It is the final album to feature founding guitarist Derek Jones, who played on the title track before his death in 2020. The album features guest appearances from rapper Tech N9ne, Slaughter to Prevail vocalist Alex Terrible and country singer/rapper Jelly Roll.
While it is the band's first album in seven years, it features singles that were originally released dating back to 2019.
Background
After Falling in Reverse's fourth album, 2017's Coming Home, underperformed and "tanked" according to Ronnie Radke, he decided to focus on releasing singles instead of albums. This move was inspired by Drake, and Radke said that he could spend more time writing songs before releasing them now.[2]
On May 7, 2024, the band announced their fifth album Popular Monster after releasing several singles throughout the last five years which eventually made it onto the album. It was originally scheduled for a July 26, 2024 release date before being pushed back to August 16.[3] The album cover features frontman Ronnie Radke's mugshot after being arrested for domestic assault in 2012.[4][5]
The first single which eventually made it onto Popular Monster was the title track, which was released on November 20, 2019 and became the band's first platinum single as well as their first No. 1 single on Billboard's Mainstream Rock airplay chart.[6] "Popular Monster" was the last song that founding rhythm guitarist Derek Jones played on before his sudden death on April 21, 2020 from a subdural hematoma.[7]
In 2022, Falling in Reverse released the singles "Zombified", written about "how sensitive society has gotten" and "Voices in My Head", which was initially interpreted as a diss against Machine Gun Kelly before Radke said those claims were false.[8] On January 31, 2023, the band released "Watch the World Burn", Falling in Reverse's first single to enter the Billboard Hot 100, doing so at No. 83. On June 26, 2023, the band released "Last Resort (Reimagined)", a symphonic cover of the Papa Roach song.[9] Papa Roach vocalist, Jacoby Shaddix was 'blown away' and very impressed with the cover.[10]
On May 7, 2024, the band released the album's true lead single titled "Ronald", which featured rapper Tech N9ne and Slaughter to Prevail vocalist Alex Terrible. The band also announced the Popular MonsTOUR II: World Domination, which will take place from August–December 2024, with guests Tech N9ne, Slaughter to Prevail, Hollywood Undead, Dance Gavin Dance and Black Veil Brides.[11] On June 6, 2024, the band released the album's second single, titled "All My Life", which featured country singer Jelly Roll;[12] the single received one million views on YouTube in the first 24 hours of its release.[13] A music video for the track "Prequel" was released on August 16, 2024, coinciding with the album release.[14]
Popular Monster received mixed to positive reviews from critics. Anne Erickson of Blabbermouth gave it a rating of 8 out of 10 saying: On Popular Monster', Radke and Falling in Reverse show they're trendsetters. This release is like nothing else out there in the metalcore and post-hardcore world. Their experimentation is similar to bands such as Bad Omens and Sleep Token in their unapologetic moves to meld pop and rap with metal. Falling in Reverse truly have a sound that's all their own, and that's a treasure.[16] Simon K. over at Sputnikmusic gave the album a 3.3 out of 5, stating that "On paper, Popular Monster reads like an incoherent, schizophrenic mess, bursting at the seams with surface level influences from an eclectic range of genres and styles, all haphazardly stitched together with a derivative breakdown[...] However, there’s a metaphysical element that adheres this Frankenstein’s monster of ideas and makes it all extremely fun and engaging to listen to."[17] Paul Brown of Wall of Sound gave it a rating of 6.5 out of 10 saying: "Popular Monster will get you moshing while questioning the world around you. A concept album for the rise of a glorified rolling stone."[18]AllMusic also gave the album a rating of two and a half stars and noted the album continuing the band's "usual mash-up of metalcore, pop, rap, and electronica".[15]
However, there were some critical reviews for the album. Luke Nutail of The Soundboard said: "The best that Falling In Reverse can aspire to on Popular Monster is copying another grifter also better known for an insufferable public persona well above any music."[19] Rachel Aimee of Still Listening Magazine gave it a rating of zero, the lowest of all, saying: "It is baffling and decently depressing that a band like Falling in Reverse still have a platform, and a big one at that."[20]
Commercial performance
Popular Monster debuted No. 12 on the Billboard 200 album chart selling, 31,000 units in the first week of release. The album also debuted atop the Billboard Hard Rock Albums chart. Considering the hype surrounding the release, the record itself has already accumulated 723,000 album equivalent units in the U.S., with 1.96 billion streams globally. The album was certificated gold by RIAA in US."[21][22]
Track listing
Popular Monster track listing. Credits and lengths adapted from liner notes.
