Style: progressive metal, hardcore, metalcore (mixed vocals)
Review by: Zach
Recommended for fans of: later Veil of Maya, Counterparts
Country: Nevada, United States
Release date: 21 October, 2021
Ah, Dillinger Escape Plan, my beloved. Shall I compare thee to a hardcore concert? Thou art more brutal and more chaotic. The band who taught me about mixing chaos and beauty, who taught me every note didn’t need to be pretty. And the band who left a hole in my heart when they broke up on a high note. It’s no secret that I will jump at any opportunity for a band to recapture my attention like they did. And like a horrible ex that won’t let go and will settle for the bargain bin version of their lost lover, my quest goes on. So, when The Red Charade’s debut Primal, which had all the right Bandcamp tags in all the right places, waltzed into my sight, I just had to check them out. And what did I find?
Well, I found scant elements of a TDEP song, that’s for sure. I’m probably misleading you all right now by even comparing the two. Sure, there’s pissed off vocals, less pissed off clean vocals, and…that’s where the comparison stops. You see, from the very moment of ‘Primal Pt. 1’ starts off with that mosh-worthy hardcore riff, they’ve got it interlaced with those noodly prog moments that caught me completely off guard. These little prog moments continue throughout the first three tracks and give The Red Charade an identity of their own, rather than just rehashing what’s “in” for hardcore and metalcore these days.
There is very clear talent and passion for a final product that’s equal parts hardcore and prog here. And what’s even more amazing is that The Red Charade make it work very well in some parts. Sure, the song structures get a little predictable by the fourth track. But the guitar work is nothing short of outstanding here. Between the slithery Trivium-esque riffs and the post-rock reverb-drenched guitar sections (even if they do run a little stale by the end), it’s clear that the guitarist has studied equal parts later Veil of Maya, Gojira, and Counterparts. The drumming is frantic, but never feels like overplaying, and the bass keeps the rhythm even between all the noodly sections.
But, if you’ve been reading this review carefully, there’s something I’ve been avoiding talking about. Something that brings this record down a few notches. The vocals. Not exactly the sound of them, per se. The lows and cleans sound great, the higher screams could use a little work. But there is such a consistently awkward delivery throughout the record, especially with vocal harmonies. There are times where they sound completely off tempo, or with no rhythm at all. What should’ve been an amazing moment around 2 minutes into ‘Primal Pt. 2’ was completely squandered by a (and I can only assume purposefully) off kilter delivery between cleans and high screams.
So, have I found the hot, new replacement to my lost love TDEP? No. Will I ever? Who knows? What I do know is that I’ve found a good debut from a band with clear talent. This album makes me almost infuriated to score what I’m going to give it. But if the vocals were just…there, then I could easily see myself giving it a much higher score. This album never bored me, nor ran too long, just made me confused with some of the vocal choices. That being said, I’ll be awaiting the follow up.
Recommended tracks: Controller, Performing Surgery On My Future Self, Fighting the Sound of Discord
You may also like: Quiet
Final verdict: 6.5/10
Related links: Bandcamp | Spotify | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter
Label: Independent
The Red Charade is:
– Daniel Fabrizio Toscano – Guitar, Vocals
– Dalton Terry – Bass
– Niles Rodriguez – Drums
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