Escape the Fate - Turn up the heat in London

****1/2

Showing they are at the top of their game!!!

Escape the Fate ****1/2 are a band I have liked from the start, but I get a little confused on who is actually in the band these days. Ok! there is always Richard Ortiz on drums, who has been there from the start... and Craig Mabbitt (Ex-Bless the Fall) who replaced Ronnie Radke (Falling in Reverse) back at the end of 2008.

But their has been members that have come and gone like Max Green and the Money brothers. Shame because I always thought Monte Money was a real asset to the band, but I have to say Trasher Gruft is doing wonders in his place. You have TJ Bell (Ex-Motionless in White) who keeps going from guitar to bass and back again and on stage another new member playing bass this time... that I have not seen before. But I guess is Max Georgiev who I read on their Wiki page is just a touring member of the group. 

This is all so confusing, but strangely has not damaged the quality of their music. Every album is brilliant in their own right, even though some are heavier than others. New album 'Hate Me' which contains opener 'Just a Memory' and 'Remember every Scar', some say is their best work. Well I am not one of them, but I did really enjoy it... I am a fan.

I like other albums more, but this might be because some of them like the first album 'Dying is your latest Fashion' which was the only Escape the Fate full length album to have Ronnie Radke on vocals and Craig's debut on 'This World is Ours' , have more meaning for me, and remind me of great times I have had while listening to them.

Tonight's show is a total Sell Out!!! and you can hardly move as they break into opening number 'Just a Memory', with determination and a forceful attitude. It is an explosion in sound, and they show why they are tonight's headliners. They are leaps and bounds above the rest, which in comparison are hopefulls not quite ready to joist for the crown.

Escape the Fate are live veterans at the top of the game, they know what the crowd wants from the them. And they sure do deliver with songs from all their albums, satisfying every fan in the building... everyone get's what they want. From the brilliant 'The Flood' one of my personal favourites, to a fantastic version of 'Georgous Nightmare'. 

I can never understand why they often leave out (like tonight) the awesome 'Issues', which I love but they must have their reasons. You get so much from their set from a duet Ashley Costello (New Years Day) on her namesake track 'Ashley' to the crowd pleasing '10 Miles Wide' and the cartchy 'Something'. Their are so many great tracks in tonights set that I couldn't possibly talk about them all and that is a great sign.

For me the encore is the best moment, from Thrasher playing the 'Eruption' Van Halen guitar solo to the totally awesome 'The Guillotine (Part 1)' off the first album merged into 'This war is Ours (The Guillotine (Part 2))' off the second. This ends with all the bands on the bill coming on stage and covering the band with toilet paper and partying with them onstage and the venue turning on the lights and turning off the power. Thinking it was the end of the bands show.

At the end of the set the power is cut before they can play their MTV hit 'Situations', so the band encourage the crowd to sing it... while they try to get some sound out of their instruments. This is really cool and makes a special end to a brilliant evening. If you love Emo and Screamo and even Metalcore and Pop Punk, then you can't go wrong going to see Escape the Fate... they put on a great show and appeal to so many people.

Escape the Fate - Setlist 
-------------------------------------
Just a Memory
The Flood
10 Miles Wide
Ungrateful
Live for Today
Alive
Ashley
Something
Remember Every Scar
Gorgeous Nightmare
One for the Money
---------------------------
Eruption 
The Guillotine (Part 1)
This war is Ours (The Guillotine (Part 2))
Situations

Review and Photo's by Dan Devour 

Check Out! the Video for 'Just a Memory' Below...