Review Summary: Red gets it all right.
Red has been consistently releasing albums since 2006, with varying degrees of success. The band really seemed to find their sound on Innocence & Instinct and Until We Have Faces. Some of that was lost on Release the Panic. The band felt uninspired and unwilling to evolve. Fortunately, Of Beauty and Rage puts Red back on track.
You can tell from the intro "Descent" that this is the Red that all the veteran fans wanted to hear. The dark atmosphere and haunting violins would not be out of place on a Hans Zimmer track. This song blossoms into the excellent track, "Impostor." Michael Barnes has always been an excellent vocalist, and he proves it yet again on this track. Ranging from melodic singing to fits-of-rage screaming, Barnes continues to impress, as he does throughout the entire album.
Another highlight of the album is "Gravity Lies." The song manages to mix pummeling guitars with delicate string melodies masterfully. The track is diverse, dark, and beautiful. "Shadow and Soul" is done in a similar fashion. Mixing heavy riffs with elegant strings is where Red excels. Fans since their early days will appreciate the return of this music style.
When things slow down, Barnes and producer Rob Graves truly shine. "Of these chains" features excellent instrumentation and honest, heartfelt lyrics. This can be said for most of the songs. The lyrics just feel real. They sound like they are written from a broken man, trying to find his way back on track. They are full of sensitivity, which can be appreciated in this over saturated market of rock bands trying to sound tougher than the next one.
Red gets it all right on this album. When its soft, its beautiful, when it's heavy, it's exciting and satisfying. The instrumentation is the best since Innocence & Instinct and Barnes solidifies himself as one of the more talented vocalists in modern rock. This is what you wanted from Red.
