CD Review: Red I Flight - The Years

Have you ever listened to a band that you have never heard of before and wondered just they reminded you of? Red I Flight is one of those bands. I listen to their debut album, The Years, and their sound is very reminiscent of someone else, but I cannot remember who. It is rather annoying, as I can practically taste it on the tip of my tongue. It is not someone I have listened to that long ago either. In any case, the fact that they sound so familiar does not help it all that much on the quality scale. However, on the scale of entertainment value, Red I Flight would have to be considered quite good. Sadly, that is not going to be enough to make The Years a good album. No, it is not bad, it is just seems terribly mediocre. To make some comparison, they have neither the musical excellence of labelmates Across Five Aprils nor their awful singing. If you average the everything out, youy end up with a band that falls squarely in the middle.

Red I Flight hails from Detroit, Michigan, and are on the cusp of releasing their debut for Victory Records. They have a ton of energy and it comes through in their music. As soon as the first track kicks in, you are going to want to start throwing elbows and whipping your head around, but please, save it for the pit, you're liable to hurt yourself or break Mom's favorite lamp. Instead, just load up your iPod and give that a crank.

The style is a mixture of metal, metalcore, and a healthy dose of hardcore creating a sound that is not a stranger to any, yet not really welcome in any one. They are most likely to be labeled as either metalcore or post-hardcore. There are plenty of heavy, detuned riffs, driving, surging drums, and raw-throated vocals to go around.

For those of you who are into the heavier end of the music spectrum, do you ever find yourself enjoying an album for some unexplained reason? Listening to The Years is likely to inject your music-loving soul with plenty of goodwill solely based ont he sheer heaviness. However, if you stop and listen, you are not likely to find anything of real substance.

This is music that is going to play well in the live setting, it is perfectly suited (and tempo'd) for some pit action, which brings up another problem. The songs are not terribly distinctive, they all have their heavy moments, they all have their hardcore breakdowns, they all have a touch of melody, and none of it sticks around all that long. It is like listening to one long song.

Red I Flight is fronted by screamer Josh Robinson, who does a decent job of the part, He has a good growl that fits perfectly with the heavy twin axes of Eric Gerloff and Matt Gearp. Those two guitar players certainly prove they can deliver the heavy with some downright catchy riffs, played in harmony. Behind them are bassist Mark Polec and drummer Jesse Robinson.

You know, I complain about how they fail to stand out and how the album sometimes feels like one big song, but it is not all bad. They have that undeniable energy and the music is really easy to slip into and just enjoy for what it is. If you want something heavy that is not too extreme, this will fill the bill. I also believe that they could potentially deliver something stronger than this. They would appear to have all the tools required.

Bottomline. Put it on, rock out and try not to think to hard. I am sure you will be as lulled into its steady heaviness as I was. Just listen and think of what could possibly arrive in the future.

Mildly Recommended.


Track Listing:
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. Rock Biter Song
9. Of Myth And Men
10. By The Beard Of Zeus