ZII
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2012}}
{{Infobox album
| name = ZII
| type = ep
| artist = The Devil Wears Prada
| cover = Zombie II TDWP.webp
| alt =
| released = May 21, 2021
| recorded =
| venue =
| studio =
| genre = Metalcore
| length = 20:38
| label = Solid State
| producer =
- Mike Hranica
- Kyle Sipress
- Jeremy DePoyster
- Jonathan Gering
| prev_title = The Act
| prev_year = 2019
| next_title = Color Decay
| next_year = 2022
| misc = {{singles
| name = ZII
| type = ep
| single1 = Termination
| single1date = April 23, 2021{{cite web|publisher=Metal Sucks|last=Neilstein|first=Vince|url=https://www.metalsucks.net/2021/04/23/the-devil-wears-pradas-new-song-termination-not-bad/|title=The Devil Wears Prada's New Song "Termination:" Not Bad!|date=April 23, 2021|accessdate=May 2, 2021}}
| single2 = Nightfall
| single2date = May 14, 2021{{cite web|website=Sonic Perspective|url=https://www.sonicperspectives.com/news/the-devil-wears-prada-release-new-single-nightfall/|title=THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA Releases New Single "Nightfall"|date=May 17, 2021|accessdate=May 20, 2021}}
}}
}}
ZII (or Zombie II) is the third EP by American metalcore band The Devil Wears Prada. The EP, a sequel to 2010's Zombie, was released on May 21, 2021, through Solid State Records{{cite web|website=Kerrang!|last=Carter|first=Emily|url=https://www.kerrang.com/the-news/the-devil-wears-prada-have-announced-a-new-ep-zii/|title=The Devil Wears Prada announce new EP: "The heaviest music of out career..."|date=April 7, 2021|accessdate=May 2, 2021}} and is the band's first release with bassist Mason Nagy.{{cite web|title=Ep. 33: Andy Trick and Mason Nagy|url=https://open.spotify.com/episode/2p2Cx0uhvejMw0TKo6luut?si=1ycS_flVQnisjk3yTcLVYA|publisher=Spotify|access-date=May 2, 2021|date=September 23, 2019}}
Background and promotion
On March 31, 2021, the band released a teaser video titled "Upset the Sickness" via Solid State's YouTube channel.{{cite web|publisher=YouTube|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nWHrP90KysA|title=UPSET THE SICKNESS - The Devil Wears Prada (ZII Teaser)|date=March 31, 2021|accessdate=May 2, 2021}} The EP was officially announced on April 7, along with the track listing and artwork.{{cite web|publisher=Metal Injection|last=Kennelty|first=Greg|url=https://metalinjection.net/upcoming-releases/the-devil-wears-prada-announces-second-zombie-ep-zii|title=THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA Announces Second Zombie EP, ZII|date=April 7, 2021|accessdate=May 2, 2021}}{{cite web|website=Rock Sound|last=Rogers|first=Jack|url=https://www.rocksound.tv/news/read/the-devil-wears-prada-have-announced-the-details-of-a-new-ep-zii|title=The Devil Wears Prada Have Announced The Detail Of A New EP 'ZII'|date=April 7, 2021|accessdate=May 2, 2021}} Lead vocalist Mike Hranica stated that while Zombie was "about how to fend off the apocalypse," ZII will be about "hopelessness against the horde."{{cite web|publisher=Lambgoat|url=https://lambgoat.com/news/34025/The-Devil-Wears-Prada-announce-new-EP-ZII|title=The Devil Wears Prada announce new EP 'ZII'|date=April 7, 2021|accessdate=May 2, 2021}} Additionally, ZII was inspired by the COVID-19 pandemic.{{cite web|website=HM|last=Lewandowski|first=Nao|url=https://hmmagazine.com/the-devil-wears-prada-releases-new-track-termination-from-upcoming-ep-zii/|title=The Devil Wears Prada releases new track, 'Termination,' from upcoming EP, 'ZII'|date=April 23, 2021|accessdate=May 2, 2021}}
