Review Summary: With its application of heavy guitars, solid drum work, and excellent vocal performance to each song, this album is a highlighted effort from early 2015.
Post-Hardcore originated as a fusion of punk rock, hardcore metal, and hard rock. Falling in Reverse is one today’s leading bands of this genre and the release of “Just Like You” has helped solidify their spot at top. With its application of heavy guitars, solid drum work, and excellent vocal performance to each song, this album is a highlighted effort from early 2015.
With all albums, there needs to be variations in stylistic approach to individual songs. This is what gives songs identity. Whether the song is smooth and relaxed or aggressive and gritty, makes all the difference, so the tracks do not mix together and sound the same. Falling in Reverse accomplishes this very well with “Just Like You”. The styles range from a rock ‘n’ roll feel in the title track to the typical post-hardcore sound in the intro track “Chemical Prisoner” to the metalcore quality of “Die For You”.
Although there are variations in methods to each song, the overall tone is still post-hardcore. With this record, Falling in Reverse hasn’t brought anything new to the genre that they already have, such as the more frequent use of guitar solos like in “Sexy Drug”. However, they execute so strongly that it doesn’t even matter.
Ronnie Radke puts together wonderful lyrics throughout the album. He demonstrates his cleverness in songs like “Sexy Drug” with, “Like omg, you make me com-, com-, complete”. While Ryan Seaman doesn’t showcase outstanding skills on drums, he lays down parts that really fit each song well. However, Seaman does show off some double-bass skill in "Guillotine IV (The Final Chapter) ". Jacky Vincent and Derek Jones compose rhythms and subtle melodies displayed in "Chemical Prisoner" that give “Just Like You” an edge.
I do have one concern though. I have a little bit of suspicion that they may have recycled some songs from previously releases. The structure of “Wait and See” almost reflects that of “Alone” from the sophomore album, “Fashionably Late” (rap verse then screaming pre-chorus then a solid chorus).
Even though Falling Reverse hasn’t done anything particularly new with their third record, the execution demonstrated proves “Just Like You” is an excellent effort.
