Weapon Status Red
Jeff recently dropped me a line to let me know about Weapon Status Red, a California based aggressive metalcore band who blend melodic choruses with blistering riffs and drum tempos. Going on to say that they blend the best of metalcore, hardcore and metal into a powerful force of melody and aggression, this already sounds like a band I’m going to seriously enjoy! Formed in 2009, the band are just setting out with their spanking new full length album, Sink Or Swim, so since we had a copy sent through, I figured the time was right to hit play and check things out for myself!
Kicking in with Silhouettes (intro then track)we’re led slowly into the album with soft acoustic guitars, the melodic notes paving the way into things beginning, keeping things soft and melodic, but suggesting there is power yet to surface – before unleashing almighty hell. Raw vocals combine with rolling drums and hammering guitar work to forge a sound which is powerful, in your face, raw and insanely heavy. Despite this all out approach, there’s further moments of melody introduced in the chorus, the soaring vocals moving away from the all out roar and instead, lifting the mix to a new level, demonstrating the ability that Weapon Status Red have got in their ranks, and showing why we need to be paying these guys some serious attention. Kicking things off in style indeed, this may well be the opening moments of their first full length album, but it smacks of a band who are established, loved, and destined for damned good things.
Moving on to Oneiric the theme of all out power continues, launching us straight into a rolling melee of insane guitar work, bass heavy rhythms and more of those guttural vocals. Powerful, fast and centred around a hardcore approach, this track is the sort of thing that’s going to get pits rolling from the off, immediately getting you involved and begging for more. Deep and powerful as it progresses, the drums maintain their insane rolling throughout, the band adding in riffs, pinch harmonics and different levels of roars to keep things moving, once again showcasing their ability and suggesting that they’re going to be a hell of a force to be reckoned with on the live scene (get them to the UK!!!). Hooking you in through the catchy chorus, the melodic approach is something the band seem equally suited to, and something which once again shines through in the opening moments of Sleepers. Melodic yet packing one hell of a punch, the opening moments of this track lure you in before once again, the power hammers out to smash you around the head and remind you of what you’re listening to. Powerful and distorted, yet still incorporating a soaring chorus designed to get you singing along, there doesn’t seem to be any approach that these guys can’t pull off with aplomb.
Moving on to Eyes Like Daggers (featuring Jon Howard of Threat Signal….I love Threat Signal….get them to the UK too!) everything seems to shift, a soft piano line leading the way into the track, suggesting for a brief moment that you’re allowed a rest, a moment to reflect, a moment to calm – but not for long. Soon unleashing the full fury of the band once more, the unrelenting path of heaviness continues, this time showing what they’re capable of when joining forces with another established metal singer. Being a big fan of Threat Signal (Counterbalance is just a mighty track!) I was looking forward to hearing what this track was going to be like, but listening to it I’m impressed that Weapon Status Red have managed to keep their own sound throughout the track, not allowing Jon to take over and instead, using his vocals to compliment the already impressive mix – a stand out moment for sure.
Continuing to push the boundaries of their album through Pieces, Wasted, Ghost and Sink of Swim (should that be ‘or’….not sure there!), each track comes as an example of what they’re capable of, why they’re doing it, and why we should listen. It’s when Everyone Is Dead But Betty White comes around though that once again, everything is turned on its head and we’re presented with another serious high point, Fast paced and raw throughout, the unyielding power that flows through this track is something which is sure to get these guys some serious attention on the live scene, and when combined with the soaring vocals of the chorus section this track stands out as one hell of an achievement – one to make sure you check out.
Unfortunately, all too soon we reach the end of the album, but finishing with final track 13 things close in style, finishing with one final almighty hurrah, packed with distorted guitars, rolling drums, soaring vocal lines, and a sense that this is just the beginning for Weapon Status Red – finishing on a high for sure.
When Jeff sent through Weapon Status Red and I read their bio, I’ll be honest when I say I had them down as another reasonably generic metal band proclaiming to be much more than they actually are – oh how wrong I was. Combining the approaches of metalcore, hardcore and straight up metal into a package that you’re going to come back to time and time again, Weapon Status Red are a band who don’t just deliver, they hit home with every breath, every note, and every second of the entire album. This isn’t just an album you should listen to, it’s an album you can’t afford to miss.
