Review Summary: The modern equivalent of hair metal. More looks and hooks than actual substance, yet still full of great songs to sing a long to.
Love it or hate it, Pop Metal started back in the 80’s and it’s now strutting around again with its tight jeans and neon colors. Back again are songs about sex, depravity and dare we say it, having a little bit of fun. Mind, if you’re looking for the next mind blowing metal opus, please, keep searching. If you’re looking for technical riffing and soul moving song lyrics, step aside. If you’re looking for songs that you find yourself singing the chorus to in the shower and praying that no one hears you then do I have an album for you!
I’m not going into the back story about
Ronnie Radke (the lead singer and songwriter for Falling in Reverse). Though check it out, you actually may do yourself a favor by doing so as Ronnie has inserted a bunch of snarky lines through out this CD in regards to his old band (Escape the Fate). Yes, both bands sound very similar and yes I do enjoy aspects of them both. On to the music though.
This album gets a lot of heat for being exactly what it’s supposed to be, which I consider unfair. I equate this album quite a bit with the AOR/Glam bands that never really made it in the early 90’s. Great catchy songs, big hooks, and sing-a-long choruses made for stadiums and festivals.
The Drug In Me Is You has all of these in spades. It’s kind of an odd start though, as
Raised By Wolves doesn’t work for me as an opener, this song really should have been about the 3rd or 4th track in. Not stating its bad, as it’s one of the 4 of 5 really good songs on the CD, it just doesn’t fit as track number 1.
Track number 2 should have started this affair. It’s a fun story song that sounds like something that Butch Walker had a hand in. The album then flows quite well for a few songs until you hit
Don’t Mess With Ouija BoardsThe last 5 tracks don’t have anywhere near the strength of the opening salvo and will definitely have you heading for the skip button after a few listens.
It’s one of those albums though, that I keep finding myself going back to. I find myself singing
I’m Not a Vampire quite a bit (
Whiskey seems to be my holy water. Mother’s better lock your doors and hide your daughters). It’s lyrics like that, which will fester in your brain for hours on end until you listen to it again. As stated, nothing mind blowing here, but I would put it on par with bands like Firehouse, Trixter and Warrant. Hey, at least they left out the power ballads!
On repeat:
Tragic Magic
The Drug In Me Is You
Good Girls Bad Guys
Getting skipped:
Goodbye Graceful
Sink Or Swim
Caught Like a Fly
