Review Summary: A review over The Dead Rabbitt's debut album, Shapeshifter.
Back in 2011, Craig Mabbitt (Escape The Fate, ex. Blessthefall, ex. The Word Alive) began a new side project, The Dead Rabbitts, which fell into his interest of more extreme metalcore music. The current line up also including Alex Torres (ex. Eyes Set To Kill, ex. Alesana, ex. Greeley Estates), TJ Bell (Escape The Fate, ex. Motionless In White), and Chris Julian (Greeley Estates). The band released it’s debut EP back in 2012 and eventually signed with Tragic Hero Records in late 2013.
Their debut album, Shapeshifter, had resumed where they left off on the EP. With four re-recorded tracks and seven new tracks. One of the main themes this album displays, in my opinion, is rebellion and/or payback against someone who hurt them. The track “My Only Regret” lives up to the theme. With violent vocals from Mabbitt and heavy instrumentals from the band the song goes into how they had met someone and that they had gone insane and were eventually hurt. In the final part of the bridge Mabbitt sings “Oh no, it won’t happen again. I’ve turned my back and walked away. Meeting you was my mistake”.
Standing out is one of the re-recorded songs “Nothin’ But A Reject”. Improving upon the track with heavier vocals, heavier riffs, and heavier drum beats. The main issue I had with this redone version is that the bridge had been been covered in electronica and synthesizers. This had made Mabbitt’s vocals sound as though he was freezing to death.
The theme however can be overdone. “Keep Tellin’ Yourself You Were Right” shows extreme repetitiveness. Cliche lyrics about being the cure to the spread of someone’s disease. The instrumentals didn’t sound anything different from other bands bordered on the line of “generic”. The chorus seems a bit whiney when complaining about how the person is “pitiful” and telling them do whatever helps them sleep at night.
Another theme seen in the music could be “love”. The song “Air I Breathe Is You” was one of the re-recorded tracks from the EP. The instrumentals seemed very experimental compared to the rest of the album and this song had pulled it off. Lyrically wise the song had done a great job especially the chorus. Mabbit goes into how he feels suffocated without the one he loves and how terrifying it is to not have love.
“Make Me Believe It” also goes into the theme. Another re-recorded track from the EP featuring Caleb Shomo (Beartooth, ex. Attack Attack!) who had sung the chorus. Songs of love seem to be one of the Rabbitts’ strengths seeing how the lyrics are outstanding. A song about how Mabbitt is wants support and love and how he is not the enemy. Questioning if he had done something wrong and how he’s going in a circle. Just wanting his love to make him believe that she loves him. The was one of the best songs off the album.
The final theme would be “conflict with one’s self”. The major conflict seems to be keeping their sanity. The songs “Bats In The Belfry” and “Ghosts In My Bedroom” illustrate this conflict. “Bats In The Belfry” goes into how the singer’s own thoughts are tearing him apart, how he’s going insane, and that he won’t let this happen to him. “Ghosts In My Bedroom” has a similar story however instead of his thoughts it’s the ghost haunting him that’s making him go over the edge. Though the Dead Rabbitts had made a consistent album they still need to find their unique quality of “original” many others have. The band is off to a okay start but hopefully their next EP or album will be impressive.
Recommended Tracks:
Nothin’ But A Reject
Make Me Believe It
Shapeshifter
Deer In The Headlights
Air I Breathe Is You
Unrecommended Tracks:
Keep Tellin’ Yourself You Were Right
Edge of Reality
