Review Summary: While not changing “face”, Red proves once again that they are a force to be reckoned with…
Where to begin? What to say? Red, have you heard of them? If so, what do you know of them? Red began their musical career in the early 2000’s, writing a few demos here and there. After being paired up with produced Rob Graves, Red set their career off with the release of End of Silence. At that very instant, Red was destined to capture the hearts of many. Heavy riffs, tender acoustics, heartfelt strings, relatable lyrics, powerful vocals, it had it all. And it didn’t stop there; the critics themselves made it a point to say that Red wasn’t just another rock-radio act. What followed was just success piled one upon another. Grammy nominated, selling records in the thousands, a chance to tour with famous acts like Three Days Grace, Breaking Benjamin, Seether etc, Red got it all. This could have led to the fear that Red would convert to the generic radio act, with the goal of selling millions of records, but with the release of Innocence and Instinct, Red banished all doubts. Two years later, what does Red have to say for themselves….
Let’s just say that this is the perfect album for the fans. This album has more-or-less retained the same sound. Mike never lets down, as his vocals take you on an emotional journey, beginning in songs like Feed The Machine which features powerful vocals, and strong screams, or in ballads like Best is Yet to Come, where he tears at your heartstrings. The guitar work is good as always, while pulling off interesting riffs in song like Feed The Machine, and Faceless. The bass maintains a steady beat, and while being powerful, its never overbearing, as shown in Best is Yet to Come, and Watch You Crawl. The drums have greatly improved, and the drummer certainly doesn’t want to fade in the background, as shown in songs Buried Beneath and Watch You Crawl. The strings are there as always, and prove themselves to be at their peak. This album even features synthesized beats, which play a strong part in the power ballad Let it Burn, one of the few songs featuring female vocalist Kerrie Roberts. The lyrics, poetic as always, carry a positive feeling, promoting themes such as forgiveness, to always look forward, and most of all, to find your identity.
The album shows Red at its hardest, and yet remains subtle in some cases. Songs like Feed The Machine, and The Outside have their counterparts in the form of Not Alone, and Hymn For The Missing. But at the end of the day, this album isn’t perfect. Fillers like The Outside and Who We Are show that Red must have slacked off at one point. Red have retained the same formula, and I, like many, will still love it. But for others, it might be the album to inspire hatred. Red continues to do what they do best, and that is to send out strong powerful albums, with excellent and positive themes and I have no doubt that Red will finally strike their fortune.
