Red I Flight - The Years

Band: Red I Flight
Album: The Years
Genre: Metalcore
Label: Victory

Tracks:
1. Lesson 34
2. Late For the Execution
3. Bullets Over Prayers
4. Vigo the Carpathian
5. Into the Breach
6. The Siege
7. Introlude
8. The Rock Biter
9. Of Myth and Men
10. by the Beard of Zeus

Victory Records has always been a label that had an obvious passion for metal/hardcore bands. From the old days of Blood for Blood and Hatebreed, to the newer era of Dead To Fall, there is no doubt that while Tony Brummel signs a variety of rock bands, his heart has always been in breakdowns and throat wrenching vocals. It is with this in mind, that I was less than surprised to see Michigan's Red I Flight sign with Victory as the fit this mold to perfection. The only problem is that, with so many metal bands in the world today, and the legacy this label has established, Red I Flight's, "The Years," had a lot of standards to not only live up to, but to surpass and therefore set themselves apart. Did they succeed? Well, let's just say they made a better effort than most.

Years begins with, "Lesson 34," a simple guitar intro leads into a solid drum cadence that makes you feel the need to start moving as the full band comes in with a good, but not spectacular number filled with drop D tuning and a near constant breakdown. I'll be honest, it was nothing I hadn't heard before, but it definitely gets one in the mood for a heavy album. Joshua Robinson, the vocalist, has a very deep throaty tone for most the album, but there are moments, like the middle of, "Late For The Execution," when he takes a very Comeback Kid style change. "Bullets Over Prayers," the third track, is destined to be a crowd favorite due to heavy use of gang vocals and chugging guitars hat demand two-stepping to commence. Speaking of the instrumentation, the band likes to indulge with the use of the ever-present "breakdown," but the both Matthew Earp and Eric Gerloff, the guitarists, play with such passion outside of those times, that we can forgive the simple chugs of open drop D tuning. Not to leave out the rest, I should note both bassist Michael Polec and drummer Jestin Robinson due a more the commendable job of keeping beats and grooves to move the people ready at a moments notice. Without their work in "the background," Red I flight would fall harshly into the world of generic hardcore. "If you are looking for that one song that you could use to judge the band, I would say your best bet would be found within, " The Siege," which hosts not only in-your-face vocals, but gang vocals and a strong beat to match. It's easily the band's best track without competition and definitely the single of choice [in my mind]. As with most new bands, there will always be a track or two that is more than disposable on an album and for Red I Flight, it's, "Introlude," which can be found on track 7. It's a heavy number with a battle cry for a chant, but it seems so out of place in the middle of the disc and doesn't really fit the tone found on the following track, "Rock Biter Song." The album concludes with, "By The Beard Of Zeus,"which wastes no time letting you know that Red I Flight is not about to leave without rocking you hard once more. The song is one of the most solid tracks and the drumming is ridiculous, but once again, the use of a breakdown to end the song shows the band taking a sharp turn toward, "been there, heard that," town. Not exactly the most original way to end an album, but a fitting farewell nonetheless.

Aside from, "Introlude," my other real problem with this disc was the lyricism. Lines like, "you can't see tears fall in the dark," seem like a hallow and sad excuse to seem deep and serious. However, with a little work and evolution, I think Red I Flight could have a pretty good career in the metal world. The talent is more than apparent, but as with most debut releases, there is more than a bit of room improvement. I do however, believe that ext time around, Red I Flight may be poised to be the next big thing in a genre where the fight for the top is, at times, more vicious than any other.

Grade: 7/10
MYSPACE