Escape the Fate - This War is Ours [Archive]

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Burn That Shit

11/17/08, 08:51 PM

Escape the Fate - This War is Ours
Record Label: Epitaph Records
Release Date: October 23, 2008

I was recently browsing the vast information abyss called the Internet, making my daily rounds when I came across the torrent for the new Escape The Fate album. I became instantly curious as to what direction this band had taken since their debut, Dying Is Your Latest Fashion, and debated listening to it. I desperately tried to talk myself out of listening to this album, but curiosity won and I indeed took a listen. But, before all that let's get a few things out of the way.

Escape the Fate have been becoming famous in the past couple of years for:
1. Great hair!
2. Their lead singer killed some guy or something.
3. Making scene kids shit themselves.
4. Molesting girls at their shows.
5. Flashing their dicks at venues.

Anyway, armed with new lead vocals provided by formerly Bless The Fall Craig Mabbit, one less guitar, and John Feldmann as a producer, Escape The Fate attempted to craft something that would pay their bills for a few months before having to spew out more distasteful music. I'm sure you're wondering, what did these scene kids gone glam-rock create? Well, scene kid glam-rock music.

The album kicks off with the anthem "We Won't Back Down." Typical Escape The Fate. The guitarist comes off as mildly intelligent at least, but that's not saying much. The new lyricist, or whoever writes this garbage, is still confused. Very confused.

It's time to forget
What makes sick
Deep inside of me
It's time to forget
What makes sick
Deep inside of me
Yeah!

I know, don't let them overwhelm you with their profound wisdom. Why can't this band create decent lyrics? They're not new to recording at this point, they had recorded one EP and one full album before coming into this, and they still are drop dead terrible at creating anything close to sincere and meaningful lyrics. Anyways, the first song is just your typical track one for this kind of band. Fast paced, overly distorted guitars, drums don't sound too terrible, can't really hear the bass but whatever.

So, I let the first track slide. Maybe they can recover in the next few tracks.

"On To The Next One" sounds like pretty much any pop punk song made in the last five years, but with more technical guitar work, except for one thing: the lyrics are still weak. For example:

NOW YOU'RE GONE!
And you're on to the next one
This time I got to live without you
Thats just the way it has to be
This time I got to live without you (whoa oh)
And your on to the next one.

Well let's face it, that was a joke. Did Craig Mabbit even write these lyrics? His previous work in Bless The Fall almost seemed promising, but this is just absolute rubbish.

Essentially, that is the recurring flaw with this album. The lyrics are mediocre at best and can't stand up to the rest of the bands ability, which isn't hard to do, might I add. I'm trying to be as generous as possible, but it's just that bad. While this album has its times that make you believe it could get better, it doesn't. There's barely any outstanding tracks on this album at all, and pretty much after the scream fest during “This War Is Ours (The Guillotine Part II),” it just gets boring.

This all climaxes up to their last two tracks, which I'm pretty sure were written by someone working for Disney. These tracks bear no resemblance to anything else on this album. It's like they made nine tracks and were like, "You know what? Fuck it, we realize we're bad, get someone else to write for us".

Basically, if you liked this bands previous releases, just grab "We Won't Back Down", "The Flood", and "Guillotine Part II" off of itunes. If you've never heard of this band, or have heard them and don't like them, pat yourself on the back and walk away.

old Escape the Fate; hairspray; very tight jeans
myspace.com/escapethefate (http://www.myspace.com/escapethefate)

Klatzke

12/01/08, 05:26 PM

hahahahhahahahah.

Amazing.

StartAngry&Mad

12/01/08, 09:34 PM

I don't know the whole story of what went down with BTF that led to Craig stepping down, and stepping up for Escape the Fate? But even ignoring the music, ETF's become a circus sideshow of drama, and it shocks me that anyone would want to work under that big-top. But at the end of the day, Bless the Fall's a guilty-pleasure I'll admit to liking, and I just feel guilty listening to the soulless crap Escape the Fate's put out

Burn That Shit

12/02/08, 02:19 PM

Didn't see this got put up, haha neato.

