Reviews

So, you're looking to put together a new band. First off, where do you start? Well, it helps to come from somewhere that catches people's attention. NYC is so played out, and Tennessee, while a popping scene, still sounds kinda hick. So, hows about Las Vegas? The home of The Killers, Panic! At The Disco, casinos and strip clubs. Ok, works for me.
 
Now, if you were to choose and pick elements of different bands and mash em together, who and what would you go with? If, by some chance, you said :
 
Vocals - Midtown
Screams - Underoath
Lyrics - Fall Out Boy
Guitar - Modern day Atreyu
Fashion Sense - A younger Avenged Sevenfold
 
then you would have "Escape The Fate" off of Epitaph. Their new Ep "There's No Sympathy For The Dead" coming out May 23rd.
 
Now, don't get me wrong. I'm not saying this is a bad thing. It's a really entertaining mix of music. The rhythm carries you along, the vocals are NOT the typical whine you get these days, while mixing something from the late 90's pre-emo scene into it. You even might hear a little Bert McCracken in the title track.
 
But lets be serious. This is not breaking new ground. It seems as if every band putting out a new cd has in mind a glorious return to rock music, of fist pumping, hair shaking, and blistering face melting solos. Ok, we get it. You grew up with hair metal. You wanna be Tommy Lee, or at the very least Nikki Sixx.
 
Again, am I saying this is a bad debut release? Far from it. The lyrics are fun, the music is hard enough to lay claim to metal, but bouncy enough to entice the emo-scene to the other side. It's not gut wrenching Killswitch Engage, Bane or Norma Jean, but it gets the job done.
 
The production work is top notch. Guitar effects, panning, vocals and mixing all dead on. It's catchy as hell.
 
Just please don't call it ground breaking.