Escape The Fate

Escape The Fate is an emo and post-hardcore group from Las Vegas, United States. The band forms in 2004 and remains active. Its early lineup includes Ronnie Radke, Max Green, Robert Ortiz, Monte Money, Omar Espinosa and Carson Allen, with Robert Ortiz as the only original member who remains in the group.

Formation and early releases

Before Escape The Fate forms, Ronnie Radke, Max Green, Robert Ortiz, Monte Money and Omar Espinosa play in several bands together. In September 2005, the band wins a local radio contest judged by My Chemical Romance, which leads to a support slot on a tour with Alkaline Trio and Reggie and the Full Effect and then to a record deal with Epitaph. The band releases its debut EP, There’s No Sympathy for the Dead, in 2006, with production by Michael Baskette. The EP includes two songs that later appear on the first full-length album, Dying Is Your Latest Fashion, also released in 2006.

Line-up changes and later albums

After the EP release, Carson Allen leaves to join On the Last Day. Omar Espinosa leaves during the Black on Black tour in 2007. Ronnie Radke leaves after being sentenced to prison in 2008, and former Blessthefall vocalist Craig Mabbitt joins, first temporarily and then permanently. This War Is Ours follows in 2008 and is the first album with Mabbitt on vocals. Its singles include “The Flood”, “Something”, “10 Miles Wide” and “This War Is Ours (The Guillotine II)”.

The band later re-releases This War Is Ours in a deluxe CD/DVD edition with extra tracks, an acoustic version of “Harder Than You Know”, a remix of “This War Is Ours (The Guillotine II)” by Shawn Crahan, and a DVD with videos and tour material. The group then moves to DGC/Interscope for its next album, Escape the Fate, produced by Don Gilmore. That record includes “Massacre”, “Issues”, “City of Sin” and “Gorgeous Nightmare”.

Further membership changes

Kevin “Thrasher” Gruft works with the band as a substitute and later becomes a member. TJ Bell also fills in on bass and later plays rhythm guitar. Max Green leaves and returns at different points, including after time in rehab. Monte Money takes a break from touring in 2011 but stays in the band at that point. Michael Money also appears in the band’s history as a rhythm guitarist. Erik Jensen is listed as a touring bassist from 2017 onward.

Recorded output

The band releases six studio albums on Epitaph, DGC and Eleven Seven. The discography listed for the group also includes Ungrateful (2013), Hate Me (2015) and I Am Human (2018). Escape The Fate also releases a self-titled EP in 2005.

Style and activity

Escape The Fate is associated with emo and post-hardcore, and is also tagged with screamo, emocore, hardcore and emo. The band continues as an active group from its Las Vegas base.