By: James Southworth
Rating: 5/5 Stars
It's finally time for the next installment in my Favorite Album Series! I have been very excited to talk about this release. It's been a while since I've really been able to convey just what is so amazing about RED's third album, "Until We Have Faces". I still remember the hype that was around this release. Riding off the immense success of their sophomore album (which was FAR from a slump) "Innocence and Instinct", RED came out with a teaser for their new album in late 2010. I was incredibly excited for this album, and even more so when I heard the single "Faceless". I had no real idea about how much this album would impact me. Taking inspiration from the C.S. Lewis novel of the same name, "Until We Have Faces" is one of RED's best releases. It's full of many of their most memorable songs. In fact, I personally think this album is absolutely perfect from start to finish (and that will be the same for the rest of the albums I review in this series).
This release starts off excellently with what is arguably the band's most intense song to date, "Feed The Machine". I've listened to this song on consistent repeat over the years, and even after 8 years of listening to it, this track still blows me away. You know you're in for a treat when Michael Barnes lets out his signature gritty screams and there is an absolutely explosive guitar. I also can't go without mentioning the legendary drum work of Joe Rickard, who is unfortunately not in the band anymore. He really brings something unique to this album as a whole. This song was ahead of its time in the lyrical department, and I think the commentary it has is even more relevant to today: "We fall in line, we live the lie/Give up, give up and feed the machine/It grows inside, nowhere to hide...". The lyrics discuss in compelling detail how we are so easy to give in to society, corruption and all. Society is the machine, and we are willingly giving it power. I won't deny that this subject matter has been done before. However, RED takes this concept a step further by actually giving listeners a solution to this issue: "Wake up, wake up/And kill the machine". Songs with dark subject matter like this usually conclude that there's no way out. I like that RED challenges us to actually try to fight against corruption. This song also has an awesome cinematic feel to it at the end, with the combination of RED's signature orchestration as well as a choir. It's one of band's best songs to date. Next up is "Faceless", the lead single of the album. This song has the band's classic sound. Even when you first hear it, it feels like you've always known this song was around. That's how good it is. This has all the identifiable trademarks of RED: combining pounding guitar riffs with gorgeous orchestration, Michael shifting between his soaring cleans and hard hitting screams, and compelling lyrics. The lyrics in this song focus around not wanting to feel like a fake version of yourself. This theme comes alive in the very catchy chorus. You can feel the desperation in Barnes's voice, making this one stand out all the more.
"Lie to Me (Denial)" is one of my top 3 favorite RED songs of all time, and it's definitely my favorite song off this album. I also feel that this one, despite being a single, is incredibly underrated. I don't think many people truly appreciate just how different this song is for the band. They opt for a more alternative rock sound in this one, and it's executed perfectly. I also like how this song subtly reveals that it's from the perspective of God, reaching out to this person who doesn't love Him: "Lie to me/
You can feel/That this love was never real/Walk away/You can learn to love again...You can leave/I'll still be here when you see/You're not alone/You don't have to run again/And leave me in denial". The redemptive nature of this song still gives me chills, as it gives an honest portrayal of God that isn't stereotypical or over the top. Instead there's a legitimate feeling of relationship between God and the person He's talking to. The chorus of this song just goes above and beyond in how much it hooks you in, with the Michael's vocals being at their absolute best. "Let It Burn" has a lot of Linkin Park influence in it, and that's not a bad thing at all. RED has pretty much always succeeded at making great ballads, and this one is no exception. I also like the storytelling in this song, as well as how it uses a city burning as symbolism for letting the old, corrupt self die. It continues to tie in to this album's thematic arc of truly finding who you are. Even though it's not one of my favorites on the album, I still can't deny that "Buried Beneath" is very accessible and catchy. It boasts a chorus that just won't get out of your head. I totally understand why this one became a single, as it does radio rock in the right way.
Another great ballad appears in "Not Alone". This is still what I would call RED's only attempt at making a worship song. But, unlike most worship songs where the singer is addressing God, this song, like "Lie To Me", comes from God's perspective. This album is incredibly deep in the sense that RED is connecting with God in a level that they haven't on their previous albums. I think that aspect of this album alone deserves praise. The reassurance this song gives that we will never be alone, even in our darkest moments, comes across as very genuine. I like the increased usage of strings in this track as well. The intensity is amped up very quickly with the guitar heavy "Watch You Crawl". This track could easily be on "Innocence and Instinct", but still works in context of this album. The lyrics of this song express a justified anger for someone who has betrayed Michael, especially in the bridge where he lets loose some of his most unbridled screams. After this we get the track "The Outside", a major highlight for me. This one starts off with some unsettling electronic effects before getting into a thrashing guitar riff that has some clear metal influences. I like how Michael changes his vocal style up on this one as well, as it has a more gritty feel to it. The menace his voice exudes in this track is incredible and legitimately chilling. The band hasn't done a song quite like this one ever since, which makes this track stand all the taller in their whole discography.
"Who We Are" is an anthem, pure and simple. Right from the beginning you get the feeling of what this song is gonna be all about. It's a pump up track; it's meant to get you hype. I tend to complain about pump up tracks being too generic, but I have no qualms with this one. The band does have fun on this track, but there is a legitimate weight to the lyrics: "How did we let go?/How did we forget that we don't have to hide?/We won't believe the lies again/We won't be paralyzed". All of the energy of this track derives from a real sense that we can fight against all the lies and the scars that have been put upon us. That's what makes this track work. This album has explored over and over again how exactly we find ourselves. This song stands as an epic response to that question: we don't have to answer to what society wants us out to be. We can fight to be who we were meant to be all along. I love that message. I've seen the band perform this song live, and trust me, the audience's sense of letting go of everything that held them captive was real. The album begins to wind down with the touching and reassuring ballad "The Best Is Yet To Come". This has some of the band's most retrospective lyrics to date, as well as lyrics that excitingly look towards the future. But it's really the ending track "Hymn for the Missing" that shines the brightest in the closing portion of this release. This track is tragic; you can feel the pain. I think this track is a necessary and fitting ending. Not everyone easily finds their identity due to circumstances beyond their control. This song is a desperate call out to those people: "Where are you now?/Are you lost?/Will I find you again?/Are you alone?/Are you afraid?". The album ends off with more questions instead of all sorts of easy answers. There are still so many people out there who are lost, alone, and afraid. RED isn't afraid to acknowledge that, and we have to acknowledge it as well. That makes the thematic arc of this album complete in a way that I wasn't expecting when I first listened to this album. I didn't like the album ending inconclusively at first, but now I understand why this had to be the conclusion. This album is called "Until We Have Faces". The work of finding identity isn't complete until everyone has found theirs. What an important and truthful realization.
RED has such a stellar discography overall. As their albums have gone on, the themes that they have explored have become more mature and compelling (with the slight exception of "Release The Panic"). I would argue that this album contains perhaps the most complex content that the band has ever dealt with. It does so in a way that is relatable to the listener. That is what makes this album work so well for me. There's not a single weak moment in it. Musically this album balances classic RED material with some experimentation, and often the more risky moves make for the best songs on this release. It's no surprise that "Until We Have Faces" got nominated for a Grammy. There's no doubt in my mind that this will continue to stay in my top 15 albums of all time. If you haven't listened to it, then please do, because you are missing out!
Favorite Songs: "Lie To Me (Denial)", "Feed The Machine", "Hymn for the Missing", "The Outside", "Not Alone", "Who We Are"
Least Favorite Songs: NONE
No comments:
Post a Comment