Hate Me (album)

Hate Me is the fifth studio album by American rock band Escape the Fate. The album was produced by Howard Benson. The album features a new lineup; with Kevin "Thrasher" Gruft on lead guitar, bass, programming and TJ Bell on rhythm guitar and bass. It is the first album without Michael and Monte Money. The album was released on October 30, 2015 through Eleven Seven Music.

Background
After the return of bassist Max Green in 2013 and his second departure in 2014 the band went through a string of touring bassist and left the band in a state of uncertainty. Kevin "Thrasher" Gruft and TJ Bell ended up playing bass on the album. The band also lost guitarists Monte and Michael Money in late 2013. The band entered the studio on May 10, 2015 to start recording the album with Howard Benson.

Singles and promotion
In early August 2015 the band changed all of their social media photos to read "8.18.15" which was speculated to be a single release or an album announcement.

On August 18, the band released the single "Just a Memory" for free online and officially announced the album along with a worldwide tour.

Personnel
Escape the Fate
 * Craig Mabbitt – lead vocals
 * Kevin Gruft – lead guitar, programming, engineer, bass, backing vocals
 * TJ Bell – rhythm guitar, backing vocals, bass
 * Robert Ortiz – drums, backing vocals

Artwork and design
 * Spiral Grey – illustrations
 * Trevor Niemann – design

Production
 * Howard Benson – producer, mixing, keyboards
 * Mike Plotnikoff – producer, mixing, engineer
 * Lenny Skolnik – producer, keyboards, programming
 * Don Bakeman – assistant engineer
 * Chris Bousquet – assistant engineer
 * Wendell Teague – assistant engineer
 * Hatsukazu "Hatch" Inagaki – engineer
 * Marc VanGool – guitar technician
 * Jonny Litten – drum programming, keyboards, programming
 * Paul DeCarli – digital editing