The Devil Wears Prada

Dayton Ohio's Brazen Sons Scream For Vengeance

Photos Courtesy of the bands Facebook

They like to scream. They like to shout, but no, their ensemble does not include Meryl Streep nor do they prance upon the stage in a pair of malachite green color python pumps. Instead, The Devil Wears Prada (TDWP) is a metalcore band from Daytona, Ohio that is in the middle of their "Dead Throne Tour: North America 2011," which is taking them from the paved hills of San Francisco to the birthplace of frozen margaritas Dallas, Texas with a few stops in the South and Northeast in between.

This hardcore, screamo band is comprised of vocalist Mike Hranica, lead guitarist Chris Rubey, rhythm guitarist Jeremy DePoyster, bassist Andy Trick, percussionist Daniel Williams, and keyboardist James Baney. Known for their identity as a Christian band, the group doesn't see their religious trademark as an impediment, nor do they feel compelled to cater to two different audiences.

"Honestly, I don't see them as two different things," said Rubey. "Maybe eight to ten years ago, this would have been a big deal. But it's really common for bands to be doing this nowadays. People accept it."

As a band that has gained popularity during the unprecedented domination of social media in the music industry, TDWP has experienced all of the growing pains and benefits of the new media revolution.

"More people are able to access our music and feel closer to us as a band," commented Rubey.

"The opposite side of that is that because it's so easy, it's so much harder to sell record. From what I've read on the internet, I would have expected our newest record to sell more than our other records, but they've sold the same. It's so darn easy to pirate music these days."

Regardless of the fact that the band may or may not be taking a financial hit with the illegal downloading of music via the internet, TDWP can at least be thankful for the positive promotion that social media has lent to the band. However, the advent of public media could also have detrimental effects on a niche band, such as The Devil Wears Prada, in the music industry.

"It was a bit more of an issue before," reflected Rubey. "The music we wrote back then was a lot easier to criticize. I think our music has kind of grown up with us. When we wrote our first record, we were sixteen. Now, we are in our mid-20s, and we realize how our songs are going to represent us for the rest of our lives. Nowadays, we put more attention into everything we do--more time and effort."

The band just released their fourth studio album Dead Throne, featuring thirteen tracks that neither define the band no expand the genre. TDWP's Dead Throne is a transitory album displaying the band's level of musical maturation. Taking a step forward when most bands are taking a step back, TDWP is exploring their own creative potential in new music while remaining in the well-defined limits of metalcore. Unlike other bands who are seeking to re-establish their roots after going mainstream, TDWP seeks to surpass their roots of comfort and familiarity to a new level of creativity and quality.

Despite prospects that Dead Throne is their last album, the band is quick to note that this will not be their last record release.

"A few people assumed that this was our last album," Rubey said with a nervous laugh. "But we are going to keep making albums. We are pretty stoked and fully satisfied with the albums we are putting out. We are becoming better musicians from playing every single day and by being around each other, developing a good chemistry as a band."