The Red Chord

The Red Chord: ClientsClients (2005)
Metal Blade Records

Reviewer Rating: 4

Contributed by: AnchorsAnchors
(others by this writer | submit your own)
Published on June 3rd 2005Probably about two years ago, a good friend of mine was attempting to tell me about this band I "absolutely needed to check out." Now, at the time, this friend was into pretty shitty metal. Static-X, Slipknot, you know the deal, so I wasn't as apt to take his recommendations as I might have otherwis.

Probably about two years ago, a good friend of mine was attempting to tell me about this band I "absolutely needed to check out." Now, at the time, this friend was into pretty shitty metal. Static-X, Slipknot, you know the deal, so I wasn't as apt to take his recommendations as I might have otherwise been. He was pretty persistent, though, in getting me to at least listen to this band. That band turned out to be the Red Chord, and that album was their debut, Fused Together In Revolving Doors. I was blown away. At the time, I was heavy into hardcore, but this album was metal as fuck, and I could not get enough of it. So now, 2005, the Red Chord have dropped Clients on the world, but does it stack up to its predecessor?

Does Bob Saget touch little boys? Yes, it's that good. The Red Chord's debut album did a lot of things right, but this album just expands upon the already sound basis, and pulls in even more elements to make this album as diverse as it is brutal. The same deep, death metal vocals that appeared on the last effort sound even more full and fleshed out here, whether this is due to the production, or just that vocalist Guy Kozowyk improving on his own is up for speculation, but it sounds amazing. The one element of the vocals that does feel out of place is when Guy breaks for spoken parts. It just really doesn't fit in with the overall package the Red Chord are trying to put out. You've got these sound, low end vocals, and when it breaks for a spoken part, a lot of the intensity and mood is lost. As you'll see on "Hospice Residence," it feels like more of an interruption than a solid inclusion. Gripes aside, on a whole Guy's voice has improved from Fused, all the while the best of the band adding some new elements to the music.

Maybe taking cues from the newest Dillinger Escape Plan record, the Red Chord have opted to break away from the chaos in parts, and incorporate some jazz elements. It isn't quite as prevalent as with Dillinger, but it's good to see a band at least attempting to fuse elements of different styles with their own music, especially with such a chaotic band. Aside from that, however, there's really no other surprises thrown at you from their direction. The same blast beats, breakdowns, and intense guitar work found on the previous album is here, and even improved upon.

The amazing guitar work is a lot of what made the first Red Chord album so interesting initially. They bounce up and down the scales with more starts and stops than Oprah's diet. The majority of the riffs found here are just as intricate, but just as chaotic as previously seen from the Red Chord, but there seems to be a lot more soloing on this record. The album's closer, "He Was Dead When I Got There," has a slower pace than the rest of what you'll find here, with a recorded sample being played under some solid riffing, and the change in speed is a nice juxtaposition compared to the rest of this. It's safe to say the guys haven't lost a step in the guitar department, but it's drums that many were worried about after the departure of several drummers between the release dates of their two albums. Rest assured, they've not lost any technicality or intensity as far as drumming is concerned, as the new guy fits into his role just fine.

Three years in the making, Clients is finally out. While this album isn't mindblowing, it's sure to be one of the best you'll purchase this year, granted if you're into this type of music. The Red Chord have managed to put even more variety in their music, and while this may have taken some of the gusto from the frequency of their tempo changes, they haven't lost a bit in the way of intensity. The vocals sound better than ever, and the new drummer fits in so seamlessly you'd never know they switched. Do yourself a favor, and pick this up.

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Fine Print: The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. We are not respon sible for them in any way. Seriously.

Anonymous (March 17, 2006)

Scores for The Red Chord. Seriously, why hate on vocals. These guys are far more musically talented then any shitty ass band that that dick listens too. (referring to anyone who talked shit about the vocals)

And the scores for MrAwesome who said everything that I wanted to say to the bitch who posted "a metal band on a label called metal blade...really fits in here. fuck metal." What a gay ass, there are always people like him on any metal cd review that says metal sucks. Fuck 'em.

And people should really check out Kill The Client, they kick ass.

Anonymous (January 24, 2006)

"People are idiots to hate on vocals"

i see your point but have you never not been able to listen to something because yuo cant stand the vocals
for exaple atreyu have rele poor screaming n i hate it

Anonymous (January 24, 2006)

hey if you reckon you have high prices for cds come to england teh average price youfind in large record shops is about £15 n then u get ones for more than that for example i found walk among us for £23 which is extortion even if it is worth every penny but still

crazytoledo (July 30, 2005)

People are idiots to hate on vocals.

People that say 'this is gay cause all they do is shout and you cant undertsnad' are idiots.

Let's see.

Music = Guitars, Bass, Drums
Vocals = Singing

You dont hate music cause their vocals, if your gonna listen to anything for vocals than your pathetic because, in the end:

Music>Vocals

MrAwesome (July 26, 2005)

"a metal band on a label called metal blade...really fits in here. fuck metal."

wow, go listen to gay punk bands on the radio you fuckin emo bitch. i hope you get raped by an obese black dude you little queer.

rkl (June 8, 2005)

What the fuck is this garbage? Some guy growling into a microphone because he obviously can't sing worth shit? Here's my theory, all bands who get together, and realize that none of them can sing form a hardcore/metal band. How can you listen to this without getting a headache? This is horrible.

this is one of my favorite comments ever. still makes me giggle everytime i see it rehashed.

if growling, specifically death metal growling, is a coverup for inability to sing(something that never hindered early punk bands), you try it. its a lot harder than it seems.

