Amiril Muhaimin
“This record is the cure for the modern day music epidemic. We are wiping the slate clean and re-writing rock music as you know it,” bragged bassist Max Green of their latest self-titled album in its press release.
Pity the quality of the album didn’t match his ambitions, instead their first since switching from Epitaph to DGC/ Interscope records, is a somewhat run-of-the-mill production.
Fans will note that Escape The Fate continue to deviate from their post-hardcore and emo roots, moving further into the mainstream with Escape The Fate, as their third record is more melodic than loud.
The band however, did ameliorate the present suffering of the fans after their much-criticised second release, This War Is Ours, as Escape The Fate shows that the quartet might have finally found the music direction they wanted to steer in.
They still however, couldn’t match the heights of their first full-length album; Dying Is Your Latest Fashion, which skyrocketed them to the top of the Modern Rock scene in 2006. Even though This War Is Ours had a brief stint at the Billboard 200, Escape The Fate fans preferred their maiden release.
Image-wise, UrbanWire feels that the American post-hardcore band is trying too hard to cement themselves in the folklore of music as being one of the “bad boys” of modern rock because they wanted to conform to the “sex, drugs and rock n roll” lifestyle.
As a result, they didn’t forego their goth-like get up: black clothing, skinny jeans and teased hairs, much like fellow Metal band Avenged Sevenfold.
Moreover, there’s a striking resemblance between the cover art of the self-titled album and Queen’s Queen II. However, in an interview with FEARnet, Max Green dispelled any notion that they wanted to rip off the Rock legends but instead said that he desired something “bold and made a statement”. You decide.
The album starts off proper with “Massacre”, a song that the band chose to release as their first single. Coincidentally, the structure of the song seemed like the boys from Vegas plagiarised Bring Me The Horizon’s “Chelsea Smile”. The drumming pattern, guitar riff and the tempo are so similar that you can even mouth off to the lyrics of the British Metalcore outfit.
Escape The Fate “Massacre” VS Bring Me The Horizon “Chelsea Smile”
But you have to credit the boys for including a piano ballad with “World Around Me”. It certainly was a nice break from all the generic screams and breakdowns.
The gem of the album goes to “The Aftermath”. The song appeared to have concluded the “Guillotine” trilogy. Once again, Bryan “Monte” Money shows us why he is the far superior musician in the band- as he crafted a fast yet melodious guitar solo, emphasizing the dulcet notes of the guitar.
A major peeve on their third full-length album definitely has to be the lyrics.
Lead vocalist Craig Mabbit could perhaps take up lessons on writing, as the lyrical content on this record was a bit too cheesy and repetitive for our liking.
Yeah, yeah
I’m going in
sane
sane, sane sane sane, sane
I’m going in
Oh”
And
Just wanna, just wanna, just wanna, I just wanna
Just wanna, just wanna, just wanna, I just wanna
Just wanna, just wanna, just wanna, I just wanna
Just wanna, just wanna, just wanna, make it through this life”
These are words off the tracks “Massacre” and “World Around Me” respectively. If the band wanted to win their old fans back, perhaps they should seriously consider dropping the idea of repeating their far from inspired lyrics.
Overall, this “dark fantasy” record was certainly a step up from its predecessor. Still, the void left by original frontman Ronnie Radke seems to be the size of a black hole.
Perhaps Escape The Fate could win their old fans over with a music direction U-Turn and finally appease everyone.
Artist: Escape The Fate
Album: Escape The Fate
Rating: ★★★✩✩
Language: English
Genre: Post Hardcore/ Emo
Release Date: 2 Nov 2010
Track list:
- Choose Your Fate
- Massacre
- Issues
- Zombie Dance
- Gorgeous Nightmare
- City Of Sin
- Day Of Wreckoning
- Lost In Darkness
- Prepare Your Weapon
- World Around Me
- The Aftermath (The Guillotine, Part III)