ever written" and even admitted that it draws a strong influence from the likes of Slayer
Slayer
Slayer is an American thrash metal band formed in Huntington Park, California, in 1981 by guitarists Jeff Hanneman and Kerry King. Slayer rose to fame with their 1986 release, Reign in Blood, and is credited as one of the "Big Four" thrash metal acts, along with Metallica, Megadeth and...
and Hatebreed
Hatebreed
- History :Hatebreed was formed in 1994 in Bridgeport, Waterbury and New Haven. They began by recording a three song demo and selling it to locals. Those three songs would eventually be released on a split seven inch with New York's Neglect in 1995...
. It is also the first release by the band that does not feature humorous song titles.
Reception
Critically, reception to Zombie has been met with positive reviews and ratings. Upon the EP's release, it debuted at number 10 on the Billboard 200Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
and number 2 on the Independent Albums
Independent Albums
The Billboard Independent Albums is a chart of the highest-selling independent music albums and extended plays in the United States, compiled by Nielsen SoundScan and published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is used to list artists who are not signed to major labels...
. The EP was praised for its notice of the band's overall performance along with many critics enjoying its concept.
Allmusic praised the group's musicianship expressing enjoyment over the array of influenced entwined with the EP's eerie concept. Dom Wyatt of Dead Press! stated "[The EP] kind of takes me back a good five or six years in the underground metal scene where it was commonplace to use movie sound bites mid-song, albeit this time they use a feigned public service announcement at the start of track three, ‘Outnumbered’. The main track that stands-out is ‘Anatomy’, if not for the vicious breakdown but for the opening riff with the synth intertwined."
Track listing
Personnel
The Devil Wears Prada- Mike Hranica - lead vocals
- Jeremy DePoyster - rythm guitar, clean vocals
- Chris Rubey - lead guitar
- Andy Trick - bass guitar
- James Baney - keyboards, synthesizer, piano
- Daniel Williams - drums, percussion
Production
- Joey SturgisJoey SturgisJoey Sturgis is an American record producer and owner of The Foundation Recording Studio in Connersville, Indiana. Joey Sturgis started recording in 2004. Foundation Recording Studio managed by Rise Records founder Craig Ericson...
– productionRecord producerA record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
, engineeringAudio engineeringAn audio engineer, also called audio technician, audio technologist or sound technician, is a specialist in a skilled trade that deals with the use of machinery and equipment for the recording, mixing and reproduction of sounds. The field draws on many artistic and vocational areas, including...
, masteringAudio masteringMastering, a form of audio post-production, is the process of preparing and transferring recorded audio from a source containing the final mix to a data storage device ; the source from which all copies will be produced...
, mixingAudio mixing (recorded music)In audio recording, audio mixing is the process by which multiple recorded sounds are combined into one or more channels, most commonly two-channel stereo. In the process, the source signals' level, frequency content, dynamics, and panoramic position are manipulated and effects such as reverb may... - Tim Brennan – A&R
- Adam Elmakias – photographyPhotographyPhotography is the art, science and practice of creating durable images by recording light or other electromagnetic radiation, either electronically by means of an image sensor or chemically by means of a light-sensitive material such as photographic film...
- Sons of Nero – layout
- Eric Rushing – management
- Dave Shapiro – booking
Charts
| Chart (2010) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Billboard 200 Billboard 200 The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists... |
10 |
| Billboard Independent Albums Independent Albums The Billboard Independent Albums is a chart of the highest-selling independent music albums and extended plays in the United States, compiled by Nielsen SoundScan and published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is used to list artists who are not signed to major labels... |
2 |
| Billboard Rock Albums | 2 |
| Billboard Digital Albums | 10 |