REVIEW: DEVIL WEARS PRADA AT CARDIFF GREAT HALL (02/02/12)
Metalcore kings, The Devil Wears Prada, are currently embarking on an extensive twelve date UK tour with support from The Last Witness. The band from Dayton, Ohio, is no stranger to performing in Cardiff and recently supported Bring Me The Horizon on their previous UK tour. This is the first date of the Dead Throne tour and what better way to start, than performing at the sold out great hall.
Warming up the crowd is tour support act The Last Witness who provides the expected heavy atmosphere that envelops the majority of those huddled in the most pits surrounding the arena to cause an insane ruckus throughout the short set. The Last Witness perfect metalcore with loads of clean singing and wildly distorted guitar .This sound was exactly what the crowd had paid too see at this show. The moshing continued, the crowd surfing intensified significantly, there were young kids displaying their hardcore two-step acrobatics in every corner of the great hall, and the crowd yelled along to all the lyrics sung by front man Theo.
After The Last Witness it was clear to tell that the crowd was clearly excited, if not ecstatic, to see the much hyped Devil Wears Prada. And the feeling was seemingly mutual. Members of The Devil Wears Prada flood the stage, taking their positions at the helm of this event. You can feel the excitement in the air as this national selling act, tear through their 4th full length studio album, surrounded by diehard fans across the venue.
Lead vocalist Mike Hranica grabs the mic as the music begins and the audience is engulfed in lights. The music pulses through the venue as the band plays through songs from Dead Throne, With Roots Above and Branches Below and Plagues. As songs like “Dez Moines” seemingly fly by the sheer stamina of the band, every member is performing passionately to celebrate the first night of the UK Tour. Throughout the show there was a good connection between the band and the crowd which overall made the evening more enjoyable.
As the night drew to an end, people walked out drenched in sweat from a wild night of head banging, along with the sheer joy of seeing the bands they love so much perform for them.
Words and photo: Mike Lewis