Anonymous (June 6, 2005)

go and fuck yourself while listening to all these metal records...douchebag

Anonymous (June 5, 2005)

Score is for Kill The Client. I heard about them like a year ago on The Black Dahlia Murders website. They kill.

mikeinflames (June 5, 2005)

"ONLY fourteen dollars for a cd?
You must not buy cds often."

that was $14 canadian
and that is cheap as hell
most of the cds i buy are $20 and up

Anonymous (June 5, 2005)

dude where is punkrock then you smart assed idiot

Anchors (June 5, 2005)

"fuck off metalheads....why is so much metal crap reviewed here...there are so many punk albums coming out and this shit is reviewed."

Our mandate is to provide an inclusive community-based site for the delivery and discussion of music news surrounding punk, ska, hardcore, emo, metal and indie.

You were saying..?

Anonymous (June 5, 2005)

fuck off metalheads....why is so much metal crap reviewed here...there are so many punk albums coming out and this shit is reviewed

CherryColaRain (June 5, 2005)

And to the Pop- Punk dude that insulted this album. Well if you are sick and tired of hardcore/metal fans bashing the music you listen to, why are you here doing the same!? You obviously know how stupid it probably is and yet you come here and give a perfect example of how lame it is. Thats my point of view. Whenever you realize or not what i said is true I'll leave that for you to figure out.

CherryColaRain (June 4, 2005)

Whao this is good shit...but still it was a sort of let down compared to "fused..." but still a good solid album. and yes the vocals did get better...my money goes on to the vocalist just getting better

Anonymous (June 4, 2005)

Ha. I don't listen to any band that thanks From Autumn to Ashes or Bleeding Through.

Tech-metal is such bunk.

-BSD

Anonymous (June 4, 2005)

Speaking of "Clients", there is a really amazing grind band called Kill the Client who are actually faster and more technical than the Red Chord...which is pretty freaking hard to do. Soulseek for Kill the Client and get their "Wage Slave" LP or hit up my name, Ken NCI and check it out.

-Ken

Anonymous (June 4, 2005)

I was just acting like every douche bag who comes and comments on pop-punk pages in the same way.

They hate it, and they feel it shouldn't exist.

Anchors (June 4, 2005)

"Oh and remember, you're not mad at me, you're mad at your dad."

This is The Red Chord, not Korn.

So all music should have singing? There should be no vocal alternative to singing? Awesome idea, because that wouldn't make things boring. Just because you don't like how something sounds doesn't mean it shouldn't exist. Pull your head out of your ass.

Anonymous (June 4, 2005)

Hey I'm gonna be like one of those guys that listens to hardcore/metal and leaves comments on pop-punk reviews!

What the fuck is this garbage? Some guy growling into a microphone because he obviously can't sing worth shit? Here's my theory, all bands who get together, and realize that none of them can sing form a hardcore/metal band. How can you listen to this without getting a headache? This is horrible.

Oh and remember, you're not mad at me, you're mad at your dad.

im-dead (June 4, 2005)

I bought this album and was reading the thank you's (as you do) and noticed alot of the bands they listed played "metalcore" eg: Bleeding Through, From Autumn to Ashes etc. This discovery lead to me to the decision that this is GOOD metalcore, what a rarity! Perhaps Atreyu should give this a listen

Nietzsche (June 3, 2005)

"this album is fairly shit

i'm glad i only paid $14 for it"

ONLY fourteen dollars for a cd?
You must not buy cds often.

Anonymous (June 3, 2005)

Posted by Anonymous on 2005-06-03 10:49:45
My Score:
a metal band on a label called metal blade...really fits in here. fuck metal.

According to the Punknews.org About page:

"Our mandate is to provide an inclusive community-based site for the delivery and discussion of music news surrounding punk, ska, hardcore, emo, metal and indie. "

Sit the fuck down and clutch your Circa Survive record, you pussy.

This album is awesome.

Anonymous (June 3, 2005)

uhhh there are no jazz elements on this album, do you know what jazz is?

Anonymous (June 3, 2005)

this album is fairly shit

i'm glad i only paid $14 for it

Anonymous (June 3, 2005)

a metal band on a label called metal blade...really fits in here. fuck metal.

elliot (June 3, 2005)

bob saget? oprah? what is this, 1992?

theundergroundscene (June 3, 2005)

this album was extremely disappointing

three years after fused together, which was brilliant...this should be the best cd i've ever heard

BRING BACK THE SCREAMS THAT AREN'T DEATH METAL

that's the biggest fault on this whole cd

moneenerd (June 3, 2005)

I give this album a 9. Only reason it doesnt get a 10 is because of the terribly shitty cover. I havent seen anything that bad since Iron Maiden's newest album cover.

Tudor (June 3, 2005)

This band is terrible.

backupdork (June 3, 2005)

i loved "Fused Together...," and i'd like to pick up a copy of this as soon as i can afford to. i heard/saw a video for "Ant man" and thought it was a little too much like A Life Once Lost (or Meshuggah), but i'm still interested in hearing the rest of this disk.

good review, too.

Anonymous (June 3, 2005)

good album. good review. although, i still prefer 'Fused...'