The Devil Wears Prada — Mike Hranica [vocals], Jeremy DePoyster [vocals, guitar], Mason Nagy [bass], Kyle Sipress [guitar], Jonathan Gering [keys, synthesizers], and Giuseppe Capolupo [drums] — will release the much-anticipated ZII EP on May 21 via Solid State Records. It’s a discordant, dissonant exercise in excellence. The band has just shared the new track “Termination.”
“I learned during the COVID-19 pandemic to imagine how a virus can seriously compromise our lives,” says Hranica. “‘Termination’ makes mention of that and the greed that so often comes when humans fend only for themselves or when lying to protect reputation. I didn’t want to remake any part of the lyrical imaginings of the first EP, and the transformation mentioned in ‘Termination’ is a part of the new territory I hoped to create for ZII.”
The Devil Wears Prada have also planned a livestream event for Saturday, May 15, during which they will play the entire ZII EP in full. Fans can purchase tickets along with the pre-order of the EP.
The original Zombie EP dropped all the way back in August 2010 and remains an intense fan favorite. While not a chronological release in the TDWP catalog, ZII is the next chapter.
“There’s no question that the Zombie EP is a fan favorite and a record that really set the pace for us as a heavier band,” The Devil Wears Prada previously said, offering insight into this EP in relation to their catalog. “A goal we had for this EP was to pay tribute to ZI while honing in on the characteristics that we enjoy about heavy music today and the directions we want to see it heading. We just had our first song go to radio with ‘Chemical’, and now in the same year, we will be releasing the heaviest music of our career with ZII. This isn’t just a new chapter for the Zombie EP; this is a new chapter for us as a band, and an opportunity to lean into both sounds in ways that feel better than ever. We’ve found our footing with these six members. Now we’re stepping on the gas and not letting up.”
TDWP effectively summed things up, saying, “Before, there were five songs about how to fend off the apocalypse. Now, there are five songs of hopelessness against the hoard.”
The Devil Wears Prada have positioned themselves for meaningful reinvention. Following their 2005 emergence, they served up 2009’s seminal With Roots Above and Branches Below. In its wake, the group achieved two back-to-back Top 10 entries on the Billboard Top 200 with the Zombie EP [2010], and Dead Throne [2011]. The group kept up a prolific pace on 8:18 [2013], Space EP [2015], and Transit Blues [2016] and The Act [2019]. This output of new music garnered widespread acclaim from Kerrang!, Revolver, Rock Sound, New Noise, and Alternative Press who proclaimed it “an impressive step forward.” In addition to selling out countless headline shows, the musicians toured with everyone from Slipknot to Slayer. Not to mention, their total stream tally impressively nearing 200 million in 2020.
Lyrics:
Acquiring against will
Shoveled around / living bodies
In the sense of projection
An offering for the economy
The transfer begins
Purpose compromised
The transfer begins
We all did our best
We didn’t choose violence
The exit is infection
We’ve met our, we’ve met our
Termination
I don’t mean harm
I’m trying to understand
The state’s keeping secrets from me
But actuality is the undead threat
The transfer begins
We all did our best
We didn’t choose violence
The exit is infection
We’ve met our, we’ve met our
Termination
No one should want to kill
But they were the first to die
All sentiment has been lost
We’ve met our Termination
Are you living? Can you hear me?
Are you living? Can you hear me?
‘Cause they might be pretending
These weapons are for the dead’s ending
