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Blood Red
Hostage
Initial CD
I had high hopes for Hostage, and after a few spins, I was left with mixed emotions.
With the collision of two defunct Long Island outfits, the ex-melodic hardcore Silent Majority front man Tommy Corrigan, and Tom, Vincent, and Craig from the amazing melody rockers Inside, Hostage's feel is odd and uncomfortable, but the moments Blood Red truly come together on, they're capable of producing some really special moments, especially on the last three less forceful tracks.
The reason Hostage feel's not fitting is that Tommy's poignant croons soar too loud over the music, taking away from what could be a delightful listen. The problem lies within the mixing of the album, not with Tommy, which is unfortunate.
The down tempo piano standout "Our Lady of Mayhem," is where Tommy's vocals are allowed to ascend on his own, rather than overshadowing a solid rhythm section. The slower brewing bass led "Suburbia" also shows more of a correlation between Tommy's crude delivery and the rest of the members, rather than an opposite tug like two similar poles of a magnet repelling each other. The bloodcurdling lyrics will also have you closely listening: "Circumstantial evidence is what we've got what we've got on you and I'll take my turn point a finger at you because I know what you did to a couple of kids that I know and you know and you know so well...There's nothing left for you in the coat room alone with the darkest of evil." The closer "Old New York's" haunting piano interwoven around a stable and unhurried bass fraction and alarming vocal delivery gave me a quick flashback to Dear Ephesus' The Consolation of Pianissimo.
Blood Red's name, taken from U2's album title Under a Blood Red Sky, is, contrary to belief, the only comparison you'll find to U2.
Throughout Hostage Blood Red nails out guitar sweeping melodies and ample rock, but you can't help but get distracted, the mix of the vocals shades the music. Hostage is a perfect example of why mixing is a significant element in creating and balancing a bands sound—Blood Red being the unlucky hostage in this circumstance.
by Fake Train
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