He's Back: Ronnie Radke's New Album

There is a man in the music industry with a big ego, a big voice, a bad reputation and a background that you wouldn’t bring home to your mother. He is front man Ronnie Radke, former member of Escape The Fate and founder of Falling in Reverse. He’s back from prison and back with a score to settle. This can be heard on his new band’s debut album The Drug in Me Is You, released in America on July 26, 2011. The album features eleven tracks and a sound similar to his album with Escape The Fate, Dying Is Your Latest Fashion, along with pop rock melodies and quick lyrics.

It is well known that Radke was sent to prison for two and a half years due to parole violation and an altercation in Las Vegas in 2006, resulting in the death of Michael Cook. He was kicked out of Escape The Fate in 2008, then serving time until December 12, 2010 when he was released. That same month he and his new band went into the recording studio to record what is now The Drug in Me Is You. The album was made alongside producer Michael Baskette, friend of Radke’s.

The Drug in Me Is You has received both positive and negative reviews, which isn’t surprising considering upon first listen you might ask yourself what you just listened to, maybe liking a few songs. It takes a few listens to really get used to the sounds heard from this album. Also upon further listening, the lyrics become less and less quality, most of the tracks having obvious resentment towards Radke’s ex-band. The lyrics were written while Radke was in prison, and he is incredibly proud of them. Track by track, though, the album comes together quite nicely…

Track 1: This track starts out with guitar riffs and a melody that will remind anyone of Escape The Fate. It’s fast paced and heavy, with a dance-able chorus. The lyrics are obviously about Radke’s ex-band and being in prison with lines such as “you’re what I started, now disregarded” and “get out of the god-awful place.” He uses several clever allusions to things he has dealt with in the lyrics, as well. This is one of the many tracks on the album that features screaming, synth and a breakdown.

Track 2: With the way this song opens it feels as if it should have been the first song on the record. Immediately there is a pop-rock tone. Radke’s vocals do have a hint of Escape The Fate in them, but the melody is a new sound for him. The chorus even features “la la la”s. The lyrics are almost immature, taking hits at his ex-band. It’s not the best song on the record and one that is probably going to be skipped over more than once. It’s a song about a large ego, in the end.

Track 3: The song’s title track is very catchy, quick but still with lyrics that aren’t entirely great. It’s not exactly ETF, but the beginning sounds have a hint of it. The lyrics are quick, almost rapped, and the guitar and bass creep up and down, crawling under your skin, hooking you in. The bass does seem a bit simple, but it works in harmony with the rest of the music. It is one of the songs on the album that features a short guitar solo.

Track 4: Opening up with fun drums and quickly heading into heavier guitars, this track is a personal favorite. It’s heavy, dance-able, with a good melody and catchy lyrics. This is one of the better songs on the album because it’s not exactly clear what the song is about, though it’s probably about addiction, it’s not attacking ex-band members, and the guitar work is quick and tricky, as well as the bass and drums.

Track 5: This is a very pop-rock song, not relating to anything with Radke’s past. It’s not intense in any way, just fun. Once again, Radke is boosting his ego with the lyrics. This song is Situations Pt. 2, so if you liked Escape The Fate’s Situations you’ll probably enjoy this song.

Track 6: Once again, a very pop-ish song, starting off with a likable bass line. The lyrics aren’t great, but okay. The melody is very catchy, though, switching from a slower one to very quick and back again. The guitars are heavier, but not the main attraction. This song is really featuring vocal melodies and that haunting bass line. Everything else is okay at best.

Track 7: About 30 seconds into this song you’ll think you’re listening to a track off of Dying Is Your Latest Fashion and that feeling continues throughout the entire song. It’s one of the heaviest on the album, featuring screaming, great breakdowns and a sweet guitar solo.

Track 8: The previous song flows into this one because it keeps up with that old ETF feel. It’s heavy with great guitar work throughout the song. This song also has great vocals and good lyrics. It doesn’t really stand out the way the other tracks do, but it is a good track in its entirety. The bridge is perhaps the most memorable part since it’s Radke’s vocals and an electronic back-beat.

Track 9: The beginning of this track has a carnival feel, as if Radke is up on a soap box calling out to folks at the county fair to come and try out a game of luck. The guitar, bass and drums very much stick to this theme except for the chorus. The lyrics aren’t entirely creative, but it leaves a lot up to interpretation.

Track 10: Immediately the song plunges into heavy guitars and bass along with screaming. The lyrics are neither good nor bad, they just are with a few key moments where Radke’s skills show. The part that’s really going to catch someone’s ear is the moment where there’s a breakdown to quick guitars. The outro is quite like something you’d expect from ETF.

Track 11: This final track is a personal track for Radke, the lyrics speaking directly about his past and about his mother. The track opens with an acoustic sound and Radke’s vocals. It soon turns heavier with fantastic guitar work. There are many things in this song that could be mentioned, but the entire song is fantastic. It’s one of the best songs on the record, if not the best song with its beginning changing into something entirely different than expected.

All together, the album isn’t an entire letdown with its high points and low points, and it definitely grows on you. It’s a 3.5 to 4 star record.