''Zombie'' is the first EP by American

metalcore Metalcore is a broadly defined fusion genre combining elements of extreme metal and hardcore punk, originating in the 1990s United States and becoming popular in the 2000s. Metalcore typically has aggressive verses and melodic choruses, combined ...

band The Devil Wears Prada. It was released on August 23, 2010. The band announced they would tour in support of the EP's five year anniversary, where they will play the EP in its entirety. A sequel EP, titled '' ZII'', was released on May 21, 2021.

Background and recording

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 apocalypse Zombie apocalypse is a subgenre of apocalyptic and post-apocalyptic fiction in which society collapses due to overwhelming swarms of zombies. Usually, only a few individuals or small bands of human survivors are left living. There are many d ...

due to Hranica's strong interest on the subject.

Composition

The band's metalcore musical style evolved considerably after the release of ''

With Roots Above and Branches Below ''With Roots Above and Branches Below'' is the third studio album by American metalcore band The Devil Wears Prada. The album was released on May 5, 2009, through Ferret Music. It charted at No. 11 on the ''Billboard'' 200, selling 31,000 in it ...

''. 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 is an American thrash metal band from Huntington Park, California, formed in 1981 by guitarists Jeff Hanneman and Kerry King, drummer Dave Lombardo and bassist/vocalist Tom Araya. Slayer's fast and aggressive musical style made them ...

and

Hatebreed Hatebreed is an American metalcore/ hardcore band from Bridgeport, Connecticut, formed in 1994. The band released its debut album ''Satisfaction Is the Death of Desire'' in 1997, which gave the band a cult following. The band signed to Universa ...

. It is also the first release by the band that does not feature humorous song titles.

Critical 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'' 200 and number 2 on the

Independent Albums The Independent Albums chart (previously titled Top Independent Albums) ranks the highest-selling independent music albums and extended plays (EPs) in the United States, as compiled by Nielsen SoundScan and published weekly by '' Billboard'' mag ...

. The EP was praised for its notice of the band's overall performance along with many critics enjoying its concept.

Allmusic AllMusic (previously known as All-Music Guide and AMG) is an American online database, online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on Musical artist, musicians and Mus ...

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 " he EPkind 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

Credits for ''Zombie EP'' adapted from

. ;The Devil Wears Prada *Mike Hranica – lead vocals *Chris Rubey – lead guitar *Jeremy DePoyster – rhythm guitar, clean vocals *Andy Trick – bass *James Baney – synthesisers, keyboards *Daniel Williams – drums ;Production *

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 ...

– production,

engineering Engineering is the practice of using natural science, mathematics, and the engineering design process to Problem solving#Engineering, solve problems within technology, increase efficiency and productivity, and improve Systems engineering, s ...

, mastering, mixing *Tim Brennan – A&R *Adam Elmakias – photography *Sons of Nero – layout *Eric Rushing – management *Dave Shapiro – booking

Charts

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Zombie Ep The Devil Wears Prada (band) albums 2010 debut EPs Ferret Music EPs 2010s concept albums Zombies in popular culture Albums with cover art by Sons of Nero Albums produced by Joey Sturgis