"Termination" was released as the EP's lead single on April 23.{{cite web|publisher=Blabbermouth.net|url=https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/the-devil-wears-prada-shares-new-track-termination-from-zii-ep/|title=The Devil Wears Prada Shares New Track "Termination" From 'Zii' Ep|date=April 23, 2021|accessdate=May 2, 2021}} "Nightfall" was released as the second single on May 14.{{cite web|website=Loudwire|last=Childers|first=Chad|url=https://loudwire.com/the-devil-wears-prada-nightfall-lyrics/|title=The Devil Wears Prada Drop Primal New Song 'Nightfall'|date=May 14, 2021|accessdate=May 29, 2021}} A music video was released for "Forlorn" on May 21, the same day as the EP's release.{{cite web|website=Sonic Perspectives|url=https://www.sonicperspectives.com/news/the-devil-wears-prada-share-video-for-song-forlorn/|title=THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA Share Video for Song "Forlorn"|date=May 21, 2021|accessdate=May 29, 2021}}
In the lead up to the release, the band hosted a livestream on May 15, 2021, which they called an "Undeadstream", where they performed the EP in full.{{cite web|website=Dead Press|last=Redrup|first=Zach|url=https://www.deadpress.co.uk/news-the-devil-wears-prada-announce-zombie-ii-livestream/|title=NEWS: The Devil Wears Prada announce 'Zombie II' livesteam!|date=April 9, 2021}}
{{Album ratings
| MC =
| rev1 = AllMusic
| rev1score = {{rating|3.5|5}}{{cite web|publisher=AllMusic|last=Yeung|first=Neil Z.|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/zii-mw0003510209|title=ZII - The Devil Wears Prada|accessdate=May 23, 2021}}
| rev2 = Dead Press!
| rev3 = Distorted Sound
| rev4 = Metal Injection
| rev4score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{Cite web|last=Heilman|first=Max|url=https://metalinjection.net/reviews/the-devil-wears-prada-zii|title=Album Review: THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA ZII|website=Metal Injection|date=May 20, 2021 |access-date=May 21, 2021}}
| rev5 = Rock 'N' Load
| rev6 = Wall of Sound
}}
Track listing
{{track listing
| headline = ZII track listing
| all_lyrics = Mike Hranica and Jonathan Gering
| all_music = The Devil Wears Prada
| title1 = Nightfall
| length1 = 4:28
| title2 = Forlorn
| length2 = 4:00
| title3 = Termination
| length3 = 3:21
| title4 = Nora
| length4 = 3:54
| title5 = Contagion
| length5 = 4:54
| total_length = 20:38
}}
Personnel
{{col-start|width=70%}}
{{col-2}}
The Devil Wears Prada
- Mike Hranica – lead vocals, production
- Kyle Sipress – lead guitar, backing vocals, production
- Jeremy DePoyster – rhythm guitar, clean vocals, production
- Mason Nagy – bass
- Jonathan Gering – keyboards, synthesizer, programming, backing vocals, production
- Giuseppe Capolupo – drums
{{col-2}}
Production
- Josh Barber – engineering, additional guitar tracking
- Alex Prieto – mixing
- Brendan Collins – mix assistant, digital editing
- Kevin McCombs – additional engineering
- Mike Kalajian – mastering
- Anthony Barlich – photography
- Micah and Luke Seedamk – layout and design
{{col-end}}
Charts
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+ Chart performance for ZII ! scope="col"| Chart (2021) ! scope="col"| Peak |
| {{album chart|Billboard200|110|artist=The Devil Wears Prada|rowheader=true|access-date=June 2, 2021}} |
| {{album chart|BillboardIndependent|15|artist=The Devil Wears Prada|rowheader=true|access-date=June 2, 2021}} |
| {{album chart|BillboardHardRock|4|artist=The Devil Wears Prada|rowheader=true|access-date=June 2, 2021}} |
| {{album chart|BillboardRock|16|artist=The Devil Wears Prada|rowheader=true|access-date=June 2, 2021}} |