The Devil Wears Prada seems to have taken a step in the right direction with their new album, “Dead Throne.” The album puts everything into perspective for anyone who has ever doubted TDWP’s potential. “Dead Throne” is a beautiful, melodic, metalcore album that’s lighter than their “Zombie” EP, but still manages to capture some of the “Zombie” EP’s heavier elements. In all truth, it’s TDWP’s best release yet.

Blatantly Christian lyrics seem to be scattered throughout the album, but in all actuality they’re open to interpretation. Yes, the band is Christian, but they do an amazing job of not flaunting their beliefs. Many Christian bands are very in your face with their lyrics and song meanings, but that has never been an issue with TDWP. Maybe this is something to be criticized, or maybe it’s something to be praised. Either way, it still holds true for “Dead Throne.”

The album is kicked off by the title track. “Dead Throne” is a heavy song that gives you a preview for the rest of the album. Not to say that all the songs sound the same, but the record has a certain flow through the songs. The title track is one of the heavier pieces on the album. It describes the album’s theme, idolatry, and explains just what “Dead Throne” means.

The album is filled mostly with lead vocalist Matt Hranica’s guttural growl. Rhythm guitarist, Jeremy Depoyster’s, clean vocals do make appearances, though. The howl of Tim Lambesis [frontman for As I Lay Dying] can also be found on the album; Lambesis makes a guest appearance on “Constance,” an eerie track about insomnia.

The strongest track on the album is “Pretenders.” It talks about mainstream bands and their lack of substance. With lyrics like “There will be an end to your profit, your possession/How did it all become… become published?/ How can no one see these things?/How can no one see these things?/ You fake, you were meant to fall.” It really shows the way the band feels about other bands that are unoriginal. It’s bitter and the lyrics just speak, especially Depoyster’s parts. The upbeat and fast, catchy rhythm makes the song worth the few listens it might take to translate Hranica’s throaty screams.

Overall, “Dead Throne” has a pretty good balance of heavy and light. Of course, it would be nice if they stopped trying to fool us into thinking that Depoyster’s voice is really as angelic as it seems on all the albums. He can sing, but it isn’t as perfect or translucent as it sounds on the produced work.

Usually by their fourth album, a band has digressed into a mainstream rut, or they’ve perfected their trade and made something amazing. “Dead Throne” is definitely the latter for TDWP. Sure, it has its kinks like any other piece of work, but it’s certainly a progression for the band.

TDWP seems to have realized what they want to be when they grow up, or maybe they’ve known all along and have just finally matured. Either way, the results are pleasing to the ears. Fans of As I Lay Dying and Underoath should give “Dead Throne” a listen if they haven’t already.