Review Summary: Falling in Reverse is back with their Third studio album "Just Like You", but will the band live up to the album's title?
Falling in Reverse is one of the most controversial bands in the world, highly hated and highly loved. The band is known for a strong first album in "The Drug in Me is You" , followed by a sophomore slump in "Fashionably Late", which told everyone to screw off, while including rap. Though after much talk about the newest album reforming back to 2006 Escape the Fate era music with Ronnie when they were great to most for being a young band. The album "Just Like You" turned out nothing as expected by critics and fans. The album resembles very little to "Dying is Your Latest Fashion". Which is good, because change is great when showing the range of music you can create and produce, but only if done right. This album is a example of a positive change of tone that shows how great this band really is.
The album has a dark tone to it starting off with the song "Chemical Prisoner" which talks about how drug abuse is no joke, lyrics such as "I missed a phone call from a friend a knew the other day, its strange, it changed my life forever, a couple days go by I found out he passed away" it's sad, how drugs keep people from even knowing what was going on around thenselves for days. The song is incredible in the message of staying away from drugs, while setting the tone of a album with impressive singing and instrumentals from the band. Then we get to the next track "Sexy Drug", this song totally knocks off the dark tone and speeds things up with a catchy fast paced sexual song, when I first listened to this song I laughed and sent the link to my girlfriend. It is easily the weakest point on the album because Ronnie still wants to put songs that sound sexual in a album when he's 30 and has a kid, but the song still is enjoyable and get's its credit for being different. No slowing down from the previous track "Just Like You" keeps a steady pace of catchy lyrics, while Ronnie talks about how he's just like you, and he doesn't care about people's opinions of him, so predictable.
The album really picks up with "Stay Away" where Ronnie proceeds to talk about drug addiction even more, and surprisingly how he doesn't want anyone to admire him for anything he has done in the past, and even to a certain point as a person now. The next track went far from what the rest of this album up to this point, "Wait and See" focuses on the society and government issues we deal with every day. Ronnie explains how if we keep letting social media and politics keep us from having a vision as people, society will crumble like civilizations before us. Ultimately no matter what any one government official says, we are the enemy and downfall of ourselves. That's as deep as lyrics get from a band like Falling in Reverse.
The next couple of tracks talk about drug addiction, living in the moment, figuring yourself out as a person, and many other things, which make for a good listen. Up to this point in the album the Instrumental usage is incredible, you can notice the difference in every song as they set tones for themselves as if they were alive. Starting to come to a end on the album we have "Die For You" or should I call it Guillotine IV, though the actual "Guillotine IV" is pretty good, it felt like it shouldn't have had the title like it's predecessors, "Die For You" have everything that should be in a Guillotine song, great vocal cleans and growls, fantastic guitar riffs/chugging and a remarkable solo to be remembered from Jacky Vincent. After having my mind blown, everything cuts to a silence. Then, imagine a steady piano melody and Ronnie at his most vulnerable as a song writer, that is the song "Brother" as Ronnie talks about his brother Anthony Radke's death and how him and his family wish they could have him back. This song was very emotional and well written, it really makes you want to go hold your family and tell them how much you cherish them being alive.
The instrumentals needed a paragraph all for themselves to explain. Frontman Ronnie Radke shows why he is one of the best vocalists in the industry and won't be leaving anytime soon. Jacky Vincent was simply outstanding overall on the album keeping a dark and fun tone, but he really shines as one of the best guitarists with his signature guitar solo's which are like no one else's. Derek Jones held his own really well, showing why Ronnie chose him many years ago to be at rhythm. Lastly, Ryan Seaman showed excellent drum usage , making his presence known throughout the album helping keep a fast pace. Prop's to everyone overall.
Though this is a fantastic album, it has some minor problem's. First, the album is put together with what seems like a pace that stuttered at time's which isn't that big of a deal, but is noticeable at times. After realizing that most people won't have the deluxe album, it aggravated me that "My Apocalypse II" was a bonus track, though I have it, some people can't enjoy it because it's the most relatable song to "Dying is Your Latest Fashion" and fans really wanted that. Overall, this is a album to remember for a long time for it's strong meaning and effort put in by the band lyrically and instrumentally.
