The Valley has been ringing in the New Year with a plethora of post-hardcore bands sweeping through the area. The latest to hit town is Escape the Fate. The Las Vegas group is kicking off Dead Masquerade, their first headlining tour, with dates in Tucson and Tempe. Escape the Fate isn't taking any breaks while getting their new material out there, though they also have to stand by their bassist's side supporting him during struggles with drug and alcohol addiction. Their self-titled third studio album dropped in November, and two months later, they've released Issues Remix EP. Plus, they've landed on the cover of Outburn Magazine's January/February issue. Even though they could be considered a band fit for the music shelves at Hot Topic, ETF also sounds like a harder, much better version of Fall Out Boy. Sure, they may sound emo (and they're all about wearing plenty of guyliner), but with a more upbeat sound, they're catchy and pull it off as though it's still 2004.