DaveZeroZero

12/02/08, 11:49 PM

You missed the bit where they sound like something from the Disney Channel.

Miley Cyrus, Jonas Brothers and ETF tour coming soon.

fadedmemories

12/03/08, 05:52 AM

Awesome review, I really agree with this:
Essentially, that is the recurring flaw with this album. The lyrics are mediocre at best and can't stand up to the rest of the bands ability, which isn't hard to do, might I add. I'm trying to be as generous as possible, but it's just that bad. While this album has its times that make you believe it could get better, it doesn't. There's barely any outstanding tracks on this album at all, and pretty much after the scream fest during “This War Is Ours (The Guillotine Part II),” it just gets boring.

SomedayTheFire

12/03/08, 12:17 PM

Did Mabbit write the lyrics or what? I'm sure he can write better than that drivel

TheClockworks

12/04/08, 07:28 AM

Situations, Are Irrelevant Now

LiquorAndDick

12/04/08, 07:45 AM

As much as I don't like Mabbit, his has wrote better lyrics (If he wrote these one's at all).

flynn92

12/04/08, 10:30 AM

honestly, this review is full of shit. It is coming from a person who probably doesnt like the genre of music anyways..

good job etf. keep it up.

DaveZeroZero

12/04/08, 10:36 AM

honestly, this review is full of shit. It is coming from a person who probably doesnt like the genre of music anyways..

good job etf. keep it up.
lawl

denissuxx

12/04/08, 11:06 AM

honestly, this review is full of shit. It is coming from a person who probably doesnt like the genre of music anyways..

good job etf. keep it up.
I agree with the review.

Youre full of shit;

Klatzke

12/04/08, 11:11 AM

honestly, this review is full of shit. It is coming from a person who probably doesnt like the genre of music anyways..

good job etf. keep it up.
They're right in what I listen to, and this album is shittttttt.

Hainzey X

12/04/08, 11:29 AM

ive got a good feeling that this review would be a lot more entertaining then the actual album.

that, and the fact that their drummer likes to wear his band's shirt on stage is pretty amusing.

Klatzke

12/04/08, 11:41 AM

ive got a good feeling that this review would be a lot more entertaining then the actual album.

that, and the fact that their drummer likes to wear his band's shirt on stage is pretty amusing.
True statement.

c_rob2700

12/04/08, 12:03 PM

My only complaint is that the score is too high

sargentlgfuad

12/04/08, 12:26 PM

i semi-enjoyed last album.
but, yeah, i believe this album is ridiculous.

lew_1987

12/04/08, 12:33 PM

I have moved on a lot since I bought their first album, and I haven't even listened to this yet. I have listened to 'The Flood' and 'This War Is Ours', and they sound decent at least, particularly the latter. This review has made me want to listen to the rest so that I can decide whether to delete it or not. Their lyrics have always been awful.

x13looDx

12/04/08, 12:47 PM

i didnt like the new escape the fate, even their old stuff was better with ronnie.. i love craig and btf, but this was just garbage

DaveZeroZero

12/04/08, 01:16 PM

lew_1987

12/04/08, 01:21 PM

I bought their first album too :-(

It actually has some decent songs on it, I'm willing to admit that... although the last two are god-awful. What made you buy it?

DaveZeroZero

12/04/08, 01:30 PM

It actually has some decent songs on it, I'm willing to admit that... although the last two are god-awful. What made you buy it?
Well, I think it was a gift, but I did ask for it. I can't quite remember now, to be honest.

But I did quite enjoy a few songs off of it, it's true.

In fact, I even woke up to it for about a week haha.

lew_1987

12/04/08, 01:50 PM

Well, I think it was a gift, but I did ask for it. I can't quite remember now, to be honest.

But I did quite enjoy a few songs off of it, it's true.

In fact, I even woke up to it for about a week haha.

The only songs that I can still really listen to are tracks 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9.

DaveZeroZero

12/04/08, 01:58 PM

The only songs that I can still really listen to are tracks 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9.
I haven't listened to it in a while and so can't remember what I can and cannot listen to.

