Dead & Alive [Live]

Filmed and recorded during the the Devil Wears Prada's 2011 North American tour in support of their fourth studio album, Dead Throne, Dead & Alive is the Christian metalcore sextet's first live album. The breakdown-heavy performances are typically brutal and technically savvy, and the guttural death wail of Mike Hranica and the reedy, clean emo-croon of Jeremy DePoyster dutifully, if not very subtly, help to convey the dominant themes of darkness and light. The 16-track set, which features a winning mix of fan favorites ("Assistant to the Regional Manager," "Outnumbered," "Dez Moines") and Dead Throne highlights ("Kansas," "Born to Lose," "Mammoth"), is augmented by an accompanying DVD that includes a full concert and behind-the-scenes footage of the band on-stage and in the studio. ~ James Christopher Monger