Although the guys of Escape The Fate lack modesty and a sense of history, they sure can give each song they play enough energy to power Jurassic Park. Their debut EP "There's No Sympathy For The Dead" features five punk/metal/rock songs which rip out your brain from your ears. Now, I write this in assumption, let this be known; I have no sympathy for these guys, in fact, I highly dislike them. I assume though that many party-hardy post-punk rockers are looking for this melting pot of musical invention, and if this is so the case, let them have it with Escape The Fate.



The band hails from Las Vegas and the lights and flashing signposts of the city litter their sound. Singer Ronnie carries that undeniably "punk-emo" voice and projects it with determination and insecurity, but at the same time, another voice growls and screams out like the last death-metal band you saw playing in a run-down biker bar with each black helmeted biker nodding his head. It's the Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde symptom infused into musical format, and with the operatic rock guitar work reminiscent of bands like Rhapsody and Queen, it all conjures up a vivid story in the mind. The band has ambitions too, very high ones, and they won't settle for anything less than world domination (so it seems)...sound like anyone else we know?



The title song "There's No Sympathy For The Dead" is an apocalyptic vision set to the typical triplet drum kicks, rapid guitar riffs, and whining and screaming of their music. The song sounds like the maelstrom that will engulf the earth on the last days, and these guys play as if they're the only witnesses. If it happens though, these guys would probably set up their amplifiers and drums, then play the five songs from this EP. It becomes monotonous and the weight of the music leaves no space for breathing. At the finale of the song a set of overly-cinematic strings plays out a rather bland epilogue as Ronnie sings "There's no sym-pa-thy for the dead!". Last time I was aware though, that's what memorials were for. (A side-note to the reader: read your music thoroughly)



The last song "The Guillotine" follows the same route as "There's No..." painting a desolate and bleak image of blood, smoke, and mercenaries. I can't really tell what their saying, so I had to read the lyrics, but the song's meaning seems to be spread in so many directions I can't find my way. One line that really gets me is "The weak won't survive", what's wrong with the weak? Their the ones that need us the most. Anyways, the song features guitar work that pierces the inner atmosphere as Ronnie sings in that steady voice that demands attention. Then, in the finale, the scream (now slowed down) sounds like a broken carburetor spitting out toxic fumes in-front of a phantom guitar.



I just can't get over how un-sympathetic this EP is. Contradiction, pretentiousness, and selfishness abound in the lyrics which are front and center at all times. I don't know what the "punk" movement has come to now, in-fact, I don't know what the "rock" movement has come to, but when these guys say "we're gonna be that change in music" I can't imagine what they are changing it too. If you can avoid the meaning of these songs then enjoy the good time you might have banging your head. I myself, just see another five guys diluting the music industry even more.



Track Listing

1 Dragging Dead Bodies In Blue Bags Up Really Long Hills

2 There's No Sympathy For The Dead

3 The Ransom

4 As You're Falling Down

5 The Guillotine