Popular Monster by Falling in Reverse

ALBUM REVIEW - Falling In Reverse, “Popular Monster”

So, Falling In Reverse, a band with a history filled with drama and controversy, from his big exit from Escape The Fate, a prison stint and a lot of online arguments and unnerving comments, Ronnie has managed somehow to avoid cancel culture so far and put out some fantastic music and I’m really quite eager to listen to it.

To be fair, we’ve all already heard all but 4 of the tracks from this album, the lead single “Popular Monster” dropped back in 2019, 6 years ago, but it’s still a banger regardless of how old it is, it’s very deep dive into the depths of depression and frustration, also the hat a breakdown, just as indulgent on the billionth listen as it was on the first. “ZOMBIFIED” everyone remembers as the counter cancel culture track, the one his other half Saraya uses as her entrance music in AEW, it’s very catchy and the riff booms, whether the sentiment is appealing to people is going to be a bit of a divide but nonetheless it’s a great track. “Voices In My Head” is another heavily Rap based track again with a really thick full sounding chorus, building in tempo and tone before dropping a trademark FIW in your face heavy breakdown to top it off for good measure, but it’s not as intense as “Watch The World Burn” where Ronnie fires back at the haters with style, the way he builds suspense then spits some insanely quick bars before letting the devil out in those screams and growls, nobody blends things quite the way these guys are able to. “All My Life” features fast rising American Rapper Jelly Roll, is one of the most addictive upbeat tracks I’ve ever heard, “ooo-hooo” indeed, unicorns, line dancing and cowboys, with a nice harsh breakdown towards the end. Not sure if this is going to be a popular opinion, but I really didn’t like their Papa Roach cover, I understand and appreciate the sentiment of it being a huge influence to them and a huge album anniversary for those guys, I just compare it to the first 2 re-imagined tracks he did and they’re a different breed.

That leaves the ones we haven’t already heard yet; opener “Prequel” which a lot of people online are comparing to rapper NF and (if you don’t already check him out he’s great) there definitely at least appears to be some homage being paid, but it’s got this feeling of grandeur to it as the choir creep in and things start to feel a bit sinister, I think it’s one of the best songs I just keep going back to it. Then “Bad Guy” which features aforementioned partner Saraya (right at the end), a 2 and a half minute inviting little track, nothing too over the top a touch repetitive but necessary to get the blood flowing, as Ronnie half sings half raps about negativity he receives. “Trigger Warning” deserves a good mention with that jazzy piano solo, a more pop like approach, definitely one of the weaker lyrically but it’s got that irritating way of living rent free in your head.

I get funny looks and winced faces when I mention getting tickets to their upcoming tour or liking their music, I get it everyone has their opinion on the actions and words of Ronnie, but one thing I won’t relent on is talent. The guys got a hell of a lot of talent, this is their best collection of songs, the sheer variety and versatility that FIR have produced the last few years is extraordinary. The actions of Ronnie have been extremely questionable at times, I hate that talent gets tainted by that but there’s no changing that.

[9/10]

Review by Jay

*All reviews are the individual writers thoughts and are not necessarily those of Dropped Halo Media.

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