The Dead Rabbitts – ShapeShifter (Album Review)

Shapeshifter is the debut album from metalcore supergroup and side project of Escape the Fate’s Craig Mabbitt, The Dead Rabbitts. The album is set for release July 1st via Tragic Hero Records. On May 16th the lyric video for the single ‘My Only Regret’ was released via Tragic Hero’s YouTube channel. The Dead Rabbitts will also be headlining ‘The Shapeshiftour;’ to promote the album this summer. They will be joined by The Relapse Symphony, Nightmares, and Myka Relocate. The album is wonderfully produced by the amazing Andrew Wade (A Day To Remember, The Word Alive); a nice mix of melodic cleans and rough uncleans. This leaves the album with a good balance and something for everyone to enjoy. It was very hard to pick out just a few of the tracks that stand out, because in all honestly the entire album is nothing short of phenomenal. One of the first tracks that popped out at me was ‘Make me Believe It (ft. Caleb Shomo)’. It shows the amazing contrast in musical styles on the album with the soft, melodic piano and the driving guitars and vocals from Mabbitt and Shomo. The next was ‘Deer in the Headlights’, this song has an awesome message. It’s kind of a metaphorical middle finger to the doubters; “you always just tore me down. Now that I’ve survived you’re so surprised like a deer in the headlights”. And finally ‘Black Cloud’ comes up the rear; rounding out and gives the album the ending it deserves. It’s a track that consists of kind of a peaceful kind of chaos.

Rating: 5/5- Hot damn man what else can I say? This album is nothing short of amazing from start to finish. It’ll grab your attention and keep it, lulling you into pleasantry only to be brought crashing back by the badassness that is Craig Mabbitt. This album exceeded my expectations by 100%! It blew my mind with amazement of how awesome The Dead Rabbitts are!  I heard ‘My Only Regret’ and thought ‘okay yeah I like it and it’s pretty cool’, this blew that out of the water, hands down. I can see 2014 as a big year for these guys, not just because of what bands they came from (or are currently still a part of), but because of this album; pure, unadulterated, talent! If you only pick up one album this year, this is the one to get! 

ABOUT THE DEAD RABBITTS

The Dead Rabbitts are a metalcore super group from Phoenix, AZ. The band is comprised of Craig Mabbitt (Escape the Fate), Alex Torres (Eyes Set to Kill, Greeley Estates, Alesana), TJ Bell (Escape the Fate, Motionless in White), and Chris Julian. The music is largely reminiscent of Mabbitt’s previous groups Blessthefall and The Word Alive with Mabbitt telling AltPress “this is what I wanted to do with The Word Alive.” It’s a heavier bombardment of sound than Escape The Fate fans will be used to, but is still filled with plenty of hooks and harmonies. Craig Mabbitt has told AltPress Magazine that this is the music he has always wanted to make. A much more aggressive and “pissed off” sound compared to Escape The Fate.

After the release of their first EP Edge of Reality (produced by Caleb Shomo of Attack, Attack! and Beartooth) and a successful tour with Get Scared, The Dead Rabbitts signed with Tragic Hero Records. “It pretty much fell into place, says Mabbitt. “I called Escape The Fate’s old manager. I said, ‘If you’re interested, why don’t you manage this project?’ He said, ‘Cool. Well, I’m managing A Skylit Drive right now and they’re on Tragic Hero. Show me some songs.” So I did, and everybody loved them.

Mabbitt and The Dead Rabbitts immediately began work on a full-length album with Andrew Wade (A Day To Remember, Motionless in White, The Word Alive) in Ocala, Florida. “Wade took a lot of the songs and fucking killed it, in a good way,” says Mabbitt. “He took one of my least-favorite songs that we recorded, and now it’s the whole band’s favorite. It’s crazy how much something so simple can completely change a song.” The new album is entitled Shapeshifter and is even heavier and faster than Edge of Reality. The record also features a sexually charged raucous tune with Ashley Costello of New Years Day.  

Check out The Dead Rabbitts

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thedeadrabbitts
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/DeadRabbitts
• iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/edge-of-reality/id572942212
• Pre-Order ShapeShifter: http://tragic-hero.com/deadrabbitts/shapeshifter

Album is officially released on July 1st 2014, PREORDER IT NOW!! 

Check out The Dead Rabbitts currently on their headlining tour “SHAPE SHIFTOUR” DATES BELOW.

Tuesday 6/24/2014 San Francisco, CA DNA Lounge –https://www.dnalounge.com/calendar/2014/06-24.html
Wednesday 6/25/2014 Portland, OR Branx –https://holdmyticket.com/checkout/event/171340
Thursday 6/26/2014 Seattle, WA Studio Seven – http://tinyurl.com/ov7b9bl
Saturday 6/28/2014 Missoula, MT Stage 112 – http://bit.ly/1kz07xH
Monday 6/30/2014 Colorado Springs, CO Black Sheep – http://tinyurl.com/l9jg7cu
Tuesday 7/1/2014 Denver, CO Marquis Theater – http://tinyurl.com/kc9fnel
Thursday 7/3/2014 Joliet, IL Mojoes – http://theticketrumba.com/tickets/1916
Saturday 7/5/2014 Cleveland, OH Agora Ballroom –http://tinyurl.com/q6y29gm
Sunday 7/6/2014 Lansing, MI The Loft – http://bit.ly/1jOSjmJ
Monday 7/7/2014 Toronto, ON Sneaky Dees – http://ticketf.ly/1tOOOT3
Tuesday 7/8/2014 Montreal, QC La Sala Rossa – http://tinyurl.com/ncjo7tx
Wednesday 7/9/2014 Worcester, MA Palladium –http://www.ticketfly.com/purchase/event/594395/tfly
Thursday 7/10/2014 Albany, NY Bogies – http://ticketrink.com/front/event/32330
Friday 7/11/2014 Boston, MA Brighton Music Hall – http://tinyurl.com/mvgnqcg
Saturday 7/12/2014 Hartford, CT Webster Underg. –http://www.ticketfly.com/purchase/event/594405/tfly
Sunday 7/13/2014 Amityville, NY Amityville Music –http://www.ticketfly.com/event/585753
Monday 7/14/2014 Springfield, VA Empire – http://tinyurl.com/p9n4ncz
Tuesday 7/15/2014 Whitehall, PA Planet Trog – http://ticketf.ly/1p50aC8
Thursday 7/17/2014 Greensboro, NC Greene St. Club – http://tinyurl.com/nmc7w8a
Friday 7/18/2014 Atlanta, GA Masquerade – http://tinyurl.com/qz767xz
Saturday 7/19/2014 Jacks, FL 1904 Music Hall – http://tinyurl.com/ndb59e7
Sunday 7/20/2014 Orlando, FL Back Booth – http://tinyurl.com/q9k9ghh
Wednesday7/23/2014 Austin, TX Dirty Dog – http://www.ticketfly.com/event/593177
Thursday 7/24/2014 Dallas, TX Tomcats – http://tinyurl.com/lr2wsx4
Saturday 7/26/2014 Tempe, AZ Pub Rock – http://tinyurl.com/nrc4naf