Escape the Fate – ThisWar Is Ours (Deluxeedition)

Tue 25th May, 2010 in Music Reviews

Recently Las Vegas screamo foursome Escape The Fate re-released a deluxe edition of their last LP This War Is Ours. The new edition has all the tracks found on the original release plus four B-side tracks and a DVD compilation of their four film clips, some behind the scenes footage and European tour footage.

Escape The Fate are extremely good at what they do, but other than inciting riots amongst teenage girls and boys with their good looks and punk-emo tunes, underneath all that eyeliner and the tight skinny jeans there actually is talent to be found. After the departure of Ronnie Radke from the group and upon enlisting Craig Mabbitt the group left the dirtier punk behind them and opted for a cleaner, more produced sound on This War Is Ours.

The album starts off with We Won’t Back Down which sets up the expectations that this record will be a fun listen, regardless of whether you like the band or not. And it is a fun listen. From the scream of the first track through to the light-hearted Ashley and all the way to the end of the B-sides the boys are on.

The best tracks on the album are the title track This War Is Ours (The Guillotine Part II), The Flood and two of the B-side tracks, _ Bad Blood_ and Behind The Mask. These songs really show what Escape The Fate are capable of, with some awesome hooks and breakdowns and catchy lyrics.

The double kick drum and the opening riff on This War Is Ours followed by the pure roar of Mabbitt syncs up perfectly with the more melodic parts of this thrash-fest. The song makes you want to get up and jump around the room with no inhibitions.

But it is really the B-side tracks that stand out from the rest. The style of both hint of a more mature Escape The Fate that could be a force in the punk world. While still incorporating the screamo aspect, it is a deeper roar that is produced and it sounds like Mabbit has been working on the depth of his vocal range.

This mature sounding Mabbit combined with the grittier sounds from their first album Dying Is Your Latest Fashion gives the impression that the boys have found their true sound and the new album, set for release later this year, will be well worth the wait.