''Plagues'' is the second studio album by American metalcore band The Devil Wears Prada. It was released on August 21, 2007, through Rise Records and was re-released on October 28, 2008, with bonus content.

Background and promotion

The recording session for ''Plagues'' began during winter 2006 with

Joey Sturgis Joey Sturgis (born January 3, 1985) is an American record producer and owner of The Foundation Recording Studio in Connersville, Indiana. Sturgis started recording in 2004 including producing the Asking Alexandria single "The Final Episode" whic ...

as the chosen producer. The name of the album is a biblical reference to plagues in the book of Revelation. Mike Hranica, the vocalist, considered it to be "very visually appealing", although not as important as the meaning placed behind it. The recording was completed in spring 2007 and the album was released on August 21, 2007. ''Plagues'' was re-released on October 28, 2008. The bonus content for the re-release includes an alternative cover, booklet art and a DVD which has footage of The Devil Wears Prada playing at Ultimatour and

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in 2008. It also includes the music videos for "Hey John, What's Your Name Again?" and "HTML Rulez D00d". Some of the pre-ordered versions of ''Plagues'' included a darker booklet that was signed by all the band members and a white disc, as opposed to the standard version which has a black disc and a lighter booklet. The song "Hey John, What's Your Name Again?" is available as downloadable content for the '' Rock Band'' series of video games. The song "HTML Rulez D00d" is also available as downloadable content only for '' Rock Band 2'' and ''

Rock Band 3 ''Rock Band 3'' is a 2010 music video game developed by Harmonix. The game was initially published and distributed by MTV Games and Electronic Arts, respectively, in late October 2010. Mad Catz took over both roles and re-released the title on N ...

'' via the Rock Band Network.

Composition

About.com Dotdash Meredith (formerly About.com) is an American digital media company based in New York City. The company publishes online articles and videos about various subjects across categories including health, home, food, finance, tech, beauty, ...

referred to the album as incorporating "the usual metalcore style and constant breakdowns with synths and some rock elements that add a little twist to The Devil Wears Prada's sound."

Critical reception

The album has received mostly positive reviews since its release. Scott Fryberger of Jesus Freak Hideout said the song titles were "catchy, interesting, and sometimes funny" and praised the religious lyrics in "HTML Rulez D00d" and "Hey John, What's Your Name Again?" while also highlighting the self-loathing of "Reptar, King of the Ozone." Fryberger concluded his review by stating "the hardcore fan will find an album that was well worth their time, and an album they will want to listen to again and again." A more mixed review came from

AllMusic AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databa ...

's Eduardo Rivadavia, who criticized the "silly song titles" used. Rivadavia compared the album to the band's debut, stating "the youthful sextet shifted a respectable amount of units with their first CD, 2006's ''Dear Love: A Beautiful Discord'', and therefore saw no reason to tarry, nor alter their spastic screamo/metalcore formula while recording heirsophomore outing" and "as a result, typical new offerings like 'Number Three, Never Forget' and 'Hey John, What's Your Name Again?' jostle the usual conflicting tendencies toward downtuned brutality and soaring harmonies, topped with alternately growled or clean-sung vocals to match each occasion -- but attempt nothing that TDWP influences like Norma Jean,

Haste the Day Haste the Day was an American metalcore band formed in Carmel, Indiana in 2001 and signed to Solid State Records. Their name is derived from a lyric in the hymn " It Is Well with My Soul" by Horatio Spafford. The band released an EP titled '' T ...

, and the similarly synthesizer-addled

Still Remains Still Remains is an American metalcore band from Grand Rapids, Michigan. They formed out of previous local bands Shades of Amber and Unition. They released three studio albums, ''Of Love and Lunacy'', '' The Serpent'' and '' Ceasing to Breathe' ...

haven't already explored more extensively and effectively." Sputnikmusic also gave the album a mixed review, criticizing the heavy sections and Mike Hrancia's vocals for sounding like most other metalcore bands and being a poor attempt to capitalize on current trends. The review had slight praise for James Baney's keyboard sections along with the more melodic moments of the album.

Commercial performance

''Plagues'' peaked at #57 on the ''Billboard'' 200 on September 8, 2007. The album has been a great success since its original release, selling 30,000 more copies than their first album, '' Dear Love: A Beautiful Discord.''Plagues'' at Interpunk.com
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Track listing

Personnel

;The Devil Wears Prada *Daniel Williams - drums *Chris Rubey - lead guitar *Mike Hranica - unclean vocals *Jeremy DePoyster - rhythm guitar, clean vocals *Andy Trick - bass guitar *James Baney - keyboard, piano ;Production *

–

engineering Engineering is the use of scientific principles to design and build machines, structures, and other items, including bridges, tunnels, roads, vehicles, and buildings. The discipline of engineering encompasses a broad range of more speciali ...

, mixing, mastering and

production Production may refer to: Economics and business * Production (economics) * Production, the act of manufacturing goods * Production, in the outline of industrial organization, the act of making products (goods and services) * Production as a stati ...

*Chris Rubey - layout and

design A design is a plan or specification for the construction of an object or system or for the implementation of an activity or process or the result of that plan or specification in the form of a prototype, product, or process. The verb ''to design' ...

*Dan Mumford - layout and design (re-release cover) *Eric Rushing -

management Management (or managing) is the administration of an organization, whether it is a business, a nonprofit organization, or a Government agency, government body. It is the art and science of managing resources of the business. Management includ ...

;Additional musicians *

Craig Owens Craigery "Craig" Owens (born August 26, 1984) is an American musician best known as the lead vocalist of Chiodos. He has also had an involvement in various projects such as Cinematic Sunrise, The Sound of Animals Fighting, Isles & Glaciers, ...

Chiodos Chiodos (, ) was an American post-hardcore band from Davison, Michigan. Formed in 2001, the group was originally known as “The Light-hearted Carpet Knights” before changing their name to "The Chiodos Bros," the band's name was a tribute to fi ...

*Cole Wallace of Gwen Stacy

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Plagues (Album) 2007 albums The Devil Wears Prada (band) albums Rise Records albums Albums produced by Joey Sturgis