Even if you don’t listen to Escape the Fate, nearly everyone knows who they are. Known for their long-running spat with ex-vocalist Ronnie Radke and their numerous line-up changes, the Las Vegas quartet seem to have finally settled on a line-up that suits them, which includes just one “original” member.
‘Just A Memory’ is an angst-filled track, bristling with pure rage. Lyrics such as “Trusting you was a fucking mistake” and “Someone like you is gonna die alone” made fans wonder whether this was a personal attack on ex-guitarists Monte and Bryan Money. Either way, it’s adrenaline-fuelled and makes for a perfect opening track.
Title track ‘Hate Me’ opens up with eerie synth work, before plunging into aggressive riffs which complement Craig Mabbitt’s energetic and powerful vocals; he switches easily between his visceral screams and commanding clean vocals. ‘Les Enfants Terribles (The Terrible Children)’ is a brilliant demonstration of how mighty Mabbitt’s vocals are, particularly during the chorus – they simply soar over the crushing riffs.
‘Remember Every Scar’ sounds more like a pop-rock track, as does ‘Get Up, Get Out’, but they’re still incredibly fun tracks; catchy choruses and huge hooks play a pivotal role in making these tracks bounce into life. And then there’s ‘Breaking Me Down’ which is, put simply, huge – the chorus kicks into life with absolutely staggering and powerful drum work, which builds the foundation for this song to sit on. The lyrics are triggering, with lines such as “I wish that I could hate you/I wish that I could start by cutting you out” – they pack a sincere punch.
With the various member changes, it’s been hard to work out what Escape the Fate is aiming for with each album. In a way, that’s a good thing, as each album has been consistently different – an evolution, if you will. From the release of their EP ‘There’s No Sympathy For the Dead’ right up to their previous release ‘Ungrateful’, Escape the Fate have constantly produced a different-sounding album, meaning that they can’t be pigeon-holed. ‘Hate Me’ is another example of that; it’s brooding, angry, and fast, yet transitions to tracks that wouldn’t sound out of place on a more pop-rock album.
Despite ‘Hate Me’ being a rather confused album, Escape the Fate have created a strong release which will go down a treat with fans. Fingers crossed that Escape the Fate can now concentrate on their music and not the bullshit drama that they’ve generated for the past few years.
JESS TAGLIANI