To find out more about Weapon Status Red, check out their Facebook page HERE.
Words: Dave Nicholls
Photo Credit - EPK/Liphox.com
Kicking in with Silhouettes (intro then track)we’re led slowly into the album with soft acoustic guitars, the melodic notes paving the way into things beginning, keeping things soft and melodic, but suggesting there is power yet to surface – before unleashing almighty hell. Raw vocals combine with rolling drums and hammering guitar work to forge a sound which is powerful, in your face, raw and insanely heavy. Despite this all out approach, there’s further moments of melody introduced in the chorus, the soaring vocals moving away from the all out roar and instead, lifting the mix to a new level, demonstrating the ability that Weapon Status Red have got in their ranks, and showing why we need to be paying these guys some serious attention. Kicking things off in style indeed, this may well be the opening moments of their first full length album, but it smacks of a band who are established, loved, and destined for damned good things.
Moving on to Oneiric the theme of all out power continues, launching us straight into a rolling melee of insane guitar work, bass heavy rhythms and more of those guttural vocals. Powerful, fast and centred around a hardcore approach, this track is the sort of thing that’s going to get pits rolling from the off, immediately getting you involved and begging for more. Deep and powerful as it progresses, the drums maintain their insane rolling throughout, the band adding in riffs, pinch harmonics and different levels of roars to keep things moving, once again showcasing their ability and suggesting that they’re going to be a hell of a force to be reckoned with on the live scene (get them to the UK!!!). Hooking you in through the catchy chorus, the melodic approach is something the band seem equally suited to, and something which once again shines through in the opening moments of Sleepers. Melodic yet packing one hell of a punch, the opening moments of this track lure you in before once again, the power hammers out to smash you around the head and remind you of what you’re listening to. Powerful and distorted, yet still incorporating a soaring chorus designed to get you singing along, there doesn’t seem to be any approach that these guys can’t pull off with aplomb.
Moving on to Eyes Like Daggers (featuring Jon Howard of Threat Signal….I love Threat Signal….get them to the UK too!) everything seems to shift, a soft piano line leading the way into the track, suggesting for a brief moment that you’re allowed a rest, a moment to reflect, a moment to calm – but not for long. Soon unleashing the full fury of the band once more, the unrelenting path of heaviness continues, this time showing what they’re capable of when joining forces with another established metal singer. Being a big fan of Threat Signal (Counterbalance is just a mighty track!) I was looking forward to hearing what this track was going to be like, but listening to it I’m impressed that Weapon Status Red have managed to keep their own sound throughout the track, not allowing Jon to take over and instead, using his vocals to compliment the already impressive mix – a stand out moment for sure.
Continuing to push the boundaries of their album through Pieces, Wasted, Ghost and Sink of Swim (should that be ‘or’….not sure there!), each track comes as an example of what they’re capable of, why they’re doing it, and why we should listen. It’s when Everyone Is Dead But Betty White comes around though that once again, everything is turned on its head and we’re presented with another serious high point, Fast paced and raw throughout, the unyielding power that flows through this track is something which is sure to get these guys some serious attention on the live scene, and when combined with the soaring vocals of the chorus section this track stands out as one hell of an achievement – one to make sure you check out.
Unfortunately, all too soon we reach the end of the album, but finishing with final track 13 things close in style, finishing with one final almighty hurrah, packed with distorted guitars, rolling drums, soaring vocal lines, and a sense that this is just the beginning for Weapon Status Red – finishing on a high for sure.
When Jeff sent through Weapon Status Red and I read their bio, I’ll be honest when I say I had them down as another reasonably generic metal band proclaiming to be much more than they actually are – oh how wrong I was. Combining the approaches of metalcore, hardcore and straight up metal into a package that you’re going to come back to time and time again, Weapon Status Red are a band who don’t just deliver, they hit home with every breath, every note, and every second of the entire album. This isn’t just an album you should listen to, it’s an album you can’t afford to miss.
To find out more about Weapon Status Red, check out their Facebook page HERE.
Words: Dave Nicholls
Photo Credit - EPK/Liphox.com