Transit Blues

激情渦巻くヘヴィネスと、全ての感情を吐き出すスクリーム…、圧倒的な音像が今シーンに襲いかかる!メンバー・チェンジを経て今新たに生まれ変わったモダン・アメリカン・メタル・シーンにおける最重要ロック・アクトが、前作より約3年振りとなる、通算6作目の新作を完成させた!

American hardcore quartet the Devil Wears Prada return with their sixth studio effort, Transit Blues (Rise Records). Their first recording without founding drummer Daniel Williams, Transit Blues features drummer Guiseppe Capolupo (Demise of Eros, Haste the Day) on the kit. Produced by Dan Korneff (Pierce the Veil, Motionless in White), Transit Blues includes the lead single "Daughter" and will be released on October 7, 2016.|

Continuing a descent into darkness that began on 2011's Dead Throne, the Devil Wears Prada turn inward on their sixth album, Transit Blues. Deathly serious and relentless in its bleakness, Transit Blues is as blistering and visceral as anything they've done, but a lot of the levity hinted at in the past is long gone. Produced by Dan Korneff (Pierce the Veil, Motionless in White), the 11-song collection packs in the gut-churning breakdowns and bloody screams, leaning heavily on themes of separation and the loss experienced via human movement. On one hand, "Worldwide" name-checks cities like Pittsburgh, Boston, and Tokyo, yearning for more experiences on the road. On the other hand, they break out "Flyover States," a road-weary dirge that sees the band torn between road life and real life. Bleeding directly into "Detroit Tapes," Prada mourn the loss of friends and love to the lifestyle they're living. These conflicting feelings are palpable, displaying some maturity and growth from a band that used to rely heavily on jokey song titles and by-the-numbers metalcore. Highlights include the lead single "Daughter," which is pure havoc. Like Moses parting the Red Sea, this track will split the pit open with ease. Meanwhile, the back end of Transit Blues is loaded with fresh ideas. "To the Key of Evergreen" features a beautiful instrumental break that includes a faint recitation of an excerpt from Nabokov's Lolita (Simone de Beauvoir and Sartre also pop in elsewhere to lend some literary influence to vocalist Mike Hranica's lyrics). A sequel to 8:18's "Home for Grave" follows, an atmospheric and urgent standout that continues to flex Hranica's dabbling in fictional prose. In addition to the introspection and desolation, there are other slight changes. For those expecting Christian themes at the forefront, Transit Blues is more subtle, opting for universal ideas that can translate to fans of any faith. Also, Transit Blues is the first release without founding drummer Daniel Williams (Haste the Day's Giuseppe Antonio Capolupo filled in during recording), which hasn't changed their sound drastically, but nonetheless contributes a shift in the energy within the group. Transit Blues isn't a jarring turn for the Dayton, Ohio band, but it provides enough newly inspired touches to warrant attention in the group's catalog. ~ Neil Z. Yeung

クリスチャン・メタルコアの人気バンドによる3年ぶりの新作。オープニングから猛進型のギター・リフと激情迸るスクリームで圧倒しつつ、中盤以降は叙情的なピアノの旋律や哀愁たっぷりの歌を投入してドラマティックに盛り上げる、重厚かつ繊細な内容だ。アルバム・デビューより丸10年が経ち、自分たちのスタイルと現行シーンにおける独自のポジションを確固たるものとした彼らに、もはやライヴァルなんて存在しない!
bounce (C)粟野竜二