Burn That Shit

12/04/08, 02:06 PM

honestly, this review is full of shit. It is coming from a person who probably doesnt like the genre of music anyways..

good job etf. keep it up.

I listen to and enjoy TREOS, Thursday, and Converge. Any of those could fit this "genre".

hockeyguitar99

12/04/08, 05:56 PM

This score was about 38% too high.

dancelukedance

12/04/08, 11:43 PM

i agree with this review, however i still dont mind the album. I highly doubt mabbitt wrote these sub-par lyrics.

flynn92

12/10/08, 10:19 AM

music is subjective, why did i even post here earlier.. i should be more weary that there are complete douchebags who sit online and critique other peopls hard work because they themselves can and will never get anything done. haha fuck this whole forum bullshit.

Klatzke

12/10/08, 10:23 AM

Beej 347

12/10/08, 10:58 AM

this album fucking sucks and so does escape the fate, i knew i was right about them when i first heard them.

DaveZeroZero

12/10/08, 12:09 PM

ben/

12/11/08, 08:14 AM

Although I'm a huge fan of Craig Mabbitt's work with BTF and The Word Alive, I would agree with most of your points. I think the guitar work on the album was particularly brilliant, especially on The Flood and The Guillotine Part II, and Craig pulls off a number of cool vocal effects. I would have personally scored it higher.

flynn92

12/11/08, 10:41 AM

yesss thank you ben

GedVsTheWorld

12/11/08, 02:59 PM

now now now, i know this review is old! but aint gonna stop me from writing this.

I loved ETF's EP and 'Dying is your latest fashion', but that was old ETF.
These guys are essentially a new band, from losing a guitarist to adapting a new vocalist, these guys have produced a totally different side of ETF. I must admit, im not a huge fan of the album, and i wish i had of spent my money on the new 'Senses Fail' album, but hey, these guys didnt do too bad.
Apart from the last 2 tracks being terrible, and the lyrics not being overly fantastic, ETF did put in a few good songs on this album.
Sure, they arent as hardcore as people might have liked, by they are still giving it a go. Ashley, You are so beautiful, The Flood and This War Is Ours are actually some of my favourite tracks this year.
With some catchy riffs and insane screaming from Craig, these few tracks stood up to everything i expected on the album, a shame the rest let me down.
So good work boys, not bad for a basically new band. Looking forward to another album.

DaveZeroZero

12/12/08, 12:14 AM

This album is worse than FOB's new album

Except that FOB's new album has about one good song.

thiseternalsnow

12/15/08, 05:16 PM

You missed the bit where they sound like something from the Disney Channel.

Miley Cyrus, Jonas Brothers and ETF tour coming soon.
Yeah... but they'll have to work on that whole flashing thing if they're gonna do that...

DaveZeroZero

12/18/08, 07:43 AM

Yeah... but they'll have to work on that whole flashing thing if they're gonna do that...
Strobe lights never stopped somebody being on a Disney Channel tour.

MattRTS

12/19/08, 11:09 AM

honestly, this review is full of shit. It is coming from a person who probably doesnt like the genre of music anyways..

good job etf. keep it up.
He said he he thought btf is promising, that means he does like this kind of music.

Anyways about the album. It pisses me off that so many people are saying this album sucks b/c of Craig, Craig is an amazing vocalist, but this is pretty terrible, and the fact that Craig left The Word Alive to stay in ETF is even worse. But this album isn't any worse, or better, than their debut. It's all just guilty-pleasure crap.

SomedayTheFire

12/19/08, 11:15 AM

I can't believe Craig left TWA.

MattRTS

12/20/08, 10:24 AM

I can't believe Craig left TWA.
TWA's far better than ETF

SomedayTheFire

12/20/08, 10:29 AM

TWA's far better than ETF
And BTF! I wanna see what Telle brings, I liked him in In Fear And Faith.

circatbs

01/21/09, 04:22 PM

ETF suck. They had one good song and that is "Situations," which still wasnt that good. I give you mad props for getting through this whole album though.

cherbrand11

01/21/09, 06:49 PM

This album is worse than FOB's new album

Except that FOB's new album has about one good song.
lol. so true. I miss their old shit.

batmannj

03/25/09, 08:52 PM

This is honestly one of the best reviews on this website haha.

vinnyintenso

03/26/09, 10:28 AM

ACIDEA

03/31/09, 06:55 AM

DaveZeroZero

03/31/09, 07:23 AM

longest sentence ever? I think so.

PureBlueSF

04/05/09, 11:22 AM

I enjoyed Dying is Your Latest Fashion, but this album is horse shit. The only song I can listen to on here is This War is Ours/Guillotine Part 2. And plus most of the guys in the band are douchebags anyway.

Rhen

06/24/09, 10:31 AM

i love this album one of my favorites by far. craig mabbitt is not only freaking hot he kicked ass in BTF and is still kicking ass in ETF. i've been to two of their shows and it's mad crazy, they do an awesome job.

Dymytry Vance

08/02/09, 11:35 PM

You missed the bit where they sound like something from the Disney Channel.

Miley Cyrus, Jonas Brothers and ETF tour coming soon.
Ummm nooo he didn't. There's a whole paragraph on it.

Dymytry Vance

08/02/09, 11:37 PM

I was on Stickam with one of his former bandmates from The Word Alive right after Craig left and he had said that Escape the Fate hasn't written any of their material for their new album
Regardless of this I still love Craig and I support him in anything he does
I mean if he writes worse lyrics then that, what the fuck are they, "Get off my nuts bitch, you look like a freak bitch, freak freak freak, (I SUCK!) freak freak freak. Cut your fucking hair man, freak freak freak." (Yes, that is a dot dot shoot yourself reference.)

Dymytry Vance

08/02/09, 11:40 PM

i really really hated this album it sucked ass i miss the old escape the fate for example dying is your latest fashion of the webs we weave and there is no sympathy for the dead bring back Ronnie Radke and maybe i will think about listening to escape the fate again!!!!!
Hi, I wish I knew what the fuck you were trying to say! Your lack of grammar and the fact you show no signs of having ever taken an English class only accentuate your wonderfully brilliant taste in music.

Dymytry Vance

08/02/09, 11:42 PM

He said he he thought btf is promising, that means he does like this kind of music.

Anyways about the album. It pisses me off that so many people are saying this album sucks b/c of Craig, Craig is an amazing vocalist, but this is pretty terrible, and the fact that Craig left The Word Alive to stay in ETF is even worse. But this album isn't any worse, or better, than their debut. It's all just guilty-pleasure crap.
OK. I'm going to stop you right there. Craig was kicked out of TWA. He has no idea why.

MattRTS

08/08/09, 08:27 AM

OK. I'm going to stop you right there. Craig was kicked out of TWA. He has no idea why.
Actually, if I remember correctly, he was kicked out of TWA because he decided to spend more time with ETF and didn't have enough time to tour with TWA. So while he was kicked out, it was his fault.

Dymytry Vance

08/08/09, 11:13 AM

Actually, if I remember correctly, he was kicked out of TWA because he decided to spend more time with ETF and didn't have enough time to tour with TWA. So while he was kicked out, it was his fault.
Well that's not what I read, so it's probably some of each.

metalhead69

12/03/10, 11:40 PM

this album has its ups and downs

metalhead69

12/03/10, 11:40 PM

this album has its ups and downs

FoxVsWolf

04/21/11, 07:24 PM

honestly, this review is full of shit. It is coming from a person who probably doesnt like the genre of music anyways..

good job etf. keep it up.

Shit band, man. Don't have to be a fan of the genre to know that. Metalcore's shit in general and there's plenty more creative Post-hardcore bands out there (Dance Gavin Dance, The Fall of Troy and the almighty At The Drive-In to name a few) so it's not really a matter of liking the genre or not, it's a matter of this being a terrible band who cares more about their hair than their music.

Steve Dietrich

01/03/12, 06:23 PM

hahahaha great review...most of the time. You reccomended if you like Old Escape the Fate tho....wtf?? Old ETF fans hate this garbage.