Power of Metal.dk Review

 
Falling In Reverse
Fashionably Late
Rating
Style: Modern Rap-electro-pop Metalcore
Release date: 14 June, 2013
Playing time: 48:35
 

Sandy and Jim both listen to the new Falling In Reverse album. Sandy is the younger sister of Jim and she was introduced into the heavier music because of her brother Jim. Jim grew up with Lamb of God and the Metalcore scene with Unearth, Chimaira and the melodic death wave with bands like In Flames and Mercenary. Sandy is a teenager and more into bands like Asking Alexandria, but you can find her on big dance events as well.

The first song starts and Jim starts banging his head, the metalcore riffs sound heavy and the harsh aggressive singing is promising. After one minute the clean singing begins and Sandy starts to smile. Doesn't sound bad is their mutual conclusion, but then after 2 minutes Jim drops out. Ronnie Radke starts rapping and that is a bit too much for Jim. Sandy doesn't agree and likes it.

Next track "Bad Girls Club" is already the thing that broke the camel's back for Jim. A poppy synth sing-a-long song with dance, electro and a very childish chorus. Sandy still likes it, fortunately for Jim the next song "Rolling Stone" has more heavy elements again, but the typical metal core riffs with the regular breakdowns aren't interesting enough to save the day and the rap part kills the song completely for Jim. After that there is a potpourri of styles; metalcore, rap, electro, emo, pop and probably a few more. The lyrics of Radke are rather juvenal and for sure the teenagers will dig this.

Jim can't listen to it any longer and while the first rap tunes of "Alone" torture his ears, he goes outside to smoke a joint. Only 4 minutes later Sandy is shouting at Jim to get inside because he needs to listen to the track "Born to Lead". Indeed, this is a track he can listen to without getting too bored, but again the clean singing parts spoil it for him. Like "Self Destruct Personality" it is one of the most aggressive songs. "Fuck the Rest" is a kind of commercial punk-rock song, which only underlines the many different styles used.

Sandy likes the variety on the album and she will surely play it when her girlfriends come to chill and she would rate it with 80 points. Jim however doesn't like it, he would give 40 points and is looking forward to listening to the new Chimaira album instead.

Personally I can listen to the album without getting really bored, but for sure this isn't for my liking. There is too much rap and electro stuff going on and the metalcore riffs and aggressive singing parts aren't interesting and special enough. The combination of Eminem, metalcore in Asking Alexandria style and the poppy choruses is, despite my 'open minded' approach a little too much...... Even the folky song "Drifter" at the end won't change that.


Tracklist
01. Champion
02. Bad Girls Club
03. Rolling Stone
04. Fashionably Late
05. Alone
06. Born to Lead
07. It's Over When It's Over
08. Game Over
09. Self Destruct Personality
10. Fuck the Rest
11. Keep Holding On
12. Drifter
Label: Epitaph
Distribution: Playground Music (Scandinavia)
Reviewed by: Reinier de Vries
Date: 23 August, 2013
Website: www.fallinginreverse.com