RED SUN RISING | Thread | Album Review

Red Sun Rising is a new face that has the potential to be among the big names of tomorrow as far as rock radio and all that surrounds it is concerned. It is common to see new bands that have that sort of promise attached to them, but it's rare for one of them to achieve two consecutive #1 singles on the charts, and both of them were off of their debut album. Red Sun Rising's first two singles "The Otherside" and "Emotionless" both peaked at the summit of Mainstream Rock and gave rock music another band to look out for in terms of a hot new band that needs some attention. While I didn't really focus on Red Sun Rising until just recently, I will admit that all of this hype is earned for the band. Three years after surprising the rock world with "Polyester Zeal", their debut album, they are at it again with "Thread", an album that is said to represent their sound. It's been said by members of the band that their influences are a lot like threads used to make fabric, meaning that they can't really be placed on one specific pedestal in terms of the genre that they feel as though they belong to. They've even gone as far as to create a hashtag revolving around this concept and states that the term of "thread" as the genre they feel like they belong to. Whether or not that will catch on with other bands is yet to be seen, but at least we have an album in "Thread" that attempts to be a slight deviation from the norm. 

If I were to be completely honest, when the album's leadoff single "Deathwish" dropped, I didn't come back to it as much. It is a solid track for what it is with its lyrics and overall tone, but it really isn't the best track on this album. It is safe to say if you've just heard "Deathwish" and nothing else, there is enough material on this album that will legitimately surprise you throughout. That is even furthered when you realize that the opening track on this album, "Fascination", nears six minutes in length. It showcases a band that wants to open their album slowly and sell the idea of the styles and sounds on this disc being as strong as several strands of thread that are sewn together perfectly, and it's probably one of the best opening tracks on an album I've heard in quite a while. The songs do get shorter after this point with only one of them eclipsing past five minutes, but there is still music here that has something to offer a listener. Songs like "Left For Dead", "El Lazo", "Clarity", and especially "Veins" are tracks that show Red Sun Rising can fit onto the airwaves well with memorable chorus hooks and mesmerizing musicianship. There are even tracks on here like "Benny Two Dogs" in which the lyrical content gets a bit off-kilter but in a good way, and it's proof that there is creativity in this band that is utilized carefully as to not confuse listeners or give them a migraine. 

With that said, I don't think this album is perfect as there are tracks that do somewhat feel like filler like "Stealing Life" and even "Lonely Girl", but for what it's worth, Red Sun Rising have proven with this album that they are a band to follow consistently. I do not necessarily think that this is exactly NEW ground that is being covered with "Thread", but with their statements about fabrics and strands of thread representing their musical background, it is safe to say that Red Sun Rising take on this often treaded upon ground with some of their own renditions of it. I do feel like this band has a fantastic album in their future, and if both of their major label discs prove anything, it's that the theory I have about them getting better will most definitely come. But, for now, we have an album that is a logical step forward into that. If you're a fan of any of the newer bands coming out recently like Nothing More and Royal Blood, or like bands such as Finger Eleven, you'll probably enjoy what Red Sun Rising has to offer. Even if you're not a fan of those bands and want another new slice of rock music that can you can easily gravitate towards, this is one of them to consider. The threads prove to be far from frayed and sturdy with this one. In that case, 

RATING: 7/10

What did you think about the record? Was it good? Was it bad? Let me know in the comments below. And of course, these are only my opinions. If your opinions are different, awesome! If they're similar, then that's great, too. So, don't hesitate- comment to me about it down below. Take